Patent ID: 7609705
Filing Date: 2009-10-27
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a first mesh network switch, of a plurality of mesh network switches, that: employs mesh connection information of one or more mesh network switches of the plurality of mesh network switches to determine a plurality of paths between the first mesh network switch and a second mesh network switch, of the plurality of mesh network switches, before a selection of one path of the plurality of paths for transmission of one or more packets from the first mesh network switch to the second mesh network switch; assigns a unique first path identifier to a first path of the plurality of paths between the first mesh network switch and the second mesh network switch; inserts one or more mesh tags comprising the first path identifier in the one or more packets; and employs the one or more mesh tags to direct the one or more packets along the first path, wherein the plurality of paths between the first mesh network switch and the second mesh network switch comprise a subset of a plurality available paths between the first mesh network switch and the second mesh network switch, wherein the plurality of paths between the first mesh network switch and the second mesh network comprises a plurality of selected paths of the plurality available paths, and wherein the first mesh network switch periodically tests the plurality of available paths between the first mesh network switch and the second mesh network switch to determine whether the plurality of selected paths are preferred over unused paths of the plurality of available paths.