Router-based routing selection

A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions configured to be stored in a memory and executed by a processor, the program of instructions comprising:

• at least one instruction to receive a dispersed storage error encoded data slice;
• at least one instruction to obtain a current routing path associated with the dispersed storage error encoded data slice;
• at least one instruction to determine a predicted performance of the current routing path;
• at least one instruction to determine that a predicted performance of the current routing path fails to satisfy a performance threshold;
• at least one instruction to obtain alternate performance information associated with one or more alternate routing paths in response to the predicted performance of the current routing path failing to satisfy the performance threshold;
• at least one instruction to select a particular alternate routing path, from among the one or more alternate routing paths, as a new routing path, the particular alternate routing path being selected based, at least in part, on the alternate performance information;
• and
• at least one instruction to transmit the dispersed storage error encoded data slice via the new routing path instead of using the current routing path.

A relay unit for use in a communications network, the relay unit comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled to the processor;
• a program of instructions configured to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, the program of instructions including:
• at least one instruction to receive a dispersed storage error encoded data slice;
• at least one instruction to obtain a current routing path associated with the dispersed storage error encoded data slice;
• at least one instruction to determine a predicted performance of the current routing path;
• at least one instruction to determine that a predicted performance of the current routing path fails to satisfy a performance threshold;
• at least one instruction to obtain alternate performance information associated with one or more alternate routing paths in response to the predicted performance of the current routing path failing to satisfy the performance threshold;
• at least one instruction to select a particular alternate routing path, from among the one or more alternate routing paths, as a new routing path, the particular alternate routing path being selected based, at least in part, on the alternate performance information;
• and
• at least one instruction to transmit the dispersed storage error encoded data slice via the new routing path instead of using the current routing path.