Methods, devices and systems for determining a target path in a network

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, embodiments and a method. The method includes iteratively receiving messages at each Node Processor. Each Node Processor represents a node of a group of nodes. The iteratively receiving of the messages comprises receiving first messages. Each first message includes a cost associated with a path of nodes visited by each first message. A selected path is obtained from each node having a lowest cost of a group of common endpoint costs for paths having common endpoints. A next group of messages includes the selected path. The iteratively receiving of the messages results in selected paths. Also, the method includes determining a target path from a remaining path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 iteratively receiving by a group of node processors of a processing system including a processor, messages provided to each of the group of node processors of the processing system, wherein each of the group of node processors represents a node of a group of nodes, wherein the iteratively receiving of the messages further comprises:
 receiving, by the group of node processors, a group of first messages, wherein each first message of the group of first messages includes a cost associated with a path of nodes visited by the each first message; 
 determining by each of the group of node processors of the processing system, a selected path associated with a lowest cost of a group of common endpoint costs for paths having common endpoints among a portion of the group of first messages; and 
 receiving, by the group of node processors of the processing system, a next group of messages that includes the selected path to obtain a plurality of selected paths, a target path through each node of the group of nodes being determined as a remaining path of the plurality of selected paths responsive to the iteratively receiving of the messages. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the processing system, an existence of a complete path. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target path is a complete shortest path. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the group of nodes further comprises a source node, an intermediate node, and a destination node, the intermediate node being situated, with respect to the target path between the source node and the destination node, and wherein the target path is a shortest path connecting at least the source node, the intermediate node, and the destination node. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the paths having common endpoints traverses a same subgroup of the group of nodes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lowest cost is associated with a first path from the paths having common endpoints, wherein an identifying of the lowest cost from among the group of common endpoint costs comprises:
 identifying, by each of the group of node processors, a next higher cost from among the group of common endpoint costs, wherein the next higher cost is associated with a second path from the paths having common endpoints;   comparing, by each of the group of node processors, the lowest cost to the next higher cost; and   determining, by each of the group of node processors, the lowest cost is lower than the next higher cost.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the selected path associated with the lowest cost further comprises identifying, by each of the group of node processors, the selected path and eliminating one or more pruned paths, wherein the cost is one of time, distance, monetary cost, available bandwidth, latency, throughput, risk, or probability of success. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a group of node processors of a processing system including a processor, wherein each of the group of node processors represents a node of a group of nodes; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitates performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 iteratively accessing via a node bus, messages by each of the group of node processors, wherein the iteratively accessing of the messages further comprises:
 accessing a group of first messages, wherein each first message of the group of first messages includes a cost associated with a path of nodes visited by the each first message; 
 determining by each of the group of node processors a selected path associated with a lowest cost of a group of common endpoint costs for paths having common endpoints among a portion of the group of first messages; and 
 accessing a group of next messages via the node bus that includes the selected path to obtain a plurality of selected paths a target path through each node of the group of nodes being determined as a remaining path of the plurality of selected paths responsive to the iteratively accessing of the messages via the node bus. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the target path is a complete path. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the target path is a complete shortest path. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the paths having common endpoints traverses a same subgroup of the group of nodes. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the lowest cost is associated with a first path from the paths having common endpoints, wherein an identifying of the lowest cost from among the group of common endpoint costs further comprises:
 identifying by each of the group of node processors a next higher cost from among the group of common endpoint costs, wherein the next higher cost is associated with a second path from the paths having common endpoints;   comparing by each of the group of node processors the lowest cost to the next higher cost; and   determining by each of the group of node processors the lowest cost is lower than the next higher cost.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the cost is one of time, distance, monetary cost, available bandwidth, latency, throughput, risk or probability of success. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a group of node processors of a processing system including a processor, wherein each of the group of node processors represents a node of a group of nodes, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 iteratively receiving messages at each of the group of node processors, wherein the iteratively receiving of the messages further comprises:
 accessing a group of first messages, wherein each first message of the group of first messages includes a quantifiable metric associated with a path of nodes visited by the each first message; 
 identifying by each of the group of node processors a selected path associated with a lowest quantifiable metric of a group of common endpoint quantifiable metrics for paths having common endpoints among a portion of the group of first messages; and 
 accessing a group of next messages that includes the selected path to obtain a plurality of selected paths a target path through each node of the group of nodes being determined as a remaining path of the plurality of selected paths, responsive to the iteratively receiving of the messages. 
   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the target path is a complete path. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the target path is a complete shortest path. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the target path is a shortest path. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the quantifiable metric is one of time, distance, monetary cost, available bandwidth, latency, throughput, risk or a probability of success. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the lowest quantifiable metric is associated with a first path from the paths having common endpoints, wherein the identifying of the lowest quantifiable metric from among the group of common endpoint quantifiable metrics comprises:
 identifying by each of the group of node processors a next higher quantifiable metric from among the group of common endpoint quantifiable metrics, wherein the next higher quantifiable metric is associated with a second path from the paths having common endpoints; and   comparing by each of the group of node processors the lowest quantifiable metric to the next higher quantifiable metric.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the identifying of the lowest quantifiable metric from among the group of common endpoint quantifiable metric comprises determining by each of the group of node processors the lowest quantifiable metric is lower than the next higher quantifiable metric.