Patent ID: 7953888

Claim:
A method for transmitting content in a communications network, the method comprising: (A) configuring a table to cause content to be routed over a first path in said communications network; (B) comparing an elapsed time relative to the transmission of content via the first path against a threshold amount of time; (C) based at least in part on the comparing step (B), when said elapsed time relative to the transmission of content via the first path exceeds the threshold amount of time, querying at least one overlay software module for one or more costs associated with one or more alternate paths; (D) comparing the one or more costs associated with the one or more alternate paths and a cost associated with the first path; (E) based at least in part on the comparing step (D), selecting the first path or an alternate path as an optimal path based at least in part on which path is associated with a lower cost; and (F) modifying the table to cause content to be routed over the optimal path in said communications network; and wherein the communications network comprises the Internet and wherein communication among nodes of the first path uses at least an Internet protocol, and communication among nodes of the one or more alternate paths uses at least the Internet protocol.