Patent ID: 6678274
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A method for changing forwarding information that is utilized to forward packets comprising the steps of:selecting a first forwarding table from at least two stored forwarding tables, wherein a selected forwarding table is utilized to forward incoming packets and non-selected forwarding tables are not utilized to forward incoming packets; utilizing said first forwarding table to forward incoming packets; updating a second forwarding table while said first forwarding table is being utilized to forward incoming packets, said second forwarding table being one of said non-selected forwarding tables; selecting said second forwarding table from said at least two stored forwarding tables after said second forwarding table has been updated, said step of selecting said second forwarding table causing said first forwarding table to become one of said non-selected forwarding tables; utilizing said second forwarding table to forward incoming packets instead of said first forwarding table; and updating said first forwarding table while said second forwarding table is being utilized to forward incoming packets wherein said step of utilizing said first forwarding table to forward incoming packets includes a step of utilizing a first destination IP address to identify a first route entry, and wherein said step of utilizing said second forwarding table to forward incoming packets includes a step of utilizing a second destination IP address to identify a second route entry.