Patent ID: 8867338

Claim:
A method for communicating information within a network, the method comprising: analyzing a path between a first end point and a second end point by a node on the path between the first end point and the second end point, wherein the path comprises a plurality of sub-links extending between the first end point and the second end point; identifying a partial fault along the path by the node; generating a first fault report by the node; and consolidating, by the node, the first fault report with at least one other fault report received from a downstream node positioned downstream from the node, wherein a consolidated fault report comprising the first fault report with at least one other fault report received from a downstream node is transmitted to one or more upstream nodes within the flow, wherein the flow is between the first end point and the second point and transports data in the direction from the first end point to the second end point, and wherein the first fault report is not transmitted to the upstream nodes of the flow that are not affected by the partial fault.