Abstract: An apparatus dynamically changes a connection service category for a soft permanent virtual circuit (SPVC). The apparatus includes a first interface, a second interface, a control interface receiving a command including a new connection service category for an exiting SPVC, and a module responsive to the command. The SPVC includes a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) connection leg set up from a source end to the first interface, and a switched virtual circuit (SVC) connection leg set up from the second interface to a destination-end via a communications network. The module releases the SVC connection leg while maintaining the PVC connection leg, de-allocates resources from the PVC connection leg, allocates new resources corresponding to the new connection service category and traffic parameters on the PVC connection leg, and creates a new SVC connection leg in accordance with the new connection service category and the traffic parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus dynamically change a connection service category for an exiting soft permanent virtual circuit (SPVC) which includes a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) connection leg set up from a source end to a network device, and a switched virtual circuit (SVC) connection leg set up from the network device to a destination end via a communications network. In one embodiment, the method includes (a) receiving a new connection service category for the existing SPVC, (b) releasing the SVC connection leg in response to the receiving the new service category, while maintaining the PVC connection leg, (c) de-allocating resources from the PVC connection leg, (d) allocating new resources on the PVC connection leg, the new resources corresponding to the new connection service category and traffic parameters, and (e) creating a new SVC connection leg in accordance with the new connection service category and the traffic parameters.