A bandwidth brokering system and method incorporating methodology for
supporting self-healing communication rings is disclosed. The present
invention utilizes state-based tokens that are transmitted on a separate
communication channel between network nodes to monitor and correct
communication failures occurring at a link, interface, and network node
level. The invention as taught permits generic brokering of all available
network bandwidth in a granular method without the need for fixed
designations of "protection" or "working" communication paths. As such,
the present invention permits integration of "protection" and "working"
communication data paths to permit full utilization of available system
bandwidth with graceful recovery in the event of system or link
malfunctions. While the present invention is optimally adapted to use in
optical communications systems and specifically those incorporating
wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), dense wavelength division
multiplexing (DWDM), and ultra-dense wavelength division multiplexing,
the teachings presented are equally well adapted to situations where
other communications mediums are utilized in a multi-carrier, wireless,
or spread-spectrum environment, among others.