Fuzzy routing

Abstract

A system and method optimizes the information flow regarding node location across a network by controlling the propagation of this information based on distance from the node. Location servers that are near to a node receive detailed information regarding the node's location; location servers that are farther from the node receive less detailed information. In like manner, periodic updates are provided less frequently to distant location servers, and preferably also based on the velocity of a mobile node, or on a priority associated with the mobile node. The location information provided in a message addressed to a node can be minimal when the message is transmitted, and additional detail can be added to this location information by routing nodes as the message is routed closer to its destination, based on information provided by the location servers.

1 . A server comprising:
 a receiver that is configured to receive a physical location indicator corresponding to a node,   a processor that is configured to determine an abstract physical location indicator corresponding to the node, based on the physical location indicator, and   a transmitter that is configured to transmit the abstract physical location indicator corresponding to the node to one or more other servers.   
     
     
         2 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide the physical location indicator corresponding to the node to other nodes upon request. 
     
     
         3 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a status of the node, and the transmitter is configured to transmit one of the physical location indicator and the abstract physical location indicator to each of the one or more other servers based on the status of the node. 
     
     
         4 . The server of  claim 3 , wherein the status includes at least one of: a priority of the node, a velocity of the node, and a time of a prior communication from the node. 
     
     
         5 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the node, the server, and the one or more other servers are included in a network that is partitioned into zones, and the processor is configured to determine the abstract physical location indicator corresponding to the node based on the zones associated with the node and each of the one or more other servers. 
     
     
         6 . The server of  claim 5 , wherein the zones include a hierarchy of partitions of the network, and the abstract physical location indicator is configured to correspond to the hierarchy of the partitions of the network. 
     
     
         7 . The server of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to select the one or more other servers from among a plurality of servers in the network, based on a transition of the node from one of the zones to another of the zones. 
     
     
         8 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to select the one or more other servers from among a plurality of servers in the network, based on at least one of: a flooding parameter, a priority of the node, a change of location of the node, a bandwidth requirement of the node, and a time of a prior communication from the node. 
     
     
         9 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to select the one or more other servers from among a plurality of servers in the network, based on at least one of: a flooding parameter, a location of the other server, and capabilities of the other server. 
     
     
         10 . A method of communicating location information, comprising:
 receiving a physical location indicator corresponding to a node,   determining an abstract physical location indicator corresponding to the node, based on the location, and   transmitting the abstract physical location indicator corresponding to the node to one or more servers.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , including providing the physical location indicator corresponding to the node to other nodes upon request. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , including determining a status of the node, and transmitting the abstract physical location indicator to each of the one or more servers based on the status of the node. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the status includes at least one of: a priority of the node, a velocity of the node, and a time of a prior communication from the node. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , including: partitioning a network into zones, and determining the abstract physical location indicator corresponding to the node based on the zones associated with the node and each of the one or more servers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the zones include a hierarchy of partitions of the network, and the abstract physical location indicator is configured to correspond to the hierarchy of the partitions of the network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , including selecting the one or more servers from among a plurality of servers in the network based on a transition of the node from one of the zones to another of the zones. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein selecting the one or more servers from among a plurality of servers in the network based on at least one of: a flooding parameter, a priority of the node, a velocity of the node, a bandwidth requirement of the node, and a time of a prior communication from the node. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , including selecting the one or more servers from among a plurality of servers in the network based on at least one of: a flooding parameter, a location of each server, and capabilities of each server. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:
 receive a physical location indicator corresponding to a node,   determine an abstract physical location indicator corresponding to the node, based on the physical location indicator, and   transmit the abstract physical location indicator corresponding to the node to one or more other servers.   
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 19 , wherein the program cases the processor to determine a status of the node, and to transmit one of the physical location indicator and the abstract physical location indicator to each of the one or more other servers based on the status of the node.