Patent ID: 7546380

Claim:
A method for operating a selected node to distribute database updates within a network, said method comprising: generating a session announcement message including a session description and an identifier of the selected node as a source of a multi-party transport layer session for distributing database updates; receiving a join message identifying at least one directly-connected next-hop or previous-hop neighboring node, the join message comprising a request to participate in said transport layer session based on the session description; receiving an application data unit from an application operating at said selected node; assigning a sequence number to said application data unit, said sequence number configured for consistent use across all nodes participating in said transport session; encapsulating said application data unit within a transport protocol data unit; transmitting said transport protocol data unit to only said identified one or more directly-connected neighboring nodes as a part of said transport layer session; and retransmitting said application data unit to one of said directly-connected neighboring nodes if a request for retransmission is received from said directly-connected neighboring node; wherein said one or more directly-connected neighboring nodes are routers.