Method and apparatus for improved routing in connectionless networks

An apparatus for determining a routing table for use in a network comprising a plurality of type-one nodes and a plurality of type-two nodes, the type-two nodes using respective type-two routing tables comprising one next-hop node associated with each of a plurality of destination nodes, comprising:

• means for obtaining link status information associated with each of a plurality of links of the network from the type-one node and the type-two nodes;
• means for obtaining traffic measurement information from the type-one nodes and the type-two nodes;
• and
• means for determining, using the link status and traffic measurement information, a plurality of type-one routing tables for the respective type-one nodes, the type-one routing tables being determined for the type-one nodes as a group in a substantially coordinated manner, each type one routing table comprising a plurality of next-hop nodes associated with each of the destination nodes.

A system for manipulating traffic within a network, comprising:

• a plurality of type-one nodes using respective type-one routing tables, each type-one routing table comprising a plurality of next-hop nodes associated with each of a plurality of destination nodes;
• a plurality of type-two nodes using respective type-two routing tables, each type-two routing table comprising one next-hop node associated with each of the destination nodes;
• and
• a controller in communication with the type-one and type-two nodes, the controller adapted for determining the type-one routing tables using link status information and traffic measurement information obtained from the type-one nodes and the type-two nodes, the controller adapted for determining the type-one routing tables for the type-one nodes as a group in a substantially coordinated manner.