Patent ID: 7467215

Claim:
A network for providing switched virtual circuit Layer-2.5 VPNs, said network comprising: a set of elements interconnected by services; at least one first subset of elements defining a private network; at least one second subset of elements different from said first subset defining a provider network wherein at least two subgroups of said first subset of elements may be connected via said provider network, said second subset of elements implementing a Layer-3 VPN service; a provisioning mechanism used to define element membership in said first subset of elements; a plurality of customer ports maintained on said elements of said first subset of elements; a plurality of provider ports maintained on said second set of elements, each of said plurality of provider ports connected by services to a customer port, where said services allow said elements of said first subset of elements to establish Layer-3 peering with said second set of elements to exchange routing information; a port information table stored in a computer storage device at each element of said provider network having a provider port among said plurality of provider ports, said port information table containing mapping information relating addresses of said customer ports to addresses of said provider ports for said first subset of elements; a signalling mechanism used to create Layer-2 connectivity between elements within said first subset of elements at Layer-2 level across said Layer-3 VPN service implemented by said second subset of elements; and a reachability distribution mechanism such that a Layer-2 VPN may be provided across said Layer-3 VPN service.