Patent ID: 6212185
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for inclusion of additional address information in a packet header of an outgoing packet at a routing node of a primary packet communication network,said additional address information associated with said routing node;said additional address information relating to a secondary communication network;said packet header including a destination host node primary network address and a source host node primary network address;said routing node having secondary path connections to at least one secondary communication network and at least one additional address associated with each of said secondary communication networks;said routing node including a route calculation component, a table associated with said routing node, at least one forwarding engine associated with said primary packet communication network and at least one forwarding engine associated with each of said secondary communication networks;said method comprising the steps of:(A) determining whether said source host node is zero hops away;(B) if step (A) determines that said source host node is zero hops away, adding to said packet header said additional address information;(C) forwarding said destination host node primary network address to said route calculation component;(D) calculating an outbound path for said packet;(E) forwarding said packet to one of said plurality of forwarding engines for outbound flow.