Path selection for routing traffic in a network

摘要

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for communicating among stations in a network. A station in the network can determine costs between that station and a headend through a number of other stations. The station can select a low cost path from among the possible paths. Cost data from the determination can be transmitted from the station to other stations in the network for use in selecting low cost paths at those stations.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a listening station of a network, a bandwidth of a first network section from a first station, wherein
the first network section couples the first station to a second station; determining a bandwidth of a second network section coupling the listening station and the first station; determining costs for a plurality of paths between the listening station and the second station based, at least in part, on received cost data related to the plurality of paths, wherein
the cost data indicates a bandwidth for a third network section coupling a third station and the second station, andthe listening station is coupled to the third station, anda cost for a first path of the plurality of paths is determined based, at least in part, on the bandwidth of the first network section and the bandwidth of the second network section; selecting a path from the plurality of paths based, at least in part, on the costs determined for the plurality of paths; and transmitting, from the listening station to the network, a cost of the selected path.