Communications system for delivering multimedia internet protocol packets across network boundaries

A method of delivering a packet comprising:

• transmitting the packet from a first site, wherein the packet has a first set of bits in a first bit-set location that indicates a packet forwarding priority of the packet;
• receiving the packet at a data network having a traffic class identification;
• and
• mapping the packet forwarding priority with the traffic class identification and writing a second set of bits into the first bit-set location based on the traffic class identification, wherein the second set of bits indicate a delivery priority that corresponds to the packet forwarding priority.

A method of delivering a packet comprising:

• transmitting the packet from a first site, wherein the packet has a first set of bits in a first bit-set location that indicates a packet forwarding priority of the packet;
• receiving the packet at a data network having a traffic class identification;
• mapping the packet forwarding priority with the traffic class identification and writing a second set of bits into the first bit-set location based on the traffic class identification, wherein the second set of bits indicate a delivery priority that corresponds to the packet forwarding priority;
• and
• appending a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) header to the packet, wherein the MPLS header is compatible with the traffic class identification and has a bit value that corresponds to the packet forwarding priority.