Boundary Routers Providing Redistribution and Related Backbone Networks, Computer Program Products, and Methods

A border router of a backbone network, the border router comprising:

• a first router interface providing a data coupling with a regional data network outside the backbone network wherein the first network interface is configured to receive a notification of a change in status of an edge router of the regional network wherein the notification is received according to a first routing protocol;
• a database associated with the first router interface wherein the database is provided according to the first routing protocol, and wherein the first router interface is configured to update the interface based on the change in status of the edge router responsive to receiving the notification of the change in status of the edge router of the regional network;
• a second router interface providing a data coupling with another border router of the backbone network;
• and
• a router controller coupled to the first and second router interfaces wherein the router controller is configured to redistribute the notification of the change in status of the edge router from the first routing protocol to a second routing protocol wherein the first and second routing protocols are different, and wherein the router controller is configured to provide the redistributed notification to the second router interface.

A method of operating a border router of a backbone network providing data connectivity between the backbone network and a regional network, the method comprising:

• receiving a notification of a change in status of an edge router of the regional network at an interface of the border router of the backbone network that is coupled to the regional network wherein the notification is received according to a first routing protocol;
• responsive to receiving the notification of the change in status of the edge router of the regional network, updating a database associated with the interface of the border router coupled to the regional network wherein the database is provided according to the first routing protocol wherein the database is updated based on the change in status of the edge router;
• and
• responsive to receiving the notification of the change in status of the edge router of the regional network, redistributing the notification of the change in status of the edge router from the first routing protocol to a second routing protocol wherein the first and second routing protocols are different.