Patent ID: 8036142

Claim:
A method of handling control frames in a Provider Backbone Bridge in a Provider Backbone Bridge Network (PBBN), said method enabling frames from a Higher Layer Entity attached alternatively to a Provider Instance Port (PIP) on an I-Component of a Backbone Edge Bridge or to a Customer Backbone Port on a B-Component of the Backbone Edge Bridge, to reach an intended entity in the PBBN, said method comprising the steps of: configuring a Virtual Instance Port Service Access Point (VIP SAP) for every VIP and every Higher Layer Entity configured on the I-Component; utilizing the VIP SAP to tunnel customer-initiated Layer 2 Control Protocols (L2CPs); configuring a Special Multiplexed SAP for the frames of the Higher Layer Entity, said Special Multiplexed SAP having a Service Instance ID (I-SID) value that is universally recognized to identify the L2CPs; and utilizing the Special Multiplexed SAP to transfer frames between the PIP or the Customer Backbone Port and the entity inside the PBBN.