Patent ID: 7808995

Claim:
A method of relaying data packets within a network, comprising: receiving a first data packet at a first network node from said network, said first data packet having an original header including first network destination information and a first header modification indicator, and said first network destination information including a network destination of said first network node; analyzing said received first data packet at said first network node to detect the presence of said first header modification indicator; replacing said original header of said first data packet at said first network node with a first substitute header based upon the detection of said first header modification indicator, said first substitute header including second network destination information that is different than said first network destination information of said original packet header, and said second network destination information including a network destination of at least one first additional network node that was not included in said first network destination information of said original packet header of said first data packet; and transmitting said first data packet having said first substitute header from said first network node across said network to said network destination of said at least one first additional network node that was not included in said first network destination information of said original packet header; wherein said network destination of said at least one first additional network node included in said first substitute header is the ultimate network destination for said first data packet; wherein said second network destination information is not included in said first data packet when it is received at said first network node; and wherein said first substitute header does not contain destination information of previous destinations of said first data packet.