A method and system for communicating state information between a local device and a remote device across a transport network is disclosed. Each of the local and remote devices operate independently from one another and at least one of the devices is configured for one-way traffic protection. The method includes receiving a protection message comprising K-bytes from one of the local and remote devices at the other of the local and remote devices and determining based on the received K-bytes, if there is a change in state at one of the devices. If a change in state is detected, a message is sent indicating the change in state from one of the local and remote devices to the other of the local and remote devices.
