Patent ID: 8830820

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving a network protocol packet at a router adapted for routing data packets to one or more other routers, wherein the network protocol packet conforms to a routing protocol that provides distributed routing computation; sending the network protocol packet, through a controller, to a selected one of a plurality of route control servers; processing the network protocol packet at the selected route control server to generate a routing computation result that conforms to the routing protocol; generating routing information based on the routing computation result, wherein the routing information conforms to a control protocol that provides centralized routing computation; sending the routing information to the router for routing of data packets based on the control protocol; detecting a failure in the controller; assigning a second controller to manage communications between the router and the plurality of route control servers; and transmitting, from the second controller, a message to the plurality of route control servers and the router, wherein the message comprises controller status information.