Secure distribution and use of weighted network topology information

摘要

Methods, systems, signals, and devices are provided for managing and using topology information in a network. A topology information manager keeps fragments of network topology and provides access to entire fragments or to fragment summaries in response to authenticated requests. An authenticated path selector uses topology information from the manager to select message routes. The path selector may use summaries of hidden network paths to determine whether the hidden path is desirable, without having access to all topological information about the hidden path. Messages may be forwarded over hidden paths by the manager without disclosing more than the summary information to the message provider.