System and method for disseminating topology and link-state information to routing nodes in a mobile ad hoc network

A method for disseminating topology and link state information in a multi-hop network including a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a first node in the multi-hop network, an update message containing topology or link state information, the update message being received from a parent of the first node that is indicated by a path tree rooted at a source from which the update message originated, wherein the source decides what information to include in the update message, said information comprising one or more of:
• at least one non-delete update for a link in the path tree that has changed or is new or at least one delete update for a link that is not in the oath tree but is in a reported set of links;
• updating, at the first node, a table of network topology stored at the first node in accordance with the update message;
• and
• forwarding the update message, by the first node, to one or more children of the first node that are indicated by the path tree rooted at the source.