Method for establishing a path, having a certain QOS-class and a related access multiplexer

An Access Multiplexer for establishing a path, having a certain quality of service (QOS) class, between a modem and an edge node over a communications network, said communications network comprising said Access Multiplexer and an Ethernet aggregation network, said Access Multiplexer coupling said modem to said Ethernet aggregation network, and said modem being coupled to said Access Multiplexer over at least one asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) connection, said Access Multiplexer comprising:

• an address resolution protocol (ARP) intercepting part which intercepts an ARP request forwarded by said modem;
• an Ethernet address assigning part which assigns a chosen Ethernet address for said edge node based on information on said edge node in said intercepted ARP request;
• and
• an ARP reply forwarding part which generates and forwards an ARP reply containing the chosen Ethernet address of said edge node to said modem,
• wherein the chosen Ethernet address for said edge node is different from a real Ethernet address of said edge node, and
• wherein said modem forwards said ARP request over said at least one ATM connection between the modem and the Access Multiplexer and receives said ARP reply on an ATM connection of said at least one ATM connection, said ATM connection having a certain QOS class which depends on the chosen Ethernet address of said edge node.

An Access Multiplexer for establishing a path, having a certain quality of service (QOS) class, between a modem and an edge node over a communications network, said communications network comprising said Access Multiplexer and an Ethernet aggregation network, said Access Multiplexer coupling said modem to said Ethernet aggregation network, and said modem being coupled to said Access Multiplexer over at least one asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) connection, said Access Multiplexer comprising:

• an address resolution protocol (ARP) intercepting part which intercepts an ARP request forwarded by said modem;
• an Ethernet address assigning part which assigns a chosen Ethernet address for said edge node based on information on said edge node in said intercepted ARP request;
• and
• an ARP reply forwarding part which generates and forwards an ARP reply containing the chosen Ethernet address of said edge node to said modem,
• wherein said ARP request is received by said modem from a host terminal for an address of said edge node over said at least one ATM connection having a certain QOS class,
• wherein said modem receives said ARP reply packet containing said chosen address of said edge node on said at least one ATM connection having a certain QOS class, and
• wherein said modem retrieves said chosen address from the ARP reply packet and stores said chosen Ethernet address with an identification of said ATM connection.