A method and system for routing a data packet, intended for a destination node, from a source node to a first intermediate node in a network is useful for improving the efficiency of the network. The method includes determining a priority level for a user of the source node and a priority level for a user of the destination node (step 505). A priority level is also determined for each of the following: a device associated with the source node, a device associated with the destination node, and a device associated with the first intermediate node (step 510). A routing path is then selected that routes the data packet from the source node to the first intermediate node based on a comparison of the priority level for the device associated with the first intermediate node, the priority levels for the users of the source and destination nodes, and the priority levels for the devices associated with the source and destination nodes (step 515).