Patent ID: 8094580
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: sending, by a network device, one or more packets on a plurality of paths, where the one or more packets include one or more first type of packets and one or more second type of packets, the network device using the one or more first type of packets to determine timing information associated with the plurality of paths, and the network device using the one or more second type of packets to perform at least one operation associated with data transfer, and where at least one first type of packet, of the one or more first type of packets, and at least one second type of packet, of the one or more second type of packets, are sent on each of the plurality of paths; receiving, by the network device, one or more responses to the one or more packets; selecting, by the network device, a path, of the plurality of paths, when response times, associated with the received one or more responses, do not exceed a threshold; initiating, by the network device, a data transfer on the selected path; sending, by the network device, one or more additional packets on one or more of the plurality of paths when the response times exceed the threshold, the one or more additional packets including at least one of the one or more first type of packets and at least one of the one or more second type of packets; and determining, by the network device, that a data transfer is to be initiated on a path, of the one or more of the plurality of paths, based on one or more responses to the one or more additional packets.