Latency-based routing and load balancing in a network

A method comprising:

• receiving a user request for a service on a network connected user device;
• identifying, from a plurality of storage nodes associated with the service, a target storage node associated with the user request;
• receiving, at a data manager associated with the network connected user device, a data structure comprising:
• a first plurality of lag times corresponding to communications between a user network node associated with the network connected user device and the plurality of storage nodes;
• and
• a second plurality of lag times, each lag time of the second plurality of lag times corresponding to a length of time for a first storage node of the plurality of storage nodes to completely replicate content from a second storage node of the plurality of storage nodes;
• determining, based on the first plurality of lag times and the second plurality of lag times, a plurality of total lag times between the user network node and the target storage node via a corresponding path comprising one or more of the plurality of storage nodes;
• identifying a shortest total lag time from the plurality of total lag times;
• and
• causing, through the user network node, the target storage node to respond to the user request for the service along a path corresponding to the shortest total lag time.

A system comprising:

• a communication port;
• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• control circuitry communicably coupled to the memory and the communication port and configured to execute the instructions to:
• receive a user request for a service on a network connected user device;
• identify, from a plurality of storage nodes associated with the service, a target storage node associated with the user request;
• receive, at a data manager associated with the network connected user device, a data structure comprising:
• a first plurality of lag times corresponding to communications between a user network node associated with the network connected user device and the plurality of storage nodes;
• and
• a second plurality of lag times, each lag time of the second plurality of lag times corresponding to a length of time for a first storage node of the plurality of storage nodes to completely replicate content from a second storage node of the plurality of storage nodes;
• determine, based on the first plurality of lag times and the second plurality of lag times, a plurality of total lag times between the user network node and the target storage node via a corresponding path comprising one or more of the plurality of storage nodes;
• identify a shortest total lag time from the plurality of total lag times;
• and
• cause, through the user network node, the target storage node to respond to the user request for the service along a path corresponding to the shortest total lag time.