Method and apparatus for controlling double-ended soft permanent virtual circuit/path connections

A network device for a destination end of a double-ended soft permanent virtual circuit (SPVC) connection, the SPVC connection coupling from a source end to the destination end via a communications network, said network device being configured to receive packets propagating in the communications network, the network device comprising:

• a database memory adapted to store an access identifier of at least one predetermined source network device from which the network device is allowed to accept an SPVC connection;
• a connection manager adapted to allocate a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) connection and a switched virtual circuit (SVC) connection on said network device;
• and
• an SPVC manager coupled with said database memory and said connection manager, said SPVC manager being adapted to control said connection manager and receive an SPVC connection message comprising an access identifier of a source network device, said SPVC manager being further adapted to determine if the access identifier of the source network device matches the access identifier in said database memory, wherein the SPVC connection message further comprises a service category parameter, a virtual path identifier (VPI) parameter, and a peak cell rate (PCR)/sustained cell rate (SCR) parameter, and wherein the access identifier comprises an alias for a closed user group (CUG), wherein a new connection service category change request for the existing SPVC connection triggers an evaluation of resources available to satisfy the new connection service category change request, and wherein if the resources are not available, the new connection service category change request is rejected and a current service category is maintained.