Method and apparatus for simplifying the computation of alternate network paths
First Claim
1. A method of calculating a set of alternate network paths to a plurality of destinations on a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- ranking, by a node on the network, a plurality of neighbor nodes to prioritize the neighbor nodes for alternate path processing based on historical abilities of the neighbor nodes to provide alternate paths to the plurality of destinations on the network during previous iterations of the method of calculating alternate network paths to the plurality of destinations on the network;
selecting, by the node on the network, a highest ranked neighbor node and calculating, for the highest ranked neighbor node, how many destinations the highest ranked neighbor node is able to reach via loop-free alternate network paths through the network;
determining, by the node on the network, whether a stop calculation criterion has been met;
selecting, by the node on the network, a next highest ranked neighbor node and calculating, for the next highest ranked neighbor node, how many destinations the next highest ranked neighbor node is able to reach via loop-free alternate network paths through the network;
iterating, by the node on the network, the steps of determining and selecting next highest ranked neighbor nodes until the stop calculation criterion has been met;
terminating, by the node on the network, calculating loop-free alternate network paths once loop-free alternate network paths to a sufficient number of destinations has been calculated if the stop calculation criterion has been met before considering all neighbor nodes; and
wherein the stop calculation criterion is a percentage of a total number of destinations on the network fewer than 100% of possible destinations on the network.
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Abstract
An alternate path calculation process may be terminated after considering some of a source node'"'"'s neighbors and without considering each of its neighbors, to reduce the amount of processing required to perform the alternate path calculations. The neighbors may be ranked according to the number of alternate paths that the neighbor has historically been able to provide on the network. The influence of historical success or failure may degrade over time so that the rankings may be adjusted to reflect changes in network topography. A given source node, when computing alternate paths through the network, may preferentially select neighbors to perform alternate path calculations on historically higher scoring nodes before performing calculations on historically lower scoring nodes. Several different criteria may be used to stop the alternate path calculation process before considering all neighbors. The neighbors may be loop free neighbors or U-turn neighbors.
29 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of calculating a set of alternate network paths to a plurality of destinations on a network, the method comprising the steps of:
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ranking, by a node on the network, a plurality of neighbor nodes to prioritize the neighbor nodes for alternate path processing based on historical abilities of the neighbor nodes to provide alternate paths to the plurality of destinations on the network during previous iterations of the method of calculating alternate network paths to the plurality of destinations on the network; selecting, by the node on the network, a highest ranked neighbor node and calculating, for the highest ranked neighbor node, how many destinations the highest ranked neighbor node is able to reach via loop-free alternate network paths through the network; determining, by the node on the network, whether a stop calculation criterion has been met; selecting, by the node on the network, a next highest ranked neighbor node and calculating, for the next highest ranked neighbor node, how many destinations the next highest ranked neighbor node is able to reach via loop-free alternate network paths through the network; iterating, by the node on the network, the steps of determining and selecting next highest ranked neighbor nodes until the stop calculation criterion has been met; terminating, by the node on the network, calculating loop-free alternate network paths once loop-free alternate network paths to a sufficient number of destinations has been calculated if the stop calculation criterion has been met before considering all neighbor nodes; and wherein the stop calculation criterion is a percentage of a total number of destinations on the network fewer than 100% of possible destinations on the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of computing alternate network paths on an Internet Protocol (IP) network by a node on the network, the method comprising the steps of:
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ranking, by a node on the network, a plurality of neighbor nodes to prioritize the neighbor nodes for alternate path processing based on historical abilities of the neighbor nodes to provide alternate paths to the plurality of destinations on the network during previous iterations of the method of calculating alternate network paths to the plurality of destinations on the network; selecting, by the node on the network, a highest ranked neighbor node and calculating, for the highest ranked neighbor node, how many destinations the highest ranked neighbor node is able to reach via loop-free alternate network paths through the network; determining, by the node on the network, whether a stop calculation criterion has been met; selecting, by the node on the network, a next highest ranked neighbor node and calculating, for the next highest ranked neighbor node, how many destinations the next highest ranked neighbor node is able to reach via loop-free alternate network paths through the network; iterating, by the node on the network, the steps of determining and selecting next highest ranked neighbor nodes until the stop calculation criterion has been met; terminating, by the node on the network, calculating loop-free alternate network paths once loop-free alternate network paths to a sufficient number of destinations has been calculated if the stop calculation criterion has been met before considering all neighbor nodes; and wherein the stop calculation criterion is a percentage of a total number of destinations on the network fewer than 100% of possible destinations on the network. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A network element configured to compute alternate network paths on an IP network, the network element containing a computer readable memory containing control logic which, when loaded into a processor, configures the processor to implement a method comprising the steps of:
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ranking a plurality of neighbor nodes to prioritize the neighbor nodes for alternate path processing based on historical abilities of the neighbor nodes to provide alternate paths to the plurality of destinations on the network during previous iterations of the method of calculating alternate network paths to the plurality of destinations on the network; selecting a highest ranked neighbor node and calculating, for the highest ranked neighbor node, how many destinations the highest ranked neighbor node is able to reach via loop-free alternate network paths through the network; determining whether a stop calculation criterion has been met; selecting a next highest ranked neighbor node and calculating, for the next highest ranked neighbor node, how many destinations the next highest ranked neighbor node is able to reach via loop-free alternate network paths through the network; iterating the steps of determining and selecting next highest ranked neighbor nodes until the stop calculation criterion has been met; terminating calculating loop-free alternate network paths once loop-free alternate network paths to a sufficient number of destinations has been calculated if the stop calculation criterion has been met before considering all neighbor nodes; and wherein the stop calculation criterion is a percentage of a total number of destinations on the network fewer than 100% of possible destinations on the network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification