Patent ID: 8811400
Filing Date: 2014-08-19
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method implemented in a first network apparatus used for forwarding network packets, wherein said first network apparatus is used for interconnecting network nodes in a network, said method comprising: (a) receiving information required to identify at least one next hop node of a first network packet, wherein said information is received by said first network apparatus from a second network node in a first data link frame, wherein said information and said first network packet are transmitted separately by said second network node, wherein said first data link frame does not contain said first network packet, wherein a next hop node of said first network packet is a third network node to which said first network packet is to be transmitted by said first network apparatus; (b) identifying said third network node before said first network packet is received by using said information required to identify at least one next hop node of said first network packet, wherein said first network packet is not used for identifying said third network node; (c) receiving said first network packet from said second network node after identifying said third network node to which said first network packet is to be transmitted; and (d) transmitting said first network packet to said third network node.