Patent ID: 7206315

Claim:
A router device at which multi-path exists, comprising: a processing unit configured to select one router among a plurality of routers that can possibly be a next hop router so as to contribute to a load balancing, according to a whole or a prescribed part of information regarding a state of cut-through path set up in which the router device is involved, at a time of setting up a cut-through path in the multi-path; a control unit configured to carry out a prescribed control for setting up the cut-through path with said one router as the next hop router; and a transfer unit configured to transfer datagrams using the cut-through path, wherein the processing unit selects said one router according to a number of already set up cut-through paths that are used to route packets to a same destination node such that numbers of cut-through paths at said plurality of routers are uniformly distributed among said plurality of routers, wherein the processing unit: assigns possible residue values starting from 0 that are obtainable by dividing a given integer by a total number of said plurality of routers, respectively to said plurality of routers, one residue value per each router; and selects one of said plurality of routers which is assigned with a residue value obtained by dividing the number of already set up cut-through paths by the total number of said plurality of routers as said one router, wherein the control unit: sends a message for setting up the cut-through path to said one router when no other already set up cut-through path to said one router exists, and making an information setting necessary for utilizing the cut-through path when the cut-through path is set up; and makes another information setting necessary for merging the cut-through path with an already set up cut-through path to said one router when the already set up cut-through path exists.