Patent ID: 7216179

Claim:
A method for routing content through a network based on semantics of the content being routed, wherein the network comprises a plurality of routers, comprising the steps of: receiving a semantic profile at one of the plurality of routers, wherein the semantic profile includes information that identifies at least one destinations's interest in receiving content; operating on the semantic profile to identify areas of overlapping interests in receiving content between the semantic profile and other semantic profiles, wherein the other semantic profiles include information that identifies other destinations' interest in receiving content; aggregating the semantic profiles using the identified areas of overlapping interests; receiving a semantic packet at the one of the plurality of routers wherein the semantic packet comprises a header and content and wherein the header of the semantic packet comprises a preamble, at least one semantic signature, and at least one semantic descriptor; and routing the semantic packet towards a destination based at least on a comparison between the semantic content included in the semantic packet and the destination's semantic profile.