Patent ID: 7054948

Claim:
A network, comprising a plurality of hosts constructed and arranged for the transfer of digital information between the hosts, the plurality of hosts including a first host acting as a source host; a second host acting as a destination host; a third host acting as a collaborating host; and, a management object constructed and arranged to facilitate collaboration between the source host and the collaborating host in transferring data between the source host and the destination host, the management object monitoring network status to determine if a need exists based on one of network congestion, load balancing, transfer latency and effective bandwidth, wherein: if the need exists, the management object instructs the source host to provides necessary control information and message contents to the collaborating host, and the collaborating host sends the data to the destination host in such a way as to make the destination host believe the data is from the source host; and if the need does not exist, the management object does not instruct the source host to provide said necessary control information and message contents to the collaborating host, and the source host sends the data to the destination host.