Method for efficiently retrieving topology-specific data for point-to-point networks

1. In a computer, a method of providing topology-specific data for a given point-to-point network, comprising the steps of:

pre-computing by the computer topology-specific data for each one of a plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies;

calculating by the computer, for each one of the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies that has a respective unique topology, a respective unique associated topology code that uniquely identifies network topologies having the respective unique topology, such that two point-to-point network topologies that are isomorphisms of one another have identical topology codes;

creating for the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies a collection of topology-specific data, wherein the topology-specific data for each of the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies is associated with one of the topology codes in a one-to-one relationship so that the topology codes are usable as a key for looking-up the topology-specific data;

determining a topology of the given point-to-point network;

calculating by the computer a topology code for the given point-to-point network, based on the topology that was determined for the given point-to-point network;

using the calculated topology code for the given point-to-point network as a key to look up the pre-computed topology-specific data for one of the plurality of selected point-to-point networks topologies which is identified by the topology code for the given point-to-point network; and

retrieving the looked-up pre-computed topology-specific data for the given point-to-point network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the topology-specific data includes an optimal routing matrix.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the topology-specific data includes performance statistics.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the topology-specific data is made available by being cached.

5. In a computer, a method of providing topology-specific data for a given point-to-point network, comprising the steps of:

pre-computing by the computer topology-specific data for each one of a plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies;

calculating by the computer, for each one of the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies which has a respective unique topology, a respective unique associated topology code that uniquely identifies network topologies having the respective unique topology;

creating a collection of topology-specific data for the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies, such that two point-to-point network topologies that are isomorphisms of one another have identical topology codes, wherein the topology-specific data of each of the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies in the collection of topology-specific data is associated with the topology codes in a one-to-one relationship between the topology codes and the topology-specific data of the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies, so that the topology codes are usable as a key for looking-up the topology-specific data, wherein the associated topology code for said each of the plurality of selected point-to-point network is calculated by:

applying, to a graph representing one of the plurality of selected point-to-point network, a node-ordering algorithm that produces a set of node orderings;

using the set of node orderings to produce adjacency matrices for the selected point-to-point network;

using the adjacency matrices to produce candidate topology codes; and

selecting, from the candidate topology codes, a topology code with a maximum value as the key for the selected point-to-point network;

calculating by the computer a topology code for the given point-to-point network;

using the calculated topology code for the given point-to-point network as a key to look up the pre-computed topology-specific data for said one of the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies which is identified by the topology code for the given point-to-point network; and

retrieving the looked-up pre-computed topology-specific data to be provided for the given point-to-point network.

6. In one or more computers, a method of providing topology-specific data for a given point-to-point network, comprising the steps of:

pre-computing by one or more of the computers topology-specific data for each one of a plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies;

calculating by one or more of the computers, for each one of the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies which has a respective unique topology, a respective unique associated topology code that uniquely identifies network topologies having the respective unique topology, such that two point-to-point network topologies that are isomorphisms of one another have identical topology codes,

creating a collection of topology-specific data for the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies, wherein the topology-specific data of each of the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies in the collection of topology-specific data is associated with one of the topology codes in a one-to-one relationship between the topology codes and topology-specific data of said each of the plurality of selected point-to-point network topologies, so that the topology codes are usable as a key for looking-up the topology specific data;

determining a topology of the given point-to-point network;

calculating by one or more of the computers a topology code for the given point-to-point network, based on the topology that was determined for the given point-to-point network;

using the calculated topology code for the given point-to-point network as a key to look up the pre-computed topology-specific data for any of the plurality of selected point-to-point networks topologies which is identified by the topology code for the given point-to-point network; and

retrieving the looked-up pre-computed topology-specific data to be provided for the given point-to-point network.