Method and system for span-based connection aggregation

A system for restoring network connections using span-based connection aggregation, comprising:

• a plurality of network nodes, wherein the plurality of network nodes are configured to perform the steps of:
• identifying a plurality of network spans between a first node and a second node in a mesh network of the plurality of network nodes, wherein a plurality of individual network connections traverse the plurality of network spans, and wherein the plurality of network spans are identified responsive to a plurality of criteria;
• logically aggregating the plurality of individual network connections in each of the plurality of network spans together into a connection aggregation link for the each of the plurality of network spans;
• logically aggregating each of the connection aggregation links into a bundle;
• managing the bundle, comprised of the plurality of individual network connections over the plurality of network spans, as a single sub network connection (SNC) over the plurality of network spans;
• maintaining a connection mapping for the bundle, wherein the connection mapping contains information pertaining to the bundle, but not the plurality of individual network connections;
• restoring the bundle responsive to a failure on the bundle only if the bundle can be restored in full between the first node and the second node;
• and
• releasing the plurality of individual network connections within the bundle if unable to restore the bundle in full.

An optical network, comprising:

• a plurality of interconnected nodes;
• a plurality of connection aggregation links between the plurality of interconnected nodes, a connection aggregation link of the plurality of connection aggregation links treats multiple network connections across the connection aggregation link as a single sub network connection (SNC) comprising a bundle;
• bundle points at a first node and a second node of the plurality of interconnected nodes, the bundle points determined by a plurality of criteria;
• and
• a signaling and routing protocol between the plurality of interconnected nodes;
• and
• wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes are configured to first restore the bundle in full responsive to a failure, and if not able to restore the bundle in full, to release all of the multiple network connections to individually mesh restore.