Abstract: A method is described that includes accessing a signaling message for a frame to be transmitted through an optical network along a path, deriving an identifier of the path using the signaling message, attaching the identifier to an overhead section of the frame, and transmitting the frame through the optical network on the path with the attached identifier. For another embodiment, an apparatus is described that includes a controller coupled to a control plane of an optical network to receive a signaling message on a control plane, the signaling message specifying a change in a connection for a specified optical network communications circuit, and to forward the signaling message on the control plane, and an interface to an optical switching matrix to change the connection for the specified circuit after forwarding the signaling message.