Patent ID: 8626948

Claim:
A computer network comprising: (a) three or more nodes, each comprising a computer processor and data storage; (b) means for processing data regarding enabling an overhearing node to overhear packet transmissions from a source node to a destination node; (c) means for processing data regarding determining a cost of transmitting packets from the source node to the destination node; (d) means for processing data regarding determining a cost of transmitting packets from the source node to the overhearing node to the destination node; (e) means for processing data regarding storing in the overhearing node state information regarding each overheard packet transmission; (f) means for processing data regarding the overhearing node updating as necessary the cost of transmitting packets from the source node to the destination node, and the cost of transmitting packets from the source node to the overhearing node to the destination node, based on each overheard packet transmission; and (g) when the cost of transmitting packets from the source node to the overhearing node to the destination node is less than the cost of transmitting packets from the source node to the destination node, means for processing data regarding the overhearing node sending an advertisement to the source node causing the packet transmissions to be routed from the source node to the destination node through the overhearing node.