The present invention relates to a method for transporting data between a
data transmitting network element and a data receiving network element
via a point-to-point connection in a communications network. This
communications network comprises at least one transmitting network
element and at least one data receiving network element.An Internet
Protocol Control Protocol request for a service level of sending data is
sent to the data receiving element by the data transmitting element. This
Internet Protocol Control Protocol request is received by the data
receiving element. The data receiving element then determines a service
level based on a predetermined criterion and formulates an Internet
Protocol Control Protocol propose of the service level that can be
provided to the data sending element. Subsequently the Internet Protocol
Control Protocol propose of the service level is sent towards the data
transmitting element. The Internet Protocol Control Protocol propose
including the service level propose in its turn is received by the data
transmitting element and used for sending data towards the data receiving
element.It is also possible to initiate the (re-)negotiation by the data
receiving network element, by sending Internet Protocol Control Protocol
messages to the data transmitting element.As an alternative the data
transmitting element is able to notice that a provided service level is
not satisfying and that it formulates another request for a service level
that is satisfying for the data transmitting element. Re-negotiation of
an existing service level specification is also possible by sending
Internet Protocol Control Protocol messages requesting another service
level specification.