Patent ID: 7515600

Claim:
In a network including a plurality of nodes, wherein each node includes a database different from a database on a different node, a method for synchronizing data relevant for a first node of the plurality of nodes, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: sending an inquiry control message to each node in a candidate set of one or more nodes on the network different from the first node, in response to the inquiry control message, receiving, from a particular node different from the first node, a first set of one or more messages which indicates only a portion from the database of the particular node that is relevant for the first node and is not associated with a particular interface, of the particular node, through which the inquiry control message is received at the particular node, wherein the portion contains at least one association, wherein each association of the at least one association associates a destination with one or more nodes that are different from the first node; deriving a particular portion of a first database for the first node from the first set of messages, which portion is less than all of the first database; and updating the first database to include the particular portion.