Methods and apparatus for routing packets in packet transmission networks.

A PACKAGE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROVIDES A POINT-TO-POINT PACKAGING ROUTING AND BROADCASTING OF ISSUE PACKAGES, TO LIMIT THE LIMITED SUB-ASSEMBLIES OF NODES IN THE NETWORK, USING A FIELD OF RIDING IN THE PACKAGE OF THE PACKAGES, TWO DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS. A THIRD PROTOCOL IS PROVIDED, IN WHICH A PACKAGE CAN BE SENT TO THE LIMITED SUB-ASSEMBLY, EVEN WHEN SENT FROM A NODE THAT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A MEMBER OF THE SUB-ASSEMBLY. THE ROUTING FIELD INCLUDES A FIRST PORTION THAT CONTAINS THE ROUTING LABELS NECESSARY TO DELIVER THE PACKAGE TO THE DIFFUSION SUB-ASSEMBLY. A SECOND PORTION OF THE ROUTING FIELD CONTAINS THE IDENTIFIER OF THE DISSEMINATION SUB-ASSEMBLY, WHICH MAY BE USED LATER TO DELIVER THE PACKAGE TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE DISSEMINATION SUB-ASSEMBLY. MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO DELIVER THE PACKAGE BACK TO THE LAST IDENTIFIED NODE, BEFORE THE SUBMISSION SUB-ASSEMBLY, IF THIS LAST NODE IS A MEMBER OF THE SUB-ASSEMBLY.