Patent ID: 8005081
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of transferring packets across an Ethernet network comprising a plurality of nodes, the network supporting a plurality of different forwarding modes, the method comprising: allocating a range of VLAN Identifiers (VIDs) to each of the forwarding modes, each forwarding mode making a different use of a VID within a header of a packet; configuring a first connection between a source node and a destination node of the network using a first forwarding mode and a VID in the packet having a first value selected from a first range of VIDs, the first forwarding mode being Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB); configuring a second connection between the source node and the destination node of the network using a second forwarding mode and a VID in the packet having a second value selected from a second range of VIDs, second forwarding mode being Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB); and sending packets carrying data traffic to the destination node by selectively: