Overlay network
First Claim
1. A method, operable in a network comprising a plurality of nodes, at least two of said plurality of nodes each having at least a corresponding overlay module, the method comprising:
- by a first overlay module at a source device, querying the overlay modules at each of the plurality of nodes for costs associated with transmitting a message to each of the plurality of nodes;
comparing the costs associated with transmitting the message to each of the plurality of nodes to determine an optimal node to which to transmit the message; and
addressing the message to the optimal node thereby causing, at least in part, the source device to transmit the message to the optimal node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for dynamically discovering and utilizing an optimized network path through overlay routing for the transmission of data. A determination whether to use a default network path or to instead use an alternate data forwarding path through one or more overlay nodes is based on real-time measurement of costs associated with the alternative paths, in response to a user request for transmission of message data to a destination on the network. Cost metrics include delay, throughput, jitter, loss, and security. The system chooses the best path among the default forwarding path and the multiple alternate forwarding paths, and implements appropriate control actions to force data transmission along the chosen path. No modification of established network communication protocols is required.
442 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method, operable in a network comprising a plurality of nodes, at least two of said plurality of nodes each having at least a corresponding overlay module, the method comprising:
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by a first overlay module at a source device, querying the overlay modules at each of the plurality of nodes for costs associated with transmitting a message to each of the plurality of nodes; comparing the costs associated with transmitting the message to each of the plurality of nodes to determine an optimal node to which to transmit the message; and addressing the message to the optimal node thereby causing, at least in part, the source device to transmit the message to the optimal node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, operable in a network comprising a plurality of nodes represented by a network address, at least two of said plurality of nodes each having at least a corresponding overlay module, the method comprising:
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by a first overlay module at a source device, querying the overlay modules at each of a plurality of nodes for costs associated with transmitting a message to each of the plurality of nodes; comparing the costs associated with transmitting the message to each of the plurality of nodes to determine an optimal node to which to transmit the message; and inserting a network identifier of the optimal node into a header associated with the message thereby causing, at least in part, the source device to transmit the message to the optimal node. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for selecting a transmission path from a plurality of transmission paths in a network, wherein each of the plurality of transmission paths comprises at least one of a plurality of nodes, and wherein at least one overlay module is located at each of the plurality of nodes, the method comprising:
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by a first overlay module at a source device, querying the overlay modules at each of a plurality of nodes for costs associated with transmitting a message from the source device via each of the plurality of transmission paths; comparing the costs associated with transmitting the message via each of the plurality of transmission paths to determine an optimal transmission path for transmission of the message; and addressing the message to a node on the optimal path thereby causing, at least in part, the source device to transmit the message to the optimal transmission path. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method, operable in a network comprising a plurality of nodes, including a first node having a first overlay module and a second node having a second overlay module, the method comprising:
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an overlay module at a source device querying the first overlay module for a first cost associated with transmitting a message on a first path comprising the first node; the overlay module at the source device querying the second overlay module for a second cost associated with transmitting the message on a second path comprising the second node; determining that the second path is the optimal path based at least in part on comparing the first cost and the second cost; and addressing the message to the second node thereby causing, at least in part, the source device to transmit the message to the optimal path. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method, operable in a network comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein N nodes of said plurality of nodes each have a corresponding overlay module associated therewith, N>
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an overlay module at a source device querying at least M overlay modules of said N nodes, where M<
=N, to ascertain at least M costs associated with transmitting a message from the source device to a destination device via each of at least M nodes;determining an optimal node from said M nodes based at least in part on the M costs; and addressing the message to the optimal node thereby causing, at least in part, the source device to transmit the message to the optimal node. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. An overlay network comprising:
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at least one overlay module at each of a plurality of Internet nodes; a first overlay module at a source device, wherein the first overlay module is operable to; query the overlay modules at each of the plurality of Internet nodes for costs associated with transmitting a message to each of the plurality of Internet nodes; and compare the costs associated with transmitting the message to each of the plurality of Internet nodes to determine an optimal Internet node to which to transmit the message; and address the message to the optimal Internet node thereby causing, at least in part, the source device to transmit the message to the optimal Internet node. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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Specification