| 摘要 |
A first Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) enabled Internet Protocol (IP) data network (11) is able to transmit data to a second MPLS enabled IP network (13) via a legacy optical network (12), which would not otherwise be able to handle the user network interface (UNI) protocols required to be used within an MPLS network environment, by means of configuring the legacy optical network (12) and its traditional network management system (16) (TNMS) so that they simulate or emulate an MPLS enabled optical network. The simulation/emulation of an MPLS network is performed as follows: when a first legacy network element (NE) (14a) receives a connection request (a UNI request) from the MPLS network (11) under a UNI protocol, the UNI request is passed (arrow A) to the TNMS (16), which then sets (arrows B) the required connection across the legacy network (12) via a second edge NE (14b) to an NE of the second IP network (13). Once the connection has been set the TNMS (16) instructs (arrow C) the edge NE (14a) to send a return signal to the requesting network (11) indicating that the connection has been successfully set. Data packets may then be transmitted across the network (11, 12, 13). In the case (Figure 4) where the optical network (20) also contains MPLS enabled optical networks (21b, 23b) the simulation/emulation method may further require a step in which the TNMS (26) instructs (arrow X) the second NE (24b) to send a UNI request to the MPLS enabled optical network (23b) requesting a connection to the second IP network (23a). A return signal, indicating that the connection has been set, received by the second NE (24b) from the MPLS enabled optical network (23b) is sent (arrow Y) to the TNMS (26), on receipt of which the TNMS (26) instructs (arrow C) the edge NE (24a) to send a return signal to the requesting network (21b). |
