# US 9,521,063 B2 · Method and system for enhanced internet protocol address aggregation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,063 B2 - Document ID: US9521063B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/508,660 - Filed: 2006-08-23 - Published: 2008-02-28 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-23 - Assignees: Avaya Inc. - Applicants: Dwight Jameson; Michael Aalders; Patrik Lahti - Inventors: Dwight Jameson; Michael Aalders; Patrik Lahti - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521063B2 ## CPC - H04L 45/00: Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks (routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00) - H04L 12/2856: {Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access (asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W)} - H04L 12/2874: {Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers} - H04L 45/04: {Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract The present invention advantageously provides a method, system and apparatus for aggregating multiple site-specific routes, by determining a first aggregate-aware route that includes a prefix of a site-specific address and a prefix length of an aggregate route address of a first service provider. The method and system can be implemented as an enhancement to existing IP protocols such as BGP and other inter-domain routing protocols. The method and apparatus may further include applying a routing protocol policy in which an aggregate route may serve as a proxy for an aggregate-aware route when the address of the aggregate route matches the address of the aggregate-aware route. The method and system may yet further include determining a second aggregate-aware route that includes the prefix of the aggregate route address of the first service provider and a prefix length of a second aggregate route address of a second service provider. The method and system may yet still further include determining a first aggregate-aware route that includes at least two autonomous system identifiers from a multi-homing zone and a multi-homing zone diameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for aggregating multiple site-specific routes, the method comprising: determining a first aggregate-aware route at a first service provider, the first aggregate-aware route including a prefix of a site-specific address, a prefix length of the site-specific address and a prefix length of an aggregate route address of the first service provider. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first aggregate-aware route includes applying a routing protocol policy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the routing protocol policy allows an aggregate route to serve as a proxy for the first aggregate-aware route when an address of the aggregate route matches the address of the first aggregate-aware route. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the routing protocol policy includes determining that the first aggregate-aware route address has a route preference flag, the route preference flag indicating that an aggregate route is to serve as a proxy for the first aggregate-aware route. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a second aggregate-aware route that includes the prefix of the aggregate route address of the first service provider and a prefix length of a second aggregate route address of a second service provider. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein determining the second aggregate-aware route includes applying a routing protocol policy. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the routing protocol policy includes allowing the second aggregate route to serve as a proxy for the first aggregate-aware route when the address of the second aggregate route matches the address of the first aggregate-aware route. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first aggregate-aware route further includes at least two autonomous system identifiers from a multi-homing zone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first aggregate-aware route further includes a multi-homing zone diameter. ### Claim 10 An apparatus for aggregating multiple site-specific routes, the apparatus comprising: a storage device, the storage device storing a site-specific address and an aggregate route address of a first service provider; and a central processing unit, the central processing unit operating to determine a first aggregate-aware route including a prefix of a site-specific address, a prefix length of the site-specific address and a prefix length of the aggregate route address of the first service provider. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is a router. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein determining the first aggregate-aware route includes applying a routing protocol policy. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the routing protocol policy allows the aggregate route to serve as a proxy for the first aggregate-aware route when the address of the aggregate route matches the address of the aggregate-aware route. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the routing protocol policy includes determining that the first aggregate-aware route address has a route preference flag, the route preference flag indicating that an aggregate route is to serve as a proxy for the first aggregate-aware route. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, the processor further comprising determining a second aggregate-aware route that includes the prefix of the aggregate route address of the first service provider and a prefix length of a second aggregate route address of a second service provider. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein determining the second aggregate-aware route includes applying a routing protocol policy. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first aggregate-aware route further includes at least two autonomous system identifiers from a multi-homing zone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first aggregate-aware route further includes a multi-homing zone diameter. ### Claim 19 A storage medium storing a computer program which when executed by a processing unit performs a method for aggregating multiple site-specific routes, the method comprising: determining a first aggregate-aware route at a first service provider, the first aggregate-aware route including a prefix of a site-specific address, a prefix length of the site-specific address and a prefix length of the aggregate route address of the first service provider. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The storage medium of claim 19, wherein determining the first aggregate-aware route includes applying a routing protocol policy. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The storage medium of claim 20, wherein the routing protocol policy allows the aggregate route to serve as a proxy for the first aggregate-aware route when the address of the aggregate route matches the address of the first aggregate-aware route. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The storage medium of claim 20, wherein the routing protocol policy includes determining that the first aggregate-aware route address has a route preference flag, the route preference flag indicating that an aggregate route is to serve as a proxy for the first aggregate-aware route. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The storage medium of claim 19, further comprising determining a second aggregate-aware route that includes the prefix of the aggregate route address of the first service provider and a prefix length of a second aggregate route address of a second service provider. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The storage medium of claim 23, wherein determining the second aggregate-aware route includes applying a routing protocol policy. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The storage medium of claim 19, wherein the first aggregate-aware route further includes at least two autonomous system identifiers from a multi-homing zone. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The storage medium of claim 25, wherein the first aggregate-aware route further includes a multi-homing zone diameter.