Method and network nodes for reporting at least one dropped-out connection path within a communication network

A method for reporting a dropped-out connection path of a first network node to a second network node within a packet switching communication network, comprising:

• providing a first routing table to the first node, the first routing table including a primary entry representing a primary routing path and an alternate entry representing an alternate routing path,
• wherein the primary path is a connection path between the first node and the destination node, and
• wherein the alternate path is a connection path between the first node and the destination node via the second node;
• providing a second routing table to the second node, the second routing table including a primary entry representing a primary routing path and an alternate entry representing an alternate routing path,
• wherein the primary path is a connection path between the second node and the destination node, and
• wherein the alternate path is a connection path between the second node and the destination node via the first node;
• periodically transferring a message from the first node to the second node while the first node has access to the destination network node via the respective primary path;
• stopping the periodic transfer when a first fault is detected on the primary path of the first node;
• detecting a second fault on the primary path of the second node;
• and
• avoiding a transfer of a data packet to the destination node via the alternate routing path that leads from the second node to the first node.

A first network node within a packet switching communication network having a first primary path that is a connection path between the first node and a destination node and a first alternate path that is a connection path between the first node and a second node, and the second node having a second primary path that is a connection path between the second node and the destination node and a second alternate path that is a connection path between the second node and the first node, the first node comprising:

• a routing table including a primary entry representing the first primary path and an alternate entry representing the first alternate path;
• a first fault indicator that indicates if the first primary path is available;
• a second fault indicator that indicates if the second primary path is available to the second node;
• and
• a receiver that receives a data packet to be transferred to the destination node;
• wherein when the first and second fault indicators indicates the paths are unavailable, transfer of the data packet on the first paths is inhibited.