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hlink: A Next-Generation Multipath Linking Protocol for Resilient Networks Keywords nthlink, multipath routing, resilient networking, edge computing, IoT connectivity, deterministic link selection, network orchestration Description nthlink is a novel multipath linking protocol designed to deliver deterministic, resilient, and low-latency connections by selecting and orchestrating the "n-th" best link among available paths. It targets edge, IoT, and hybrid cloud environments where reliability and predictable performance are critical. Content As networks grow more complex—spanning cloud, edge, cellular, and ad-hoc links—the traditional single-path routing model struggles to meet modern demands for resilience, low latency, and deterministic behavior. nthlink is an architectural approach and protocol suite that treats available connectivity as ranked alternatives and actively manages the n-th best path selection to satisfy application-level constraints. Core concept At its heart, nthlink establishes and continually evaluates multiple candidate paths between endpoints. Each path is scored using a composite metric (latency, jitter, packet loss, cost, and security posture). Rather than always choosing the top-ranked path, nthlink supports deterministic selection policies where an application or orchestrator can request the "n-th" link — e.g., the 1st for lowest latency, the 2nd for cost-balancing, or the 3rd for compliance reasons. This controlled diversity improves predictability and enables policies such as cold standby, cost-aware failover, and multi-priority parallelism. Architecture and operation nthlink comprises three components: - Path discovery and monitoring: continuously probes routes across physical and virtual interfaces and updates path scores in real time. - Link selector: applies policy rules (application SLAs, cost thresholds, security requirements) to pick the appropriate n-th link and manage switching decisions. - Multipath data plane: supports seamless traffic steering, packet replication for ultra-reliability, and ordered reassembly to preserve session integrity. The protocol supports both end-to-end deployments (client and server run nthlink agents) and middlebox-assisted modes where an edge gateway performs orchestration for resource-constrained devices. Use cases - Industrial IoT: Ensures deterministic connectivity for control loops by pinning critical telemetry to a specific nth-ranked path while leaving noncritical telemetry on cheaper alternatives. - Mobile edge computing: Balances compute-to-data placement by using 2nd- or 3rd-ranked paths for background sync to reduce interference with latency-sensitive traffic. - Telecom and enterprise failover: Implements predictable cold-standby failover and traffic-splitting strategies to meet SLAs and manage cost across MPLS, broadband, and 5G links. - Multi-cloud networking: Orchestrates traffic across cloud interconnects to satisfy regulatory or cost constraints without sacrificing performance. Benefits and outlook nthlink brings deterministic multi-path control, better utilization of heterogeneous links, and policy-driven resilience. By decoupling “best” from “expected,” it lets operators design predictable behaviors rather than relying on ad hoc failovers. As networks continue to diversify, nthlink-like approaches will be important for delivering consistent user experiences, especially in edge-first and mission-critical domains. Standardization and interoperability work remains key to broader adoption, but the conceptual shift toward ranked, policy-aware path selection is already gaining traction among network architects.