System and method facilitating determination by router nodes in a network of ranges of addresses for which each router node is responsible

A node for use in a network, the node comprising:

• A. an address information advertising module configured to generate an address negotiation packet for transmission to another node, the address information advertising module being configured to initially provide an address range encompassing addresses with which the node is associated, and subsequently selectively provide updated address range information;
• B. an address information receiving module being configured to receive address negotiation packets from said other node including address information therefor;
• and
• C. a negotiation module being configured to engage in a negotiation operation, in response to receipt by the address information receiving module of address information from said other node representing an address range overlapping the address range defined by the address information in the address negotiation packet generated by the address information advertising module, to generate updated address range information for use by the address information advertising module.

A method of operating a node for use in a network comprising the steps of:

• A. generating an address negotiation packet for transmission to another node in the network, the address information advertising module being configured to initially provide an address range encompassing addresses for which the node is responsible, and subsequently selectively provide updated address range information;
• B. receiving address negotiation packets from an other node in the network including address information therefor;
• and
• C. engaging in a negotiation operation, in response to receipt of address information from said other node representing an address range overlapping the address range defined by the address information in the address negotiation packet generated by the address information advertising module, to generate updated address range information for use by the address information advertising module defining a range of addresses for which said node is responsible which does not overlap with an address for which said other node is responsible.

A computer program product for use in connection with a digital computer to control a node for use in a network, the computer program product comprising a machine-readable medium having encoded thereon:

• A. an address information advertising module configured to generate an address negotiation packet for transmission to another node, the address information advertising module being configured to initially provide an address range encompassing addresses with which the node is associated, and subsequently selectively provide updated address range information;
• B. an address information receiving module being configured to receive address negotiation packets from said other node including address information therefor;
• and
• C. a negotiation module being configured to engage in the negotiation operation, in response to receipt by the address information receiving module of address information from said other node representing an address range overlapping the address range defined by the address information in the address negotiation packet generated by the address information advertising module, to generate updated address range information for use by the address information advertising module.