Fault monitoring in connection-oriented networks

A machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of fault monitoring comprising:

• monitoring, in a network node of a network having at least a first connection-oriented network layer having first protection measures associated therewith and a second connection-oriented network layer having second protection measures associated therewith, a service condition status of the first network layer using first protection measures based on a first communications protocol;
• wherein the first network layer comprises a first plurality of network nodes and the second layer comprises a second plurality of network nodes that are a subset of the first plurality of network nodes;
• determining second network layer protection measures based on a second communications protocol for onward transmission within the second network layer depending on the service condition status of the first network layer;
• and
• monitoring a service condition status of a working path of the second network layer using received second network layer protection measures.

A node comprising one or more processors operable to:

• receive, at the node in a network having at least first and second connection-oriented layers having first and second protection measures respectively associated therewith, first protection measures based on a first communications protocol and to monitor a service condition status of the first network layer using first protection measures;
• wherein the first network layer comprises a first plurality of network nodes and the second layer comprises a second plurality of network nodes that are a subset of the first plurality of network nodes;
• and
• receive status information from the first module, to determine second network layer protection measures based on a second communications protocol for onward transmission within the second network layer, depending on the service condition status of the first network layer, and to monitor a service condition status of a working path of the second network layer using received second network layer protection measures.