Abstract: A query is propagated from a querying node to a destination node in a network of connected nodes, where at least one node is designated as a delay node. A query is transmitted from the querying node to one or more connected nodes in the network of connected nodes. One or more nodes, from the one or more connected nodes, are designated as delay nodes, wherein delay nodes apply delays to the query before retransmitting the query to other nodes from the one or more connected nodes. Upon receiving the query, each node, from the one or more connected nodes, retransmits the query to another one or more nodes from the one or more connected nodes. The query is repeatedly received and retransmitted by the connected nodes until the query is received at the destination node.

Abstract: Method and system are provided for assessing response routes in a network of connected nodes wherein a querying node propagates a query through multiple routes of intermediate nodes to a data source node and the data source node returns data to the querying node. The method at a data source node may include: receiving a query instance including metadata with route information of the route of intermediate nodes in the network that the query instance has travelled through from a querying node to the data source node; comparing the route information to a route policy; and responding to a query instance which meets the route policy by returning the query response via the route of intermediate nodes of the query instance.