Patent ID: 7805536

Claim:
For use with a node, a computer-implemented method comprising: a) receiving, using the node, an aggregated message including, for a first set of at least two different interfaces of a neighbor node, at least two indicators, each indicator identifying a different one of the at least two different interfaces of the neighbor node and corresponding forwarding liveness status information for each of the at least two different interfaces of the first set of the at least two different interfaces as data within the aggregated message; and b) updating, using the node, neighbor node forwarding liveness status information using the aggregated message, wherein the forwarding liveness status information includes an integrity and correct operation of a forwarding table of the neighbor node, and wherein the act of updating neighbor node forwarding liveness status information includes i) determining, by the node, whether the first set of at least two different interfaces is the same as a second set of at least two different interfaces of the neighbor node included in an earlier message, ii) if the first set of at least two different interfaces is determined to be the same as the second set of at least two different interfaces, then for each of the at least two different interfaces of both the first and second sets having a changed status, informing, by the node, a local interface of the changed status of its peer interface of the neighbor node, and iii) if the first set of at least two different interfaces is determined to be different from the second set of at least two different interfaces, then A) for any interface in the first set but not in the second set, informing, by the node, a local interface of the status indicated in the aggregated message of its peer interface of the neighbor node, and B) for any interface in the second set but not in the first set, informing, by the node, a local interface that the status of its peer interface of the neighbor node is down.