METHOD FOR GENERATING AN ALARM INHIBIT SIGNAL

A method for generating an alarm inhibit signal. A modified AIS-Signal in the form of long strings of ones signal with the addition of an identification character is provided. This identification character can be individual zeros that are periodically introduced with a frequency of less than 10.sup.-3 or can be an auxiliary signal. When a digital signal distributor receives a standardized AIS-Signal or when it recognizes some other deficiency, it supplies a modified AIS-Signal to an outgoing path. Only the following digital signal distributors recognize the modification, in turn supply such a modified AIS-Signal and forego a message to a regional center. On the basis of the message of the digital signal distributor, a network management center switches to a backup path. The present invention is used in centrally controlled network protection switching systems.