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AssigneeEricsson Inc.
InventorAndrew James Barker
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A first Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Internet Protocol (IP) data network transmits data to a second MPLS IP network via a legacy network, which would not otherwise be able to handle the required user network interface (UNI) protocol by configuring the legacy network and its connection computing apparatus (CCA) so that they emulate an MPLS network. When a firt network element (NE) receives a connection (UNI) request from the MPLS network under a UNI protocol, the UNI request is passed to the CCA, which then sets the required connection across the legacy network via a second network element (NE) to an NE of the second network. Once the connection has been set, the CCA instructs the NE to send a return signal to the requesting network indicating that the connection has been successfully set. Data packets may then be transmitted across the network.
A method of operating a connection-oriented first communications network having a plurality of first network elements in which connections across the first network elements are determined by a connection computing apparatus, the connection-oriented first communications network being connectable to a second communications network by a network element, the second communications network having a plurality of second network elements, the method being performed to establish a connection across the connection-oriented first communications network in response to a connection request from the second communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
A network element for use in a connection-oriented first communications network having a plurality of first network elements in which connections across the first network elements are determined by a connection computing apparatus, the connection-oriented first communications network being connectable to a second communications network by the network element, the second communications network having a plurality of second network elements, the network element comprising at least one interface and a controller for controlling the interface, wherein said at least one interface is operable for receiving a connection request from the second communications network to establish a connection across the connection-oriented first communications network, and for sending information relating to the connection request to the connection computing apparatus, and for receiving from the connection computing apparatus a signal indicative of a status of the requested connection, the network element being operable for clearing down any intermediate connections established in relation to the connection request if setting of the connection failed.
A connection computing apparatus for use in a connection-oriented first communications network having a plurality of first network elements in which connections across the first network elements are determined by the connection computing apparatus, the connection-oriented first communications network being connectable to a second communications network by a network element, the second communications network having a plurality of second network elements, the connection computing apparatus comprising an interface to receive information relating to a connection request from the network element, wherein the network element received the connection request from the second communications network, the connection computing apparatus comprising a processor configured to determine a connection across the connection-oriented first communications network in response to the received information relating to the connection request;
A method of operating a connection-oriented first communications network having a plurality of first network elements in which connections across the first network elements are determined by a connection computing apparatus, the connection-oriented first communications network being connectable to a second communications network by a network element, the second communications network having a plurality of second network elements, the method being performed to establish a connection across the connection-oriented first communications network in response to a connection request from the second communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.