Using virtual identifiers to process received data routed through a network

A computer-implemented method for processing a received data communication based on a virtual identifier that was used to route the data communication through a network, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication of a data communication that was routed to a destination along a path through the network by using a virtual identifier corresponding to the path, the virtual identifier distinct from a network address associated with the destination;
• determining the virtual identifier used to route the indicated data communication along the path through the network to the destination;
• and
• determining based on the determined virtual identifier an appropriate resource associated with the destination to which the indicated data communication will be supplied.

A computer system for processing a received data communication based on a virtual identifier that was used to route the data communication through a network, comprising:

• means for receiving an indication of a data communication that was routed to a destination by using a virtual identifier corresponding to a path through the network to the destination, the virtual identifier distinct from a network address associated with the destination;
• means for determining the virtual identifier used to route the indicated data communication through the network to the destination;
• and
• means for determining based on the determined virtual identifier an appropriate resource associated with the destination to which the indicated data communication will be supplied.

A method for a destination computing device to process a received data communication based on a virtual identifier that was used to route the data communication through a network, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication of a virtual identifier that can be used to route a data communication through the network to the destination, the receiving of the indicated virtual identifier based on a registration of that data communication with a network manager for the network;
• after the receiving of the indication of the virtual identifier, receiving a data communication that was routed to the destination by using the indicated virtual identifier;
• determining a resource associated with the destination that is appropriate to receive the received data communication, the determining based at least in part on the received indication of the virtual identifier;
• and
• supplying the received data communication to the determined resource.

A method for a destination to process a received data communication based on a virtual identifier that was used to route the data communication through a network, the method comprising:

• receiving a data communication that was routed through the network to the destination by using a virtual identifier that is distinct from a network address associated with the destination;
• adding the associated network address to the received data communication in such a manner that the added network address represents a destination network address;
• and
• after the adding of the associated network address to the received data communication, supplying the received data communication to a resource associated with the destination.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed cause a computing device to process a received data communication based on a virtual identifier that was used to route the data communication through a network, by performing a method comprising:

• receiving a data communication that was routed through the network to a destination by using a virtual identifier;
• determining a network address associated with a resource of the destination, the received data communication lacking an indication of the associated network address;
• adding the associated network address to the received data communication in such a manner that the added network address represents a destination network address;
• and
• after the adding of the associated network address to the received data communication, supplying the received data communication to the resource.

A network node computing device for processing a received data communication based on a virtual identifier that was used to route the data communication through a network, comprising:

• a first module capable of receiving a data communication that was routed through the network to the network node by using a virtual identifier that is distinct from a network address associated with the network node;
• a second module capable of adding the associated network address to the received data communication in such a manner that the added network address represents a destination network address;
• and
• a third module capable of, after the adding of the associated network address to the received data communication, supplying the received data communication to a resource associated with the network node.