Method and apparatus for performance and cost optimization in an internetwork

A method of routing from a source node to a group of destination nodes having a common prefix comprising:

• a. generating a plurality of performance scores for a plurality of routes from the source node to the group of destination nodes, each performance score corresponding to an access link from one or more access links;
• b. determining a superior performance score from the plurality of performance scores;
• c. implementing a route update request according to a priority queue, wherein the route update request corresponds to the superior performance score, the priority queue prioritizes received route update requests according to urgency, and a rank of the update request for a prefix in the priority queue is dependent on a percent improvement of a performance score resulting from moving the prefix from its current route to a pending winner route;
• and
• d. configuring a router to select an access link corresponding to the route update request.

A method of routing from a source node to a group of destination nodes having a common prefix comprising:

• a. generating a plurality of performance scores for a plurality of routes from the source node to the group of destination nodes, each performance score corresponding to an access link from one or more access links, wherein a performance score from the plurality of performance scores is determined by unpacking the group into component prefixes in the event a change in a performance score for the group above a threshold level is determined and generating performance scores for each of the component prefixes;
• b. determining a superior performance score from the plurality of performance scores;
• c. implementing a route update request according to a priority queue, wherein the route update request corresponds to the superior performance score;
• and
• d. transmitting a routing change corresponding to the route update request to one or more routers along the routes to route data along an access link.