Patent ID: 6985488
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of transporting packet data and command messages through a communications network having at least one optical connection provided between provider edge nodes of the communications network, comprising: establishing a pseudo-wire directly over the optical connection and between the provider edge nodes of the communications network; tunneling the packet data within the established pseudo-wire and over the optical connection established between the provider edge nodes of the communications network; tunneling command messages within the same optical connection established that is used to transport the packet data between the provider edge nodes of the communications network; said establishing a pseudo-wire including negotiating an encapsulation label for the packet data to be transmitted between the provider edge nodes; said tunneling packet data including utilizing the negotiated encapsulation label for the packet data; and associating the tunneled packet data with a corresponding tunneled command message, said associating step including building a session table storing the negotiated encapsulation label for the packet data associated with the command message, the command message encapsulation label, and a control message ID.