Method and system for optimizing routing of data packets

A system for facilitating selection of a route for a data packet, the data packet traveling to a destination which is part of an autonomous system, the autonomous system having a geographic area, the system comprising:

• an information-obtaining mechanism that obtains information relating to the autonomous system, the information including the geographic area of the autonomous system;
• and
• an association mechanism that associates the autonomous system with the geographic area to allow selection of the route based on the geographic area of the autonomous system;
• wherein the data packet does not include an indication of a geographic location of the destination;
• and
• wherein the information-obtaining mechanism and the association mechanism reside outside of the autonomous system.

A system for facilitating selection of a route for a data packet, the data packet traveling to a destination, the destination being part of an autonomous system, the data packet not including an indication of a geographic location of the destination, the system comprising:

• an obtaining mechanism that obtains information relating to the autonomous system, the autonomous system having a geographic area, the information including the geographic area;
• an access mechanism that accesses a database including information relating to the autonomous system, the information including a designation of the autonomous system and an indication of the geographic area;
• a mechanism that finds, in the information, the designation of the autonomous system and the indication of the geographic area;
• a mechanism that associates the autonomous system with the geographic area to allow selection of the route based, at least in part, on the geographic area of the autonomous system;
• a mechanism that uses the designation of the autonomous system and the indication of the geographic area to associate the autonomous system with the geographic area to allow selection of the route for the data packet to be transmitted to the autonomous system using the geographic area.

A router for selecting a route for a data packet from a source to a destination, a first geographic are corresponding to the source and a second geographic area corresponding to the destination, the source being associated with a first autonomous system and the destination being associated with a second autonomous system, the first geographic area including a first country and the second geographic area including a second country, the destination having an address not indicating the second geographic area corresponding to the destination, the router comprising:

• a mechanism that associates an address for the destination with the second geographic area to allow selection of the route for the data packet based on the second geographic area;
• a mechanism that accesses a database including a designation of the second autonomous system and an indication of the second country;
• a mechanism that uses the designation of the second autonomous system and the indication of the second country to associate the autonomous system with the second country to allow selection of the route for the data packet to be transmitted to the second autonomous system based on the second country;
• and
• a mechanism that selects constructed and adapted to select the route based at least in part on a second geographic area.

A system for facilitating selection of a route for a data packet, the system comprising:

• a mechanism that obtains information relating to an autonomous system, the autonomous system having a geographic area, the information including the geographic area;
• a mechanism that accesses a database including information relating to the autonomous system, the information including a designation of the autonomous system and an indication of the geographic area, the designation of the autonomous system and the indication of the geographic area being in a form which is not usable for selecting a route for a data packet to be transmitted to the autonomous system;
• a mechanism that finds in the information the designation of the autonomous system and the indication of the geographic area;
• and
• a mechanism that associates the autonomous system with the geographic area to allow selection of the route based on the geographic area;
• a mechanism that uses the designation of the autonomous system and the indication of the geographic area to associate the autonomous system with the geographic area to allow selection of the route for the data packet to be transmitted to the autonomous system using the geographic area.