Method and apparatus for restoring a connection through a provider network upon request

A network node of a provider network comprising at least one customer side interface for receiving of client traffic from a client network node;

• one or more network side interfaces for terminating connections through said provider network;
• and a switch matrix configurably interconnecting customer side interface and network side interfaces;
• the network node also comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor being capable of executing the following steps:
• to configure said network element to terminate at one of said network side interfaces a connection along a path through the provider network for the transport of said client traffic between said client network node and a far-end client network node, wherein a restoration service for said connection is deactivated;
• to receive at said network side interfaces before any action is taken regarding a restoration path a failure notification in case of a failure along said path affecting said connection;
• upon receipt of said failure notification, to perform a path search to determine the projected restoration path through said provider network available to restore said failed connection;
• if a projected restoration path could be found through said path search, to communicate over said customer side interface the availability of said restoration path to said client network;
• and
• upon receipt of a confirmation at said customer side interface from said client network, to perform a path restoration to restore said failed connection over said projected restoration path.