Patent ID: 7428209

Claim:
A method, implemented within a router of a network, for recovering from a failure, comprising: sending, via a first route, a first set of information from an ingress module to a first egress module for forwarding by said first egress module to a destination external to said router, wherein said first set of information traverses a path which encompasses at least a portion of said first route; detecting a failure of said first egress module; in response to said failure of said first egress module, directing a message to said ingress module informing said ingress module of said first egress module failure; in response to said message, selecting an alternate egress module capable of forwarding information to said destination; sending, via a second route, a future set of information from said ingress module to said alternate egress module for forwarding to said destination, wherein said first set of information and said future set of information are both part of a flow; and in response to said message, preventing other sets of information associated with said flow from being sent from said ingress module to said first egress module; wherein directing said message to said ingress module comprises: identifying said ingress module; accessing a routing table which comprises one or more routes to said ingress module; obtaining a return route from said routing table, wherein said return route directs said message to said ingress module along a different path than that traversed by said first set of information; and sending said message to said ingress module via said return route; and wherein said first egress module and said alternate egress module are predetermined, wherein identifiers associated with said first egress module and said alternate egress module are stored within a flow block associated with said flow, and wherein preventing comprises: storing an indication in said flow block that all sets of information associated with said flow are not to be sent to said first egress module.