Patent ID: 7787461

Claim:
A data frame processing system (D) for a communications network that supports at least one Ethernet communications protocol using a data frame format including a virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier field, the system comprising: detection means (MD) adapted, on receipt of a data frame, to determine, from a plurality of sets of predefined values corresponding to respective different forms of protocol processing, the set containing a value taken by at least one VLAN identifier field of the received data frame, and processing means (MT) adapted to determine a specific form of protocol processing corresponding to said set determined by said detection means (MD) and to be applied to said received frame, wherein said specific form of protocol processing being processing specific to said Ethernet communications protocol for a first set of values, and processing specific to a Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) or Layer-2 Label Switched Path (L2-LSP) protocol for a second set of values.