Patent ID: 8570897

Claim:
A method for providing topological map information of a communications system having a plurality of domains, comprising the steps of: obtaining, in a first domain among the plurality of domains, information about a first link, a first end of which being connected to said first domain, wherein the first domain further comprises: a first border node including at least one port coupled to the first end of the first link, a second border node including at least one port coupled to the at least one port of the first border node via an intra-domain link, and a plurality of internal nodes, each internal node coupled to another internal node by at least one internal link, said step of obtaining comprises the step of collecting said information about said first link, and said step of collecting said information about said first link comprises the step of investigating occurrence of a new adjacent domain, sending, if an occurring new adjacent domain was not previously comprised in said multi-domain communications system, all available link information to said occurring new adjacent domain not previously comprised in said multi-domain communications system; spreading link information about said first link from said first domain to a domain adjacent to said first domain; said link information about said first link comprising: domain identity of said first domain; link end identifier for said first end of said first link; domain identity of a second domain to which a second end of said first link being connected; and link end identifier for said second end of said first link; receiving, in said first domain, link information about a second link from a domain adjacent to said first domain; distributing said link information about said second link to a domain adjacent to said first domain; compiling link information available in said first domain; and providing access to said compiled link information for creation of a system link map.