Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for analyzing IP data flows for the determination of an alternate routing path for network traffic between a known first network and a destination within an unknown second network on the Internet.

Abstract: Disclosures teach a virtual router operable to change a connection between a first Autonomous System (AS) and a second AS from a first path to a second path. The connection passes packet traffic over Intermediate Networking Infrastructure (INI) between the first AS and the second AS. The virtual router may utilize a protocol for machine-to-machine interaction to reconfigure node(s) in the INI to change the connection. In examples, the INI may include an Internet Exchange Grid (IEG) connected to a first Internet Exchange Points (IXP) and a second, geographically-remote, IXP respectively connected to the first and second ASs. The IEG may provide authentication, together with switching infrastructure, to enable a peering relationship between the first AS and the second AS. The virtual router may process measurements from the first path and the second path, potentially with different metrics, to determine to change the connection to the second path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing IP data flows for the determination of an alternate routing path for network traffic between a known first network and a destination within an unknown second network on the Internet. An initial path between the first network and the destination exists. The IP address of the destination is determined and looked up in an Internet database. An alternative route to the destination is determined based on information from the Internet database in order to avoid an interconnecting transit network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for collecting data on traffic paths between networks over an intermediate set of network elements, which may include a Distributed Internet Exchange Platform (DIXP) enabling a peering relationship between the two networks. A set of agents may be coupled with different network elements in the intermediate set from which they may collect data with which the traffic paths may be assessed, monitored, and/or evaluated. The set of agents may report the data to a control-plane module, which may store the data in a centralized database. Additionally, the control-plane module may be operable to generate and/or provision instructions to the agents to control the collection of data and/or the monitoring of traffic paths. The database may include network-topology information from which the control-plane module may identify the traffic paths between the two networks and to which the data may be correlated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for analyzing IP data flows for the determination of an alternate routing path for network traffic between a known first network and a destination within an unknown second network on the Internet.