Patent ID: 7830803

Claim:
A network comprising a first node and a second node for setting up a connection from the first node to the second node, the network comprising: the first node transmitting a request message from the first node to the second node, the second node transmitting an allocation message from the second node to the first node, wherein the request message comprises an indication for indicating the first node's capabilities with respect to a first signalling procedure and with respect to a second signalling procedure, and the allocation message comprises an instruction for instructing the first node to use one of the signalling procedures for the setting up of the connection, and wherein the indication comprises a bit having a value of 0 when the first node cannot handle the first signaling procedure or the second signaling procedure, and the indication comprises a bit value of 1 when the first node can handle the first signaling procedure or the second signaling procedure; wherein the first signaling procedure and the second signaling procedure are different from each other, and wherein the first signaling procedure and the second signaling procedure is at least one of a wavelength switching, a waveband switching, and a fibre switching.