Network routing using link failure information

A method comprising:

• receiving link failure information identifying a failed link within a computer network, wherein the link failure information defines a valid time period for the information;
• receiving a packet identifying a destination within the computer network;
• and
• forwarding the packet according to a path vector routing protocol using the link failure information, wherein forwarding the packet comprises forwarding the packet according to the link failure information prior to the expiration of the valid time period.

A computer-readable medium having data structures thereon comprising:

• a first data structure to store an identifier for a failed link within a computer environment;
• a second data structure to store a unique identifier for an originator of the link failure information associated with the failed link, wherein the first data structure and the second data structure are stored within a routing table and associated in a manner that causes a network router to output a routing communication to withdraw one or more routes and specify the failed link identified within the first data structure;
• and
• a third data structure to store a valid time period for the link failure information, wherein the third data structure causes the network router to route a packet according to the link failure information prior to expiration of the valid time period and route the packet without using the link failure information after the expiration of the valid time period.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions to cause a programmable processor to:

• receive link failure information identifying a failed link within a computer network, wherein the link failure information defines a valid time period for the information;
• store the link failure information;
• forward a data packet to neighboring routers within the computer network according to the link failure information and a path vector routing protocol prior to expiration of the time period;
• and
• forward packets as if the failed link has been restored upon expiration of the time period.

A system comprising:

• a data store to hold link failure information identifying failed links within a computer network;
• a routing table to store routing information describing available routes to nodes within the computer network;
• and
• a control unit to forward packets through the computer network based on the link failure information and the routing information, wherein the control unit forwards the packets as if the failed link has been restored upon expiration of a valid time period associated with the link failure information.

A method comprising:

• receiving a message including link failure information identifying a failed link within a computer network, wherein the link failure information defines a storage time period for which the link failure information is to be stored by a receiving router;
• storing the link failure information within the router in accordance with the storage time period;
• and
• selectively forwarding subsequently received messages that include the link failure information based on the expiration of the storage time period.

A method comprising:

• receiving a message including link failure information identifying a failed link within a computer network, wherein the message includes an origin identifier that identifies an originating network device that detected the link failure and a timestamp indicating when the failed link was detected, wherein the message identifies at least one route having at least three nodes including a source node, a destination node and at least one intermediate nodes and wherein the failed link comprises a link coupling two of the nodes along the route;
• accessing a data store to determine whether link failure information identifying the failed link, the originating network device and the timestamp has previously been received;
• and
• forwarding the message only when the link failure information has not been previously received.

A method comprising:

• receiving link failure information identifying a failed link within a computer network, wherein the link failure information defines a valid time period for the link failure information;
• receiving a packet identifying a destination within the computer network;
• forwarding the packet according to a path vector routing protocol using the link failure information prior to the expiration of the valid time period;
• and
• forwarding the packet without using the link failure information after the expiration of the valid time period.