Method and system for automatic line protection switching of embedded channels

A communications network, comprising:

• a transmit node;
• a receive node;
• a first transmission line extending between the transmit and receive nodes, the first transmission line including a primary embedded channel for carrying channel traffic between the nodes in normal operation;
• a second transmission line extending between the transmit and receive nodes, the second transmission line including a secondary embedded channel for carrying the channel traffic between the nodes in the event of a fault condition on the primary embedded channel;
• the transmit node operable to automatically switch transmission of the channel traffic from the primary embedded channel to the secondary embedded channel in response to a fault condition in the primary embedded channel detected by the transmit node;
• the receive node operable to automatically switch reception of the channel traffic from the primary embedded channel to the secondary embedded channel in response to the same fault condition in the primary embedded channel independently detected by the receive node;
• and wherein the transmit node and the receive node independently switch between the primary embedded channel and the secondary embedded channel absent the communication of a channel fault message.