Patent ID: 7843851

Claim:
A method of setting up a client layer connection over at least one server layer connection in a multi-layer network, the method comprises the step of: selecting a path through said multi-layer network, taking into account free resources of pre-existing server layer connections in the multi-layer network and additionally taking into account free resources in said multi-layer network, where no server layer connections exist so far; the selection step being based on a cost calculation taking into account a cost value per link through the multi-layer network and further taking into account an additional cost value for links through the multi-layer network on which no available server layer connection exist so far, and wherein the selected path has the lowest overall cost; the method further comprises the steps of establishing new server layer connections on links along said selected path where pre-existing server layer connection with free resources are not available, and establishing said client layer connection along said selected path over the pre-existing server layer connections and/or the new server layer connections; wherein if pre-existing server layer connections exist, said selection step prefers such pre-existing server layer connections; wherein if a pre-existing server layer connection exists but does not provide sufficient resources to establish said client layer connection, a new server layer connection is established and is used for said client layer connection; wherein the new server layer connection is established over a same route as the pre-existing server layer connection that does not provide the sufficient resources.