Diverse path forwarding through trial and error

Abstract

In one embodiment, a node determines an intention to transmit a diversely forwarded packet through a computer network, and as such, transmits a first version of the packet having a packet identifier (ID) and a first distinguisher value to a first next-hop node, and transmits a second version of the packet having the same packet ID and a second distinguisher value different from the first distinguisher value to a second next-hop node different from the first next-hop node. In another embodiment, a next-hop node that receives the packet determines whether any previously received packet at the next-hop node had a same packet ID and a different distinguisher value. In response to determining that no previously received packet has the same packet ID and different distinguisher value, the next-hop node stores the packet ID and the distinguisher value, and forwards the packet to a selected next-hop node.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.