American Telephone and Telegraph, Co.

At&t Information Systems Inc.

David P Seaton

Stephen R Peck

Jeffrey James Olson

Improved alternate routing in a packet switching system is provided by inserting alternate routing control information into each packet and by storing alternate routing information at each network node. The stored information at each node includes a list of the available paths extending from the node towards all other nodes together with a list of available algorithms that can be used to select one of the available routes. The alternate routing control information in each packet contains postage information specifying the maximum number of nodes through which the packet is to travel. The alternate routing control information also includes a destination node index code identifying the destination node. The destination node index is used as address information by each node receiving a packet to read out the stored information at the node identifying the available paths and the algorithm to be used in selecting one of these paths for use in transmitting the packet towards the destination node. The identified algorithm is then executed to select the path to be used.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

David P Seaton