Patent ID: 7861002
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network router, comprising: memory; a layer 1 portion having a first communication interface and a second communication interface; a layer 2 portion; a layer 3 portion having a layer 3 protocol stack, said layer 3 protocol stack having a routing table stored in said memory and specifying, for a particular destination, a data path from said layer 3 portion to said layer 2 portion, said layer 3 protocol stack configured to provide a first plurality of data packets destined for the particular destination and a second plurality of data packets destined for the particular destination, said layer 3 protocol stack configured to route through said data path each of said first and second plurality of data packets based on said routing table, said layer 3 protocol stack further configured to detect a layer 3 error condition; and switching logic configured to automatically initiate a layer 2 switch for said layer 2 portion of said network router in response to a detection of said error condition by said layer 3 protocol stack such that said layer 2 portion interfaces said second plurality of data packets with said second communication interface in lieu of said first communication interface, wherein said layer 2 switch is transparent to said layer 3 portion, wherein said layer 2 portion is configured to interface said first plurality of data packets with said first communication interface prior to said layer 2 switch, wherein said first communication interface is configured to transmit said first plurality of data packets to a second router via a first protocol over a first data path through a first network, and wherein said second communication interface is configured to transmit said second plurality of data packets to said second router via a second protocol over a second data path through a second network.