US Patent 7808890 Forwarding data in a data communications network

An apparatus for forwarding data in a data communications network having as components nodes and links there between, the apparatus being arranged to forward data to a receiving node via a primary path the apparatus further having a repair capability of computing a repair path around a failure component in the primary path to an address having a repair identifier for the receiving node not via the failure component, the apparatus being arranged to forward data to the receiving node via the repair path upon failure of the failure component if a node in the primary path to the receiving node does not have said repair capability.