A packet routing method for directing packets of a session from an originating node toward a destination node in an IP network, the packets of the session including a lead packet and a plurality of subsequent packets originating at the originating node, the packets of the session having a unique session identifier, the method comprising: an intermediate augmented IP router, AIPR obtaining the lead packet of the session, said AIPR being able to identify and modify said packets of the session; modifying the lead packet to include an intermediate AIPR IP address and an intermediate AIPR port number associated with the session; forwarding the modified lead packet toward the destination node through an intermediate AIPR electronic output interface to the IP network, the electronic output interface being in communication with the IP network; receiving, through an electronic input interface of the intermediate AIPR, a backward message from a next AIPR, the next AIPR having a next AIPR IP address, the backward message including the next AIPR IP address, a next AIPR port number associated with the session, and the session identifier, the electronic input interface being in communication with the IP network; forming an association between the next AIPR IP address, the next AIPR port number, and the session identifier; storing, in memory, the association to maintain state information for the session; obtaining the subsequent packets of the session; modifying the subsequent packets using the stored association by modifying a destination address of the subsequent packets to be the next AIPR IP address and modifying a destination port of the subsequent packets to be the next AIPR port number; and forwarding, through the electronic output interface of the intermediate AIPR, the modified subsequent packets toward the next AIPR such that the modified subsequent packets of the session traverse the next AIPR as a waypoint on their way to the destination node. an intermediate augmented IP router, AIPR obtaining the lead packet of the session, said AIPR being able to identify and modify said packets of the session; modifying the lead packet to include an intermediate AIPR IP address and an intermediate AIPR port number associated with the session; forwarding the modified lead packet toward the destination node through an intermediate AIPR electronic output interface to the IP network, the electronic output interface being in communication with the IP network; receiving, through an electronic input interface of the intermediate AIPR, a backward message from a next AIPR, the next AIPR having a next AIPR IP address, the backward message including the next AIPR IP address, a next AIPR port number associated with the session, and the session identifier, the electronic input interface being in communication with the IP network; forming an association between the next AIPR IP address, the next AIPR port number, and the session identifier; storing, in memory, the association to maintain state information for the session; obtaining the subsequent packets of the session; modifying the subsequent packets using the stored association by modifying a destination address of the subsequent packets to be the next AIPR IP address and modifying a destination port of the subsequent packets to be the next AIPR port number; and forwarding, through the electronic output interface of the intermediate AIPR, the modified subsequent packets toward the next AIPR such that the modified subsequent packets of the session traverse the next AIPR as a waypoint on their way to the destination node. <EOS>