US Patent 7130275 Extended automatic protection switching arrangement

An automatic protection arrangement for a communication system (100) provides a working line terminal equipment (300 and a link (1A) for transmitting bearer traffic from a number of bearer payload processors (50-N) to a switching center (10). The arrangement also has a protection line terminal equipment (35) and link (2A) coupled to the switching center (10). For detected faults, an instantaneous switch over occurs of the bearer traffic of the bearer payload processors (50-N) from the working line terminal equipment (30) to the protection line terminal equipment (35).