Patent ID: 8473633

Claim:
A method of routing packets in a packet network, said packet network including a chain of packet nodes, said chain comprising first and second access nodes for communicating with one or more mobile nodes and one or more intermediate packet nodes, said one or more intermediate packet nodes providing a path interconnecting said first and second access nodes, said method comprising the steps of: installing, in said intermediate packet nodes, first routing data defining a first routing path in one direction along said chain to a mobile node via said first access node and second routing data defining a second routing path in the opposite direction along said chain to said mobile node via said second access node; operating each of said intermediate packet nodes to: determine, on receipt of a packet destined for said mobile node, whether said packet is from another node on said chain or not; and a) if the packet is determined to be from a node not on said chain, copying the packet and routing said copy along one of said routing paths and routing said packet along the other of said routing paths; and b) if the packet is determined to be from another node on said chain, route said packet along said chain only in the direction in which it is currently travelling.