Patent ID: 9686176
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: H04L

Claim:
1. A path calculation method for determining a path, based on constraints and rules, for a connection through one or more layers in a network, the path calculation method comprising: determining a path exploration map of the network based on a multi-layer network model of the network defining external edges and intra-node paths, the path exploration map comprising every external port in the network that is reachable from a source port; utilizing the path exploration map to determine a viable path, from a destination port to the source port at a plurality of layers, subject to the constraints and the rules and based on a cost and recursively building the viable path by following both the external edges and the intra-node paths through the plurality of layers from the destination port to the source port, wherein the plurality of layers are modeled in the path exploration map as the intra-node paths comprising one or more internal transformation edges which model a transition between layers of the plurality of layers and internal forwarding edges which model signal forwarding at same layers within a node; and causing creation of the viable path in the network.