Method and system for computer data routing optimization

1. A method for computer data routing optimization, the method comprising a set of route optimization steps comprising:

a) receiving a data package, wherein the data package identifies a default routing network;

b) determining a set of potential routing networks, wherein the set of potential routing networks comprises:

i) the default routing networks; and

ii) one or more alternative routing networks usable as alternatives to the default routing network;

c) determining a corresponding path selection criteria value for each network from the set of potential routing networks;

d) determining whether the corresponding path selection criteria value for at least one alternative network from the set of potential routing networks surpasses the corresponding path selection criteria value for the default routing network; and

e) based on determining that the corresponding path selection criteria value for at least one alternative network from the set of potential routing networks surpasses the corresponding path selection criteria value for the default routing network:

i) determining whether context specific rules should be applied to the set of potential routing networks; and

ii) based on a determination that context specific rules should be applied to the set of potential routing networks, determining an optimal routing network by applying a set of one or more context specific rules to the set of potential routing networks.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

a) determining whether context specific rules should be applied to the set of potential routing networks comprises determining whether context specific rules associated with a source of the data package had previously been stored in a database; and

b) the database has stored therein a plurality of sets of context specific rules, each of which corresponds to a different data package source.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the corresponding path selection criteria value for at least one network from the set of potential networks surpasses the corresponding path selection criteria value for the optimal routing network.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein, for each potential routing network, determining the corresponding path selection criteria value for that potential routing network comprises:

a) determining two or more subcriteria values for that potential routing network; and

b) combining each of the two or more subcriteria values for that potential routing network into the corresponding path selection criteria value for that potential routing network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

a) receiving the data package comprises receiving an indication that the data package should be only partially processed;

b) the method comprises, after determining the set of potential routing networks:

i) generating an ID for the set of potential routing networks;

ii) storing intermediate processing data comprising the set of potential routing networks with the ID; and

iii) sending an intermediate processing result message to a source of the data package, wherein the intermediate processing result message comprises the ID; and

iv) ceasing performance of the set of route optimization steps;

c) the method comprises, after sending the intermediate processing result message and ceasing performance of the set of route optimization steps:

i) receiving a routing request comprising the ID; and

ii) based on receiving the routing request comprising the ID:

A) retrieving the intermediate processing data; and

B) resuming the set of route optimization steps using the intermediate processing data.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

a) the set of route optimization steps is performed using a route optimization server; and

b) the method comprises:

i) for each of a plurality of different data packages, performing one or more steps from the set of route optimization steps with that data package;

ii) performing a comparison of one or more data packages that were routed by the route optimization server and one or more data packages that were not routed by the route optimization server during a preceding time period; and

iii) based on the comparison, identifying one or more potential optimizations that could be made by one or more submitters of data packages during a subsequent time period.

7. A system for computer data routing optimization, the system comprising a computer adapted to perform a set of route optimization steps comprising

a) receiving a data package, wherein the data package identifies a default routing network;

b) determining a set of potential routing networks, wherein the set of potential routing networks comprises:

i) the default routing networks; and

ii) one or more alternative routing networks usable as alternatives to the default routing network;

c) determining a corresponding path selection criteria value for each network from the set of potential routing networks;

d) determining whether the corresponding path selection criteria value for at least one alternative network from the set of potential routing networks surpasses the corresponding path selection criteria value for the default routing network; and

e) based on determining that the corresponding path selection criteria value for at least one alternative network from the set of potential routing networks surpasses the corresponding path selection criteria value for the default routing network:

i) determining whether context specific rules should be applied to the set of potential routing networks; and

ii) based on a determination that context specific rules should be applied to the set of potential routing networks, determining an optimal routing network by applying a set of one or more context specific rules to the set of potential routing networks.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:

a) determining whether context specific rules should be applied to the set of potential routing networks comprises determining whether context specific rules associated with a source of the data package had previously been stored in a database; and

b) the database has stored therein a plurality of sets of context specific rules, each of which corresponds to a different data package source.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the corresponding path selection criteria value for at least one network from the set of potential networks surpasses the corresponding path selection criteria value for the optimal routing network.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein, for each potential routing network, determining the corresponding path selection criteria value for that potential routing network comprises:

a) determining two or more subcriteria values for that potential routing network; and

b) combining each of the two or more subcriteria values for that potential routing network into the corresponding path selection criteria value for that potential routing network.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein:

a) receiving the data package comprises receiving an indication that the data package should be only partially processed;

b) the computer is adapted to, after determining the set of potential routing networks:

i) generate an ID for the set of potential routing networks;

ii) store intermediate processing data comprising the set of potential routing networks with the ID; and

iii) send an intermediate processing result message to a source of the data package, wherein the intermediate processing result message comprises the ID; and

iv) cease performance of the set of route optimization steps;

c) the computer is adapted to, after sending the intermediate processing result message and ceasing performance of the set of route optimization steps:

i) receive a routing request comprising the ID; and

ii) based on receiving the routing request comprising the ID:

A) retrieve the intermediate processing data; and

B) resume the set of route optimization steps using the intermediate processing data.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system is adapted to:

a) for each of a plurality of different data packages, performing one or more steps from the set of route optimization steps with that data package;

b) performing a comparison of one or more data packages that were routed by the computer and one or more data packages that were not routed by the computer during a preceding time period; and

c) based on the comparison, identifying one or more potential optimizations that could be made by one or more submitters of data packages during a subsequent time period.