Patent ID: 8509056

Claim:
A system for distribution of data, comprising: a first bi-directional network having a plurality of nodes; a second bi-directional network having the same plurality of nodes; each of said nodes comprising a respective core router coupled to said first network and said second network; each of said core routers comprising a first routing table corresponding to said first network, a second routing table corresponding to said second network, and a merged routing table comprising merged routing information from the first routing table and the second routing table, wherein each of said core routers is configured to provide autonomous routing services within said first network and said second network respectively using said first routing table and said second routing table; one or more sources coupled to one or more of said plurality of core routers, wherein each of said one or more sources is registered in only one of said first routing table and said second routing table; wherein, at each said node, said first routing table lists its sources and a next node interface and a next node on the first network for each listed source; wherein, at each said node, said second routing table lists its sources and a next node interface and a next node on the second network for each listed source; wherein, at each said node, said merged routing table lists all the sources and a next node interface and a next node on the first network or second network for each listed source; a plurality of receivers coupled to said plurality of core routers, wherein each of said core routers is configured to use said merged routing table to enable routing between any one of said plurality of receivers and any one of said one or more sources; and wherein said first bi-directional network and said second bi-directional network comprise different bi-directional ring networks, each said bi-directional ring network including a clockwise and counterclockwise ring.