Patent ID: 7298707
Filing Date: 2007-11-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for communicating packets in a network environment, comprising: a first network element that includes a first neighbor list, the first network element being coupled to a second network element and a third network element, the first network element receives a second neighbor list from the second network element and a third neighbor list from the third network element, wherein the first network element determines one or more overlaps provided by the second and third neighbor lists when compared to the first neighbor list, the first network element relaying an update that it receives based on the one or more overlaps, wherein the first network element determines whether its relaying of the update will result in a redundant transmission by gleaning data associated with a selected one of an acknowledgement and a re-flood both of which are associated with the update, the acknowledgement and the re-flood being communicated by one or more non-overlapping neighbors.