Patent ID: 7962619

Claim:
A network method utilizing Extensible Markup Language (XML) to establish a network service between network elements in a network, the network method comprising: generating a request at a network element for a network service in Extensible Markup Language (XML), wherein the network element comprises an Extensible Markup Language (XML) Client/Proxy entity, wherein the request is one of manually and automatically configured, and wherein the request is directed to another network element; obtaining network resources responsive to the request, wherein the network resources comprise network parameters required to obtain and provision the network service, and wherein the request controls the network resources across multiple Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers comprising any of layer 0, 1, 2, or 3; and configuring the network resources responsive to the request; wherein the network elements comprise optical network elements, and wherein a network route comprises wavelengths between first and second optical network elements in the network; and wherein the network parameters comprise one or more of available wavelengths, available bandwidth, available regeneration points, available circuits, intermediate network elements, and combinations thereof.