Patent ID: 8064467

Claim:
A method for routing packets in a network comprising a plurality of backbone networks, the method comprising: assigning a first backbone network of the plurality of backbone networks to a first destination network address; associating a first next hop loopback address with the first destination network address; and advertising the first destination network address in combination with the first next hop loopback address through the first backbone network, whereby packets addressed to the first destination network address are routed through the first backbone network; assigning a second backbone network of the plurality of backbone networks to a second destination network address; associating a second next hop loopback address with the second destination network address: advertising the second destination network address in combination with the second next hop loopback address through the second backbone network, whereby packets addressed to the second destination network address are routed through the second backbone network; and setting an internal least cost routing metric associated with the second next hop loopback address in the second backbone network equal to a value less than another internal least cost metric associated with the first next hop loopback address in the first backbone network.