Patent ID: 8194553

Claim:
A network system for traffic balancing among different networks employing a plurality of IP protocols, the network system comprising: a plurality of hosts supporting the plurality of IP protocols; and a network monitoring device for monitoring traffic in each of the networks; wherein the network monitoring device comprises a processor, coupled to a memory, for performing operations of: monitoring the traffic in each of the networks; judging whether the traffic in a first network employing a first IP protocol is balanced compared with a second network employing a second IP protocol, based on the monitored network traffic; and when it is judged that a traffic imbalance occurs between the first network and the second network, notifying a host transmitting IP packets by employing the first IP protocol to transmit the packets by using the second IP protocol; wherein a given one of said hosts comprises a processor, coupled to a memory, for performing operations of: converting the next IP packet to be transmitted employing the first IP protocol into an IP packet employing the second IP protocol, in response to the notification; and transmitting the IP packet employing the second IP protocol; and wherein the first network employing the first IP protocol and the second network employing the second IP protocol comprise alternative routes for transmitting IP packets from a given source to a given destination.