Patent ID: 7885271

Claim:
A method of routing packets between a set of two or more client terminals and an application server, all connected to a network, the method comprising the steps of: selecting M hub nodes from a pool of candidate hub nodes, each candidate hub node being a router of said network, where M is a positive integer; for each client terminal in said set, assigning m of the M hub nodes for latency-equalization (LEQ) routing, where m is a positive integer and m≦M; instructing an edge router connected to a client terminal belonging to said set to direct packets designated for LEQ routing from the client terminal to the application server, through at least one of the m hub nodes assigned to the client terminal; instructing an edge router connected to the application server to direct packets designated for LEQ routing from the application server to the client terminal, through at least one of the m hub nodes assigned to the client terminal; for each client terminal in said set, compiling a delay table listing delays corresponding to network paths that connect the client terminal and the application server through the candidate hub nodes; merging said delay tables to compile a delay inventory, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting the M hub nodes based on the delay inventory; removing, from the delay inventory, entries having delays greater than a specified threshold value to create a truncated inventory; and for each entry of the truncated inventory, compiling, based on respective one or more constraints, a potential hub-node assignment list that provides at least m covers for each of the client terminals in said set.