Patent ID: 8634316

Claim:
A method to exchange routes in a communication network, the method comprising: aggregating, using a processor, a plurality of individual routes into an aggregate route characterized by an aggregate route identifier and a plurality of aggregate route parameter values, the plurality of individual routes comprising a respective plurality of individual route identifiers and respective pluralities of individual route parameter values, the aggregate route identifier to represent an aggregation of the plurality of individual route identifiers, the plurality of aggregate route parameter values to match at least some of the pluralities of individual route parameter values for at least some of the plurality of individual routes; determining, using the processor, an exception matrix including respective first and second individual route identifiers for respective first and second individual routes included in the aggregate route but having respective different first and second individual route parameter values not included in the plurality of aggregate route parameter values; determining an absentee list specifying a third individual route identifier subsumed in the aggregate route identifier but associated with a respective route to be disregarded by the recipient; and sending the aggregate route identifier, the plurality of aggregate route parameter values, the absentee list and the exception matrix to a recipient in the communication network to forward the plurality of individual routes to the recipient.