Patent ID: 8009558

Claim:
A method for communicating data, the method comprising: maintaining at least a first pseudowire and a second pseudowire through a network to deliver data, wherein the first pseudowire and the second pseudowire originate at an originating node; receiving first feedback data, including a first load value, from a first multi-service edge node on which the first pseudowire terminates and second feedback data, including a second load value, from a second multi-service edge node on which the second pseudowire terminates, the first feedback data and second feedback data concerning current load conditions of the first and second pseudowires, wherein the first feedback data is received by way of the first pseudowire and the second feedback data is received by way of the second pseudowire; updating a traffic hash table with the first load value and the second load value; comparing, by the originating node, the first load value and the second load value contained in the traffic hash table; and selectively routing new traffic flows from the originating node to the first multi-service edge node via the first pseudowire when the second load value exceeds the first load value and routing new traffic flows from the originating node to the second multi-service edge node via the second pseudowire when the first load value exceeds the second load value, wherein the first multi-service edge node and the second multi-service edge node are different.