Treatment of data in networks

摘要

Data networks and nodes making up parts of data networks are arranged to derive information relating to the characterization of paths taken by data travelling between nodes in the networks. Path characterization information is fed back from a receiver of data to a provider of data, and informs nodes subsequently forwarding data of characteristics of the downstream path. Also described are routing and related controlling nodes and methods for using such path characterization information to make informed routing and other decisions when forwarding data in a data network.