System and method for transmission of frame relay communications over a digital subscriber line equipped with asynchronous transfer mode components

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting Frame Relay based communication over an ATM based network that includes a DSL link are disclosed. The Frame Relay based communication is mapped into ATM cells at a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM). The mapping of the Frame Relay frames into ATM cells is carried in accordance with transparent mode or translation mode functionality provided in the DSLAM. The Frame Relay data may be mapped into the ATM cells pursuant to FRF.5, FRF.8, FRF.8.1, or other similar standards. The system and method may enable transparent propagation of the Frame Relay data across the DSL/ATM network, for receipt on the other end of the network by a Frame Relay compatible switch, or an ATM compatible switch.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.