System and method for mapping quality of service levels between MPLS and ATM connections in a network element

A translation module of a network element, said translation module translating a set of transmission parameters related to a first transmission protocol from said first transmission protocol to a second transmission protocol for a data element being sent on a connection from a first communication network utilizing said first transmission protocol to a second communication network utilizing said second transmission protocol, said network element connected to said first communication network and said second communication network, said network element receiving said data element from said first communication network and communicating said data element to said translation module, said network element transmitting said data element from said network element over said second communication network after translation of said set of transmission parameters, said translation module comprising:

• a first sub-module mapping a first parameter from said set of transmission parameters to a class of service value for said connection;
• and
• a second sub-module mapping said class of service value and a second parameter from said set of transmission parameters to another transmission parameter for said second transmission protocol.