Patent ID: 8116197

Claim:
A method for routing data packets in a mesh network, comprising: selecting a fully protected communication path between a source node and a destination node in the mesh network, said communication path being assembled from path segments each presenting either a node path segment N or a link path segment L and each being protected with a backup path in said network, wherein each node path segment N comprises a node, a link incoming to said node and a link outgoing from said node, while each link path segment L comprises a single link outgoing from one associated node and incoming to another associated node, defining a required protection type for said communication path, being either a node protection, or a node-link protection, finding a primary path being said fully protected communication path, by selecting each specific path segment for said primary path according to initial user's requirements and topology information on the network, and by using the following rules: a) for any of said protection types, selecting a specific node path segment N for the primary path upon ensuring that said specific node path segment N can be protected in the network by a node backup path satisfying said initial user's requirements, b) if the node protection is defined, selecting for the primary path only a single specific link path segment L comprising a link incoming to said destination node, upon ensuring that said single specific link path segment L can be protected in the network by a link backup path satisfying said initial user's requirements, c) if the node-link protection is defined, selecting for the primary path a specific link path segment L only if it is impossible to select a node path segment N there-instead, upon ensuring that said specific link path segment L can be protected in the network by a link backup path satisfying said initial user's requirements; and routing the data packets along thus selected fully protected communication path between the source node and the destination node.