Traffic flow inference based on link loads and gravity measures
View Patent ↗Traffic flow between each pair of nodes in a network may be modeled based on loads measured at each link and based on gravity measures associated with each node. Gravity measures correspond to a relative likelihood of the node being a source or a sink of traffic. Gravity objectives are assigned to nodes to serve as an objective for a node's performance. These gravity objectives may be based on qualitative characteristics associated with each node. Because the assigned gravity objectives may be subjective, the gravity measures are used to generate a quantitative function for determining whether a network can achieve these gravity objectives. In one embodiment, link loads are allocated to traffic flows between nodes and current gravity measures are determined. Changes to link loads and traffic flows may then be modeled to minimize a difference between the assigned gravity measures and the gravity measures.
1. A method of presenting traffic flowing through a network based on loads on links between nodes in the network, said method comprising:
determining a topology of the network, wherein the topology indicates at least a portion of nodes in the network and links among the nodes;
assigning, to each node in the topology, a respective gravity objective, wherein the gravity objective indicates a desired likelihood of a node of originating a traffic flow through the network and of terminating a traffic flow from the network;
allocating link loads for each of the links among the nodes in the topology;
determining gravity measures for the nodes through based on current traffic flows through the nodes and the allocated link loads;
determining adjusted traffic flows through nodes that minimize a difference between the assigned gravity objectives and the gravity measures; and
outputting information for displaying at least some of the adjusted traffic flows on a user interface.
2. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of presenting traffic flowing through a network based on loads on links between nodes in the network, said method comprising:
determining a topology of the network, wherein the topology indicates at least a portion of nodes in the network and links among the nodes;
assigning, to each node in the topology, a respective gravity objective, wherein the gravity objective indicates a desired likelihood of a node of originating a traffic flow through the network and of terminating a traffic flow from the network;
allocating link loads for each of the links among the nodes in the topology;
determining gravity measures for the nodes through based on current traffic flows through the nodes and the allocated link loads;
determining adjusted traffic flows through nodes that minimize a difference between the assigned gravity objectives and the gravity measures; and
outputting information for displaying at least some of the adjusted traffic flows on a user interface.
3. An apparatus, comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing insturcitons that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform a method of presenting traffic flowing through a network based on loads on links between nodes in the network, said method comprising:
determining a topology of the network, wherein the topology indicates at least a portion of nodes in the network and links among the nodes;
assigning, to each node in the topology, a respective gravity objective, wherein the gravity objective indicates a desired likelihood of a node of originating a traffic flow through the network and of terminating a traffic flow from the network;
allocating link loads for each of the links among the nodes in the topology;
determining gravity measures for the nodes through based on current traffic flows through the nodes and the allocated link loads;
determining adjusted traffic flows through nodes that minimize a difference between the assigned gravity objectives and the gravity measures; and
outputting information for displaying at least some of the adjusted traffic flows on a user interface.