Patent ID: 7212490
Filing Date: 2007-05-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for servicing transmit traffic in a node of a network, the network including a plurality of nodes connected by first and second rings formed by two or more transmission media, the method comprising: receiving usage data from a downstream node, the usage data including transit delay data associated with a plurality of downstream nodes; receiving a packet for routing to the network; determining a shortest path to a destination node including identifying one of the first and second rings as being associated with the shortest path; in response to identifying one of the first and second rings as being associated with the shortest path to the destination node, determining if the identified one of the first and second rings is more congested than the other of the first and second rings using the transit delay data; if so, routing the packet to the destination on the other ring irrespective of the shortest path determination; wherein determining transit delay data for the node comprising appending the transit delay data for the node to the received transit delay data including: forwarding the transit delay data including appended transit delay data to an upstream node.