Patent ID: 8811162

Claim:
A network element, comprising: an operating unit operating at least one multiplex connection for transportation of a payload data connection to a further network element; a receiving unit receiving a first signaling message from the further network element, which indicates a readiness of the further network element to transport the at least one payload data connection via in each case a multiplex connection; a process unit allocating each of the at least one payload data connection to a multiplex connection between the further network element and the network element or selecting a transport outside of a multiplex connection for this payload data connection, depending on the indicated readiness of the further network element and on whether the transport of the at least one payload data connection via a multiplex connection is supported by the network element; a generation unit generating a second signaling message, which indicates to the further network element a possible allocation of the at least one payload data connection to a multiplex connection; and a transmitting unit for transmitting the second signaling message to the further network element.