Abstract: A method and associated device for selecting one of a number of equivalent paths in forwarding a network message from a node of a communication network. A source and destination address is provided for the network message. The addresses are formed of individual bit values, and these values have a relative mapping between them. The relative mapping is decorrelated to obtain a decorrelated address pair. A randomized selection function is applied to the decorrelated address pair to produce an index which is derived from the relative sequence of bit values of the decorrelated address paid. The index is then used to select one of the equivalent paths. The associated device provides an address reader, a decorrelation module and a randomized selection module for performing the method previously described.

Abstract: A method and associated device for selecting one of a number of equivalent paths in forwarding a network message from a node of a communication network. A source and destination address is provided for the network message. The addresses are formed of individual bit values, and these values have a relative mapping between them. The relative mapping is decorrelated to obtain a decorrelated address pair. A randomized selection function is applied to the decorrelated address pair to produce an index which is derived from the relative sequence of bit values of the decorrelated address paid. The index is then used to select one of the equivalent paths. The associated device provides an address reader, a decorrelation module and a randomized selection module for performing the method previously described.