IP Library Granted Patent US 12,584,754
Granted Patent B2
US 12,584,754 · App. 18/559,696 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Path search apparatus, path search method, and program

Inventors: Kojun Koshiji (Tokyo, JP); Hanami Yokoi (Tokyo, JP); Yasuharu Kaneko (Tokyo, JP); Tatsuya Matsukawa (Tokyo, JP); Mika Ishizuka (Tokyo, JP); Takafumi Hamano (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NTT, Inc.
G01C21/3446
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,584,754
App. No.
18/559,696
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A route search device includes a memory and a processor configured to divide a communication network including a plurality of nodes and an edge connecting the nodes into a plurality of areas based on information of the nodes, and create a first network graph that represents a connection relationship between the areas; search for one or more first routes from a start point area including a start point node to an end point area including an end point node using the first network graph; and search for one or more second routes from the start point node to the end point node using a second network graph that represents a connection relationship between the nodes and the edge in areas included in the first routes.

Claims (28)

1 . A route search device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured to:

divide a communication network including a plurality of nodes and an edge connecting the nodes into a plurality of areas based on information indicating communication demand of the nodes, and create a first network graph that represents a connection relationship between the areas;

search for one or more first routes from a start point area including a start point node to an end point area including an end point node using the first network graph; and

search for one or more second routes from the start point node to the end point node using a second network graph that represents a connection relationship between the nodes and the edge in areas included in the first routes,

wherein, in dividing the communication network into the plurality of areas, the processor is further configured to select nodes, among nodes that do not belong to any area, in descending order of communication demand and form an area by grouping the selected node together with nodes located within a predetermined range from the selected node.

2 . The route search device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor divides the communication network into the plurality of areas based on coordinate information indicating positions of the nodes.

3 . The route search device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication network is an optical transmission network, and

wherein the processor divides the communication network into the plurality of areas based on distances that light reaches from the nodes without amplification.

4 . The route search device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor divides the communication network into the plurality of areas based on communication demand of the nodes.

5 . The route search device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor searches for one first route using the first network graph, and

excludes the nodes and the edge included in the one first route from the first network graph and searches for another first route.

6 . The route search device according to claim 5 , wherein the processor searches for one second route from the start point node to the end point node using one second network graph in which the nodes and the edge are limited to the nodes and the edge in areas included in the one first route, and

searches for another second route from the start point node to the end point node using another second network graph in which the nodes and the edge are limited to the nodes and the edge in areas included in said another first route.

7 . A route search method performed by a computer including a memory and a processor, the route search method comprising:

dividing a communication network including a plurality of nodes and an edge connecting the nodes into a plurality of areas based on information indicating communication demand of the nodes, and creating a first network graph that represents a connection relationship between the areas;

searching for one or more first routes from a start point area including a start point node to an end point area including an end point node using the first network graph; and

searching for one or more second routes from the start point node to the end point node using a second network graph that represents a connection relationship between the nodes and the edge in areas included in the first routes,

wherein, in dividing the communication network into the plurality of areas, the route search method further comprises selecting nodes, among nodes that do not belong to any area, in descending order of communication demand and form an area by grouping the selected node together with nodes located within a predetermined range from the selected node.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed, cause a computer including a memory and processor to perform processing, the processing comprising:

dividing a communication network including a plurality of nodes and an edge connecting the nodes into a plurality of areas based on information indicating communication demand of the nodes, and creating a first network graph that represents a connection relationship between the areas;

searching for one or more first routes from a start point area including a start point node to an end point area including an end point node using the first network graph; and

searching for one or more second routes from the start point node to the end point node using a second network graph that represents a connection relationship between the nodes and the edge in areas included in the first routes,

wherein, in dividing the communication network into the plurality of areas, the processing further comprises selecting nodes, among nodes that do not belong to any area, in descending order of communication demand and form an area by grouping the selected node together with nodes located within a predetermined range from the selected node.

9 . The route search device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to rearrange the plurality of nodes in an order starting from an arbitrary starting node and assign numbers to the nodes based on the order, and

divide the communication network including the plurality of nodes and the edge connecting the nodes into the plurality of areas using the numbers assigned to the nodes.

10 . The route search device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to divide the communication network into the plurality of areas based on positional information of the nodes including coordinates of the nodes.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 15, 2025
From: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
To: NTT, INC.
Reel/Frame 072490/0664 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: KOSHIJI, KOJUN; YOKOI, HANAMI; KANEKO, YASUHARU; MATSUKAWA, TATSUYA; ISHIZUKA, MIKA; HAMANO, TAKAFUMI
To: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065603/0027 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250123110A1 · Apr 17, 2025
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