Patent ID: 6973038
Filing Date: 2005-12-06
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A system for real-time buying and selling of bandwidth, and routing of excess traffic over bandwidth purchased in real time, the system comprising: a router that routes a plurality of data packets from a number of network users to a number of backbone providers, the router having: a route optimizer connected to the router, the route optimizer receiving operating instructions, and generating the routing instruction for each input port in response thereto, the routing instructions including a first routing instruction that identifies an output port connected to a fixed-capacity bandwidth provider that can receive data packets up to a first traffic level, and a second routing instruction that indicates that data packets in excess of the first traffic level are to be output to a usage-based bandwidth provider that offers capacity on an as-needed basis, wherein the route optimizer identifies the usage-based bandwidth provider as a lowest cost provider that meets a predetermined maximum response time.