Patent ID: 8874490

Claim:
A method comprising: combining two or more links coupled to a first computer network service provider (SP) that charges a price in a unit of currency for utilization of services according to a first pricing structure that relates utilization of services to an amount of currency, to form a single virtual combined link that encompasses the two or more combined links; monitoring each of the two or more links of the virtual combined link and one or more other links coupled to a second computer network SP that charges a price in a unit of currency for utilization of services according to a second pricing structure that relates utilization of services to an amount of currency, to obtain link data for each of the two or more links of the virtual combined link and for each of the one or more other links; merging, by a processor, link data for the two or more links of the virtual combined link to form link data for the virtual combined link; and optimizing distribution of data among the virtual combined link and the one or more other links to distribute data among the virtual combined link and the one or more other links in a manner that minimizes currency that must be paid for utilization of services based on the link data for the virtual combined link, the link data for the one or more other links and the first and second pricing structures.