Patent ID: 7301949

Claim:
Control system for controlling a packet switched communications network for forwarding data packets of a predetermined packet format, wherein a set of addresses having a predetermined address format are assigned to the network and wherein the network comprises a plurality of network nodes, which control system comprises a connectionless control plane for enabling and controlling connectionless transportation of data packets through said network, and a connection-oriented control plane for enabling and controlling connection-oriented transportation of data packets through said network, wherein a first subset of said addresses is associated with the connectionless control plane and a second subset of said addresses is associated with the connection-oriented control plane, wherein the connectionless control plane is arranged to control the operation of the network nodes such that a packet having an address belonging to said first subset is forwarded through the network by a connectionless transport mode, and wherein the connection-oriented control plane is arranged to control the operation of the network nodes such that a packet having an address belonging to said second subset is forwarded through the network by a connection-oriented transport mode.