Patent ID: 6031817
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by communication links, the nodes transferring message packets thereamong over said communication links over paths defined through said nodes over said communication links,A. at least one of said nodes including:i. a communication link operational status determination element for determining the operational status of said at least one communication link;ii. a communication link instance identifier for providing a communication link instance value of at least one communication link connected to said at least one of said nodes;iii. a communication link instance identifier control for controlling the communication link instance value provided by the communication link instance identifier in relation to the operational status determined by the communication link operational status determination element, the advertising message packet broadcast element further broadcasting advertising message packets at least some of which include said communication link instance value; andiv. an advertising message packet broadcast element for broadcasting advertising message packets over said network, at least some of said advertising message packets including the operational status of said at least one communication link and said communication link instance value; andB. at least one other of said nodes receiving said advertising message packets and determining from the operational status and communication link instance value contained therein whether to initiate a re-routing operation to re-route a said path maintained by said at least one other of said nodes to avoid said at least one communication link.