Method And Apparatus For Identifying Different Routing Paths Between Networks

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.

1 . A computer-implemented method for identifying alternate routing paths for network traffic between a known first network and a destination within an unknown second network on the Internet wherein:
 an initial routing path for the network traffic between the first network and the destination within the unknown second network crosses at least one interconnecting transit network;   the method comprising:
 a. obtaining, at a processor of a computer, destination IP address information for the destination within the unknown second network; 
 b. the processor comparing the destination IP address information to an Internet database to determine an identity of the second network; and 
 c. the processor using the identity of the second network to identify a second routing path comprising a peer connection between the first network and the second network wherein the peer connection and the second routing path differs from the initial routing path and bypasses the at least one interconnecting transit network.