Network layer support for overlay networks

Overlay networks represent a flexible and deployable approach for applications to obtain new network semantics, but they suffer from some efficiency concerns. To support overlay networks efficiently, two new primitives are proposed for implementation in the network layer. Packet Reflection allows end hosts to request short-circuit packet routing and duplication in nearby routers. Path Painting allows multiple end hosts to determine where their disparate paths to a rendezvous point meet, in order to facilitate overlay topology building. Both primitives are incrementally deployable. Numerous applications of these primitives are considered to demonstrate their utility: application level multicast systems with various semantics, an extended Resilient Overlay Network with greater latency benefits, and a hierarchy of web caches.