Method for routing traffic using traffic weighting factors

The invention includes a method for routing traffic from a first node towards a plurality of intermediate nodes. A method includes receiving traffic at a first node and routing respective portions of the received traffic toward respective intermediate nodes according to respective traffic weighting factors associated with the intermediate nodes. Upon receiving the respective portions of the traffic, the intermediate nodes may then route the traffic toward one or more destination nodes, or may route the traffic toward another plurality of intermediate nodes before the traffic is routed to a destination node. The intermediate node traffic weighting factors may be dependent on the first node and the destination node, or may be independent of the first node and the destination node.