Method and apparatus for restoration of an ATM network

A system for restoring communications in an ATM network, said network including a plurality of network elements including network links and network switching nodes, said network switching nodes adapted for communications with wireless mobile devices, said network utilizing destination routing for messages propagated therein, wherein VPI/VCI destination addresses are included in a header of said message, wherein routing of said messages is based on a routing table in said switching nodes including said destination address, said system comprising:

• means for generating a failure message indicative of a failure of a network element, said failure message including an identification of said network element and a predetermined VPI/VCI reserved for failure reporting, said failure based on non-receipt of data from said network element;
• means for communicating said failure message to all said switching nodes in said network;
• means for referencing updated routing tables at said switching nodes, wherein said network element indicated in said failure message is eliminated from routes in said network;
• means for routing said failure message in said switching nodes of said network based on a tree identification, said failure message including a tree identification field containing a specific tree identification, wherein each of said switching nodes is included in a network tree spanning all said switching nodes in said network, wherein each of said switching nodes is included as a root in a specific network tree, each said network tree having said specific tree identification.