Patent ID: 7006506

Claim:
A method for configuring a router in a communication network using an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocol, comprising: (a) determining that the router is not physically or virtually connected to a backbone area of the network or an area border router (ABR) of the network; (b) establishing at least one physical link from the router to at least one non-ABR or at least one ABR of the network; (c) establishing a virtual link from the router to a backbone router in the backbone area through the at least one non-ABR and at least one ABR of an area associated with the at least one non-ABR when, at the step (b), said physical link is established to the at least one non-ABR; and (d) establishing a virtual link from the router to a backbone router in the backbone area through the at least one ABR when, at the step (b), the physical link is established to the at least one ABR.