Patent ID: 6981055

Claim:
A method for routing traffic from a source to a routing destination in a network where a plurality of routes arm available, comprising: assigning a cost to each of said routes and selecting the route with the lowest cost as defined by a cost function, wherein said cost is a function of a path characteristic over the route to which said cost is assigned; for at least one route, determining the location of said routing destination and inferring said path characteristic based on measurement of said path characteristic associated with sending tic from said source to another destination over said available routes, wherein the location of said routing destination is determined by circular intersection by: measuring the time it takes for traffic to move from a plurality of source locations to said routing destination; converting said times to distance equivalents; forming a plurality of intersecting circles using said distance equivalents as the radius of circles with said source locations as the center; and determining the physical location of said routing destination from the intersection of said circles.