Method of deriving a metric for a link in a network

摘要

A method of deriving a metric for a link in a network, the network having a plurality of nodes (A-G) and links between nodes comprises for each link applying a weighting factor to the physical link length, the link occupancy and the number of transponders on a link and summing the weighted values of link length, link occupancy and number of transponders to derive a metric for that link. Further, a method of routing a path through a network comprises selecting a start point (A) and an end point (B) for the desired path; applying a metric attributed to each link which has been derived by a method in accordance with the above method; and connecting the path between the start point and end point through the links and nodes which give a lowest total metric of any such path.