Patent ID: 7619982
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for use in a computer network for managing paths taken by one or more probe packets sent from a source to a target of a computer network, the method comprising: assigning a publicly reachable address to the source, wherein the publicly reachable address is a part of a public address space advertised by one or more routers; creating an alternate routing table at the source for use with the probe packets, the alternate routing table separate from a routing table used with packets other than probe packets; transferring, to a target, the probe packets onto a path of the computer network via a specific exit at the source, based on contents of the alternate routing table; and returning, to the source, the probe packets from the target, wherein the returned probe packets are addressed to the publicly reachable address and follow a path that matches a path followed by user data through the computer network.