Patent ID: 8908701

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an input/output port configured to: receive a plurality of messages, wherein each of the plurality of messages is associated with a respective at least one of a plurality of attributes that includes a respective one lowest metric associated with a respective one worst performing communication link within a respective one communication pathway of a plurality of communication pathways between the apparatus and at least one additional apparatus; and transmit at least one additional message to the at least one additional apparatus; and a processing circuit configured to: process the plurality of messages to select at least one of the plurality of communication pathways for supporting the communications; and generate the at least one additional message that indicates readiness of the apparatus to receive communications from the at least one additional apparatus and identifies the selected at least one of the plurality of communication pathways for supporting the communications, wherein the apparatus and the at least one additional apparatus are implemented within a convergent network that includes a plurality of bridges such that each of the plurality of communication links respectively connecting a respective two of a plurality of communication devices of the apparatus, the at least one additional apparatus, and the plurality of bridges and each of the plurality of communication pathways includes two or more of the plurality of communication links.