Patent ID: 8374183

Claim:
One or more computer-readable storage media excluding signals per se having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for managing distribution of data packets between endpoints, the method comprising: detecting one or more data packets at a first endpoint, wherein each of the one or more data packets include a header comprising a source address and a destination address; sending to a directory service a request that carries the source address and the destination address; receiving from the directory service a response that carries a forwarding path; performing a routing decision comprising readdressing the one or more data packets based on the received forwarding path, wherein readdressing the one or more data packets based on, in part, the forwarding path comprises encapsulating the one or more data packets as inner data packets within respective outer data packets, wherein the outer data packets each include a header that exposes location-dependent addresses of a physical network; and transmitting the one or more readdressed data packets to a second endpoint based on, in part, the location-dependent address.