Patent ID: 6831898
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A computer network having improved reliability in data transmissions, comprising:an interpreter in a switch for interpreting a special multicast address in a packet received by said switch, said switch in response to receipt of a packet having said special multicast address, replicating said packet by transmitting identical copies of said packet on a plurality of ports of said switch; a first router for receiving a first copy of said packet having said special multicast address transmitted from a first port of said plurality of ports of said switch, and a second router for receiving a second copy of said packet having said special multicast address, said second packet transmitted by a second port of said plurality of ports of said switch; a first plurality of subsequent routers connected to said first router along an intended path for said first copy of said packet, said intended path having a plurality of links, and said links assigned a low cost in a Link State Packet Routing sense; and a second plurality of routers connected to said second router along an intended path for said second copy of said packet, said intended path having a plurality of links, and said links assigned a low cost in a Link State Packet Routing sense, said first plurality of routers connected to said second plurality of routers by links having assigned high costs in a Link State Packet Routing sense.