Patent ID: 7706300

Claim:
A method for providing topology awareness information within an IP network, said IP network comprising a central node of a topology awareness system that stores and processes topology information, said central node connected to at least one topology awareness unit that is implemented in a network node within said IP network, said topology awareness unit comprising functionality of a topology awareness system interface, wherein the method comprises the steps of: transmitting a registration message from one of the topology awareness units implemented within the network node to the central node; adding an identity of said topology awareness unit to a list of known units at the central node; and transmitting a response message from the central node to the topology awareness unit, wherein said response message has a capability to order the topology awareness unit to: keep a current relation with the central node, if the current relation between the topology awareness unit and the central node is accepted; aggregate network topology information, if the central node determines that the topology awareness unit is to be used as an aggregation point; and redirect reporting of the network topology information to a previous aggregation point identified in the response message, if there exists a suitable aggregation point, the redirect response message causing the current relation between the topology awareness unit and the central node to be torn down and a new relation to be established between the topology awareness unit and the previous aggregation point.