Extrinsically influenced near-optimal path apparatus and method

摘要

A method and apparatus for dynamically providing a path through a network of nodes or granules may use a limited, advanced look at potential steps along a plurality of available paths. Given an initial position, at an initial node or granule within a network, and some destination node or granule in the network, all nodes or granules may be represented in a connected graph. An apparatus and method may evaluate current potential paths, or edges between nodes still considered to lie in potential paths, according to some cost or distance function associated therewith. In evaluating potential paths or edges, the apparatus and method may consider extrinsic data which influences the cost or distance function for a path or edge. Each next edge may lie ahead across the advancing "partial" wavefront, toward a new candidate node being considered for the path. With each advancement of the wavefront, one or more potential paths, previously considered, may be dropped from consideration. Thus, a "partial" wavefront, limited in size (number of nodes and connecting edges) continues to evaluate some number of the best paths "so far." The method deletes worst paths, backs out of cul-de-sacs, and penalizes turning around. The method and apparatus may be implemented to manage a computer network, a computer internetwork, parallel processors, parallel processes in a multi-processing operating system, a smart scissor for a drawing application, and other systems of nodes.