Patent ID: 7768995

Claim:
A method for synchronizing routing data in a packet-switched communications network, comprising the steps of: determining at an initiating router whether conditions are satisfied for one way transfer of routing table data of a particular node with an adjacent router, wherein the routing table data of the particular node indicates for each destination in a network, a cost of reaching that destination from the particular node, and the adjacent router communicates with the initiating router without an intervening intermediate network node; and if it is determined that conditions are satisfied for one way transfer of routing table data with the adjacent router, then performing the steps of: sending a refresh-notice message from the initiating router to the adjacent router, wherein the refresh-notice message includes data that indicates a particular direction for transfer of routing table data; if the particular direction is inbound, then receiving a copy of an adjacent routing table of the adjacent router without sending a copy of an own routing table of the initiating router, and if the particular direction is outbound, then sending a copy of the own routing table of the initiating router without receiving a copy of the adjacent routing table of the adjacent router.