Data transport using geographical location

Abstract

A public network links a plurality of nodes, each associated with at least one network address. A transport network connects a plurality of routers, each of which is also connected to the public network. A database holds geographical location information associated with respective network addresses on the public network. The database is used to determine which of the routers is closest to geographical locations associated with the network addresses. Information is stored that identifies these closest routers. The information is suitable for use in a routing protocol for routing data packets through the transport network to a destination outside the transport network.

1 . A method of operating a data transport system, wherein the data transport system comprises:
 a private transport network comprising a plurality of routers, wherein each router of the plurality of routers has a connection to the private transport network and also has a connection to the Internet; and   a route server, connected to the private transport network,   
       the method comprising:
 the route server accessing a database comprising geographical location information associated with respective IP prefixes on the Internet, to determine respective routers of said plurality of routers that are closest, according to a predetermined geographical proximity metric, to respective geographical locations associated with respective IP prefixes on the Internet outside the private transport network; and 
 the route server configuring the private transport network for routing data packets, addressed to destinations outside the private transport network, through the private transport network, so that each data packet exits the private transport network at a respective router of said plurality of routers that is closest, according to the predetermined geographical proximity metric, to a respective geographical location associated with an IP prefix of the respective destination to which the data packet is addressed. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising routing data packets, addressed to destinations outside the private transport network, through the private transport network to respective routers, of said plurality of routers, that are closest to the geographical locations associated with IP prefixes of the respective destinations outside the transport network to which the data packets are addressed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the route server determining respective routers of said plurality of routers that are closest, according to a predetermined geographical proximity metric, to respective geographical locations associated with every respective IP prefix in a global Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing table. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the private transport network connecting the plurality of routers is configured to provide a quality of service guarantee for data on the private transport network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using authentication to control access to the private transport network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the private transport network is an autonomous system (AS). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined geographical proximity metric is straight-line distance or orthodromic distance. 
     
     
         8 . A data transport system comprising:
 a private transport network comprising a plurality of routers, wherein each router of the plurality of routers has a connection to the private transport network and also has a connection to the Internet; and   a route server, connected to the private transport network,   
       wherein:
 the route server is configured to access a database comprising geographical location information associated with respective IP prefixes on the Internet, and to use the database to determine respective routers of said plurality of routers that are closest, according to a predetermined geographical proximity metric, to respective geographical locations associated with respective IP prefixes on the Internet outside the private transport network; and 
 the route server is configured to configure the private transport network for routing data packets, addressed to destinations outside the private transport network, through the private transport network, so that each data packet exits the private transport network at a respective router of said plurality of routers that is closest, according to the predetermined geographical proximity metric, to a respective geographical location associated with an IP prefix of the respective destination to which the data packet is addressed. 
 
     
     
         9 . The data transport system of  claim 8 , wherein the private transport network is configured to provide a quality of service guarantee for data on the private transport network. 
     
     
         10 . The data transport system of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined geographical proximity metric is straight-line or orthodromic distance. 
     
     
         11 . The data transport system of  claim 8 , wherein the route server is configured to determine respective routers of said plurality of routers that are closest, according to a predetermined geographical proximity metric, to respective geographical locations associated with every respective IP prefix in a global Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing table. 
     
     
         12 . The data transport system of  claim 8 , wherein each router of the plurality of routers is configured to advertise a common IP address on the Internet. 
     
     
         13 . The data transport system of  claim 8 , wherein the private transport network is configured to use authentication to control access to the private transport network. 
     
     
         14 . The data transport system of  claim 8 , wherein the private transport network is an autonomous system (AS). 
     
     
         15 . A route server for use in a private transport network which comprises a plurality of routers, wherein each router of the plurality of routers has a connection to the private transport network and also has a connection to the Internet, the route server being configured:
 to access a database comprising geographical location information associated with respective IP prefixes on the Internet, and to use the database to determine respective routers of said plurality of routers that are closest, according to a predetermined geographical proximity metric, to respective geographical locations associated with respective IP prefixes on the Internet outside the private transport network; and   to configure the private transport network for routing data packets, addressed to destinations outside the private transport network, through the private transport network, so that each data packet exits the private transport network at a respective router of said plurality of routers that is closest, according to the predetermined geographical proximity metric, to a respective geographical location associated with an IP prefix of the respective destination to which the data packet is addressed.   
     
     
         16 . The route server of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined geographical proximity metric is straight-line distance or orthodromic distance. 
     
     
         17 . The route server of  claim 15 , wherein the route server is configured to determine respective routers of said plurality of routers that are closest, according to a predetermined geographical proximity metric, to respective geographical locations associated with every respective IP prefix in a global Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing table.