A method and network include receiving a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) connection; determining information in overhead of the TDM connection; and if match/action rules defined by controller exist for the TDM connection, establishing the TDM connection based on matching an associated rule in the match/action rules. A Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller is configured to receive a request from a node related to a new TDM connection in the network; determine one or more routes in the network for the new TDM connection; determine match/action rules for the one or more routes at associated nodes of the one or more nodes; if the one or more routes include at least two routes, determine a group table at associated nodes of the one or more nodes to distinguish between the at least two routes; and provide the match/action rules and the group table to the associated nodes.

In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes obtaining service data; mapping the service data into a payload area of a service frame, mapping the service frame into a payload area of a data frame, and sending the data frame. The service frame includes an overhead area and the payload area; the overhead area of the service frame includes a plurality of frame header indication overhead fields; each of the plurality of frame header indication overhead fields comprises a first field; and the first field represents a ranking of each frame header indication overhead field in the plurality of frame header indication overhead fields.