Patent ID: 7359964

Claim:
A method of providing a signaling channel for performing one or more signaling functions at an Ethernet level wherein telecommunication is organized by using Ethernet information packets forming an information flow, the method comprising: monitoring at least one of said Ethernet information packets of said information flow, and external instructions; based on results of the monitoring, producing service packets multiplexable with said Ethernet information packets, and introducing, into said service packets, data on a specific one of said signaling functions to be performed, said data being at least an indication of said signaling function to be performed; forming from said service packets at least one service flow at the Ethernet level, wherein said service packets belonging to a specific service flow carry said indication of said signaling function to be performed; multiplexing packets of said at least one service flow with packets of said information flow thus forming a combined flow; and utilizing for the telecommunication said combined flow comprising said information flow and said at least one service flow while said at least one service flow creates said signaling channel at the Ethernet level.