TECHNIQUE FOR PROTECTING LEAF NODES OF A POINT-TO-MULTIPOINT TREE IN A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK IN CONNECTED MODE

A technique protects, in a communications network, a point-to-multipoint primary tree between a root node and primary leaf nodes of the network if a failure occurs affecting one of the primary leaf nodes. One network node receives from another upstream network node a request to protect the primary tree via a backup branch leading to a backup leaf node situated downstream from said node, if a failure affecting one of the primary leaf nodes to be protected occurs, the backup leaf node being associated with the primary leaf node to be protected. If the node is connected directly to the downstream primary leaf node to be protected, it configures a backup routing rule for routing packets from an upstream primary branch to the downstream backup branch and, possibly, to the downstream primary branch(es) and is activated in the event of a failure affecting the primary leaf node to be protected.