Method of transparently transporting frames with reduced overhead between two networks through an intermediate network using a common frame with expanded payload section

摘要

A method is described for transporting information in frames comprising header and payload information from a first network (10) to a second network (12) via a third network (14). The first (10) and second (12) networks are commonly managed but are independent of management of the third network (14). Network nodes generate respective headers for each outgoing frame from the node but completely copies payload from an incoming frame to the outgoing frames. Upon crossing a first boundary between the first and third networks (10,14), only a first part of the header is copied into the payload such that a reduced size header in the third network (14) fits into space that would otherwise be occupied by a second part of the header that is not copied into the payload. Upon crossing a second boundary between the third and second networks (14,12), the headers are retrieved from the payload and used to generate header information in the second network (12). <IMAGE>