Patent ID: 7936764
Filing Date: 2011-05-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for reducing the size of a route table having a plurality of route entries, the method comprising: identifying a subset of route entries having a same next hop in a route table, the route entries within a range of prefixes; identifying a missing route for which no route entry exists within the subset of route entries, wherein the missing route prevents the subset of route entries within the range of prefixes from being contiguous in the route table; adding the missing route as a route entry to the route table to create a contiguous subset of route entries within the range of prefixes; adding a new route entry to the route table, the new route entry having a prefix corresponding to and longer than a prefix of the route entry of the missing route, wherein the new route entry has forwarding priority over the route entry for the missing route; and aggregating, by a processor, the contiguous subset of route entries into a single aggregated route entry in the route table.