Method and apparatus for managing network status information using multiple degree of precision graph

A method for managing information in a network, comprising, by a network node of a communication network with dynamically changing topology:

• generating or receiving an indication of a network event, the network event pertaining to status of a node or link of the network;
• transmitting the indication of the network event toward a first one or more other network nodes to notify the first one or more other network nodes of a change in network status with a first level of precision;
• and
• actively inhibiting transmission of the indication of the network event toward a second one or more other network nodes to notify the second one or more other network nodes of the change in network status with a second level of precision lower than the first level of precision, such that transmission of the indication of the network event toward the second one or more network nodes is delayed compared to transmission of the indication of the network event toward the first one or more network nodes.

A network node comprising a network interface, a processor and a non-transitory memory, the network node belonging to a communication network with dynamically changing topology and configured to:

• maintain, using the processor and the memory, network status information for a plurality of different portions of the network, each of said different portions defined by a different respective set of network nodes and links, wherein said network status information for one of the different portions is updated with a higher latency than said network status information for another one of the different portions;
• update the link state database based on the network status information for the plurality of different portions of the network, the link state database indicative of link states within the plurality of different portions of the network, wherein the link state database includes a first portion indicative of link states for said one of the different portions of the network and a second portion indicative of link states for said other one of the different portions of the network, and an indication that the first portion is tracked with a lower precision than the second portion due to said higher latency;
• and
• actively inhibiting transmission of an update to said network status information toward one or more other network nodes.

A network node comprising a network interface and a processor, the network node belonging to a communication network with dynamically changing topology and configured to:

• receive, via the network interface, an indication of a network event, or generate the indication of the network event, the network event pertaining to status of a node or link of the network;
• transmit, using the network interface, the indication of the network event toward a first one or more other network nodes to notify the first one or more other network nodes of a change in network status with a first level of precision;
• and
• actively inhibit transmission of the indication of the network event toward a second one or more other network nodes to notify the second one or more other network nodes of the change in network status with a second level of precision lower than the first level of precision, such that transmission of the indication of the network event toward the second one or more network nodes is delayed compared to transmission of the indication of the network event toward the first one or more network nodes.

A system for managing a link state database in a communication network with dynamically changing topology, the system comprising:

• a first network node configured to:
• receive or generate an indication of a network event, the network event pertaining to status of a node or link of the network;
• transmit, using the network interface, the indication of the network event toward a first one or more other network nodes to notify the first one or more other network nodes of a change in network status with a first level of precision;
• and
• actively inhibit transmission of the indication of the network event toward a second one or more other network nodes to notify the second one or more other network nodes of the change in network status with a second level of precision lower than the first level of precision, such that transmission of the indication of the network event toward the second one or more network nodes is delayed compared to transmission of the indication of the network event toward the first one or more network nodes;
• and
• a second network node configured to:
• receive the indication of the network event from the first network node, or via another path or mechanism not involving the first network node, upon the first network node inhibiting transmission of the indication of the network event;
• and
• maintain, based at least in part on the indication of the network event, network status information for a plurality of different portions of the network each of said different portions defined by a different respective set of network nodes and links.