Assignee is Cisco Technology

A technique retrieves computed path, segments across one or more domains of a computer network (AS1, AS2) in accordance with a stateful ('semi-stateful') path computation element (PCE) (ASBR1) model. The staterul PCE model includes a data structure configured to store one or more path segments computed by a PCE in response to a path computation request issued by a Path Computation Client (PCC) (A). Notably, each computed path segment stored in the data structure is identified by an associated path- key value ('path key'). The path segment and path key contents of the data structure are temporarily saved ('cached') at a predetermined location in the network for a configurable period of time.

PCT/US2005/039824