Patent ID: 8327020

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving a healthcare transaction request from a source computer, wherein the healthcare transaction request includes at least a first destination identifier that identifies a destination of the healthcare transaction request; identifying, based at least in part on the first destination identifier, a first current transaction count, the first current transaction count indicating an extent to which one or more prior healthcare transaction requests remain unprocessed by the destination; comparing the identified first current transaction count to at least one first threshold value; determining, based at least in part on the comparison, whether to deliver the healthcare transaction request to the destination; responsive to a determination to not deliver the healthcare transaction request to the destination, determining, based at least in part on the first destination identifier, that an alternate route computer is available to provide an alternate route to the destination, the alternate route computer associated with a second destination identifier; identifying, based at least in part on the second destination identifier, a second current transaction count, the second current transaction count indicating an extent to which one or more prior healthcare transaction requests remain unprocessed by the alternate route computer; comparing the identified second current transaction count to at least one second threshold value; and determining, based at least in part on the comparison involving the second current transaction count, whether to deliver the healthcare transaction request to the alternate route computer for indirect delivery to the destination; responsive to a determination to deliver the healthcare transaction request to the alternate route computer, delivering the healthcare transaction request to the alternate route computer; and modifying the second current transaction count to reflect at least one additional healthcare transaction request that remains unprocessed by the alternate route computer, wherein the prior steps are performed by one or more computers associated with a service provider.