Patent ID: 6349090
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of operating a telecommunications network whereby to determine traffic routing, said network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by communications links and each said link incorporating one or more communications channels, wherein the method includes, providing a model of the network, determining in the model first and second nodes between which a communications path or route comprising a chain of links is to be established across the network, allocating to each said link a cost value representative of the operational cost of that link, creating a set or colony of exploratory agents at said first node, permitting the agents at said first node to explore the model network via the links and nodes between said first and second nodes, determining for each said agent the nodes and links visited by that agent whereby to inhibit more than one traversal of a said link by that agent, recording the results of exploration of the model network by providing on each traversed path a marker whose value relates to the total cost of the path and the number of agents selecting that path, and determining from said results a route favoured by a significant number of said agents and setting up said route on the telecommunications network, wherein each said agent arriving via a link at a network node selects a link by which to leave that node on a probability based choice weighted with the respective cost and marker values of the respective links whereby to select preferentially a link of lower cost.