Patent ID: 7120680
Filing Date: 2006-10-10
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for identifying a useable network configuration, the method comprising the step of: receiving a preferred network configuration defining a preferred network topology; analyzing an existing network configuration to produce an existing network topology; comparing the preferred network topology to the existing network topology to identify a useable network configuration within the existing network configuration that most closely supports operation of the preferred network configuration, further including applying a graph matching technique to compare the preferred network graph to the existing network graph to identify at least one useable network configuration corresponding to a set of existing interconnected nodes in the existing graph that most closely correspond to preferred nodes in the preferred network graph, the at least one useable network configuration indicating which existing nodes can support operation of the preferred network configuration within the existing network configuration, applying a graph matching technique to compare the preferred network graph to the existing network graph further comprising: wherein the step of applying a graph matching technique comprises the step of: selecting a preferred node from the preferred network graph; selecting an existing node from the existing network graph; determining, based on node mapping characteristics, if the existing node matches the preferred node, and if so: repeating, in a first repeat sequence, the steps of selecting an existing node and determining if the existing node matches the preferred node for all unmapped existing nodes in the existing network graph; and repeating, in a second repeat sequence, the steps of selecting a preferred node, selecting an existing node, and repeating in the first repeat sequence for all preferred nodes in the preferred network.