US Patent 7787364 Control scheme for standby channel route

A control scheme is disclosed for controlling establishment of a standby channel route for an active channel route in a GMPLS network made up of plural transmission apparatuses. The standby channel route is formed by at least one standby channel route transmission apparatus, an ingress transmission apparatus, and an egress transmission apparatus. The control scheme involves transmitting from the ingress transmission apparatus to the standby channel route transmission apparatus a standby channel path establishing message including pre-reserve information for directing the standby channel route transmission apparatus to pre-reserve a standby channel path of the standby channel route, and setting the standby channel path to pre-reserved status within a band management table of the standby channel route transmission apparatus. The standby channel path that is set to pre-reserved status within the standby channel route transmission apparatus is externally recognized as free by the other transmission apparatuses.