US Patent 7450592 Layer 2/layer 3 interworking via internal virtual UNI

A multi service platform including a layer two switching component and a layer three switching component is connected to a layer two network and a layer three network. The layer two switching component is a terminating point for the layer two network, whereas the layer three switching component terminates the layer three network A virtual UNI connection is established between the components increasing reliability of end to end connections across the networks, and simplifying provisioning of these types of networks.