Operator directed routing of connections in a digital communications network

A virtual circuit whose path across a network is specified by a human operator (hereinafter operator directed route or ODR VC) is established by manually provisioning a preferred path for the connection, including a source node, destination node, and intermediate nodes or subnetworks therebetween. The source node creates a call setup message which is signalled along the preferred path, whereby the intermediate nodes along the preferred path establish the bearer channel cross-connects. The operator also specifies a re-routing scheme for the ODR VC in the event the preferred path is blocked or a link subsequently fails. The re-routing scheme includes one of (a) the preferred path only; (b) at least one manually provisioned alternate path; and (c) any available path. The ODR VC provides the benefit of a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) in terms of the ability to consciously route a connection with the benefit of a soft permanent virtual circuit (SPVC) or switched virtual circuit (SVC) in terms of the capability to efficiently re-route connections by the network as opposed to a central management authority.