Patent ID: 7436775

Claim:
A software configurable cluster-based router ( 400 ) for a packet-switched communication network, said cluster-based router including N cluster nodes ( 402 ) connected by a plurality of internal links ( 404 ), characterized by: a plurality of external links for enabling said cluster-based router to exchange traffic with a plurality of nodes of said packet-switched communication network; each cluster node of said N cluster nodes ( 402 ) being adapted to operate as a core router cluster node and as an edge router cluster node; the internal links ( 404 ) connect said cluster nodes in an intra-connection network adapted to provide a high path diversity for a plurality of packet processing flows routed over said intra-connection network between edge router nodes; and the cluster nodes connected to external links being adapted to operate as edge router cluster nodes, whereby a specified routing capacity is obtained for said cluster-based router by selecting N and selecting a configuration of said intra-connection network, said configuration having n dimensions, said cluster nodes being interconnected by said internal links in such a way that each of said cluster nodes is connected to two other cluster nodes in each of said dimensions, each of said cluster nodes thereby being connected to 2*n said internal links.