Transmitting packet from device after timeout in network communications utilizing virtual network connection

1. A method of providing network communications, comprising:

(a) detecting, at a device, a request for a network connection from an application running on the device;

(b) spawning a virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a virtual network connection is provided;

(c) determining application-specific information associated with the application;

(d) using the application-specific information, selecting, at the device, a first routing protocol from among a plurality of routing protocols for communicating data from the application using the virtual network connection;

(e) using the virtual network connection, transmitting a packet to a first node using the first routing protocol for communication to a destination device;

(f) determining an average response time of the destination device;

(g) setting a timer to have a value corresponding to an amount of time greater than the determined average response time of the destination device; and

(h) upon expiration of the timer, transmitting the packet to a second node using a second routing protocol for communication to the destination device;

(i) wherein the application runs on the device outside of the virtual machine.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second routing protocol is different from the first routing protocol.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second node is different from the first node.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second routing protocol is different from the first routing protocol, and the second node is different from the first node.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step (d) comprises transmitting the packet to the second node using the virtual network connection with the second routing protocol.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual machine is created by a monitor in response to a controller that is configured to intercept messages sent to a network adapter.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual machine encapsulates a single hardware network interface of the device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual machine encapsulates a plurality of hardware network interfaces of the device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device includes a plurality of processing cores.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the application is a video game.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is a personal computer.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is a handheld mobile device.

13. A method of providing network communications, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting, at a device, a request for a network connection from an application running on the device;

(b) spawning a first virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a first virtual network connection is provided;

(c) determining application-specific information associated with the application;

(d) using the application-specific information, selecting, at the device, a first routing protocol from among a plurality of routing protocols for communicating data from the application using the first virtual network connection;

(e) using the first virtual network connection, transmitting a packet to a first node using the first routing protocol for communication to a destination device;

(f) determining an average response time of the destination device;

(g) setting a timer to have a value corresponding to an amount of time greater than the determined average response time of the destination device;

(h) upon expiration of the timer, spawning a second virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a second virtual network connection is provided; and

(i) using the second virtual network connection, transmitting a packet to a second node using a second routing protocol for communication to the destination device;

(j) wherein the application runs on the device outside of the first and second virtual machines.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second routing protocol is different from the first routing protocol, and wherein the second node is different from the first node.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first virtual machine encapsulates a single hardware network interface of the device.

16. A device comprising:

(a) a processor;

(b) one or more network adapters providing network capabilities;

(c) one or more computer readable media containing computer executable instructions configured to:

(i) detect, at the device, a request for a network connection from an application running on the device,

(ii) spawn a first virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the one or more network adapters of the device such that a first virtual network connection is provided,

(iii) determine application-specific information associated with the application,

(iv) using the application-specific information, select, at the device, a first routing protocol from among a plurality of routing protocols for communicating data from the application using the first virtual network connection,

(v) using the first virtual network connection, transmit a packet to a first node using a first routing protocol for communication to a destination device,

(vi) determine an average response time of the destination device,

(vii) set a timer to have a value corresponding to an amount of time greater than the determined average response time of the destination device, and

(viii) upon expiration of the timer, transmit the packet to a second, different node using the first virtual network connection with a second routing protocol for communication to the destination device,

(ix) wherein the application runs on the device outside of the first virtual machine.