Patent ID: 7561517
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of routing data between a first point and a second point, the method comprising: routing a data flow on a first path; passively monitoring at least one data flow characteristic associated with the data flow on the first path to determine a first value of the data flow characteristic; after a predetermined amount of time, switching the data flow to a second path; passively monitoring the at least one data flow characteristic associated with the data flow on the second path to determine a second value of the data flow characteristic after a second predetermined amount of time; comparing the first value to the second value; selecting either the first path or the second path as a default path for the data flow based on the comparison; and routing the data flow on the default path, wherein passively monitoring the at least one data flow characteristic associated with the data flow on the first path and passively monitoring the at least one data flow characteristic associated with the data flow on the second path do not introduce additional network traffic.