1. A method for detecting and correcting invalid network paths in a network having a plurality of routers and a set of global invariant rules imbedded in the network comprising: querying a subset of a routing table data structure defining network paths wherein said subset includes a plurality of routing table entries; comparing an earlier routing table entry with at least one newer routing table entry in the network; detecting inconsistencies between the newer network routing table entry and the older network routing table entry; invalidating the network entries of the older network routing table data structure that are inconsistent with the newer entries; reconstructing the routing table data structure by replacing the invalidated network routing table entries with new routing table entries that minimize violation of the invariant protocols.