Methods and devices for generating a hierarchical structure for the internet

The method as in 1 wherein the designated element within the cluster is further operable to compute forwarding tables associated with the computed paths.

A method for generating a hierarchical structure for the Internet comprising:

• creating one or more layers of nodal elements;
• and
• computing routing paths from a designated nodal element within a cluster of a given layer to other similarly designated nodal elements outside of the cluster within the same layer.

A controller for generating a hierarchical structure for the Internet operable to:

• organize one or more nodal elements into at least one cluster;
• and
• designate one of the nodal elements as an element operable to compute one or more routing paths to one or more other similarly designated elements outside of the cluster.

A nodal element designated to compute one or more routing paths and forwarding tables associated with the computed paths to one or more other similarly designated elements outside of an associated cluster.

A controller, for generating a hierarchical structure for the Internet, operable to:

• create one or more layers of clustered nodal elements;
• and
• designate an element within a cluster of a given layer to compute routing paths to other similarly designated elements outside of the cluster within the same layer.

A method for generating a hierarchical structure for the Internet comprising:

• determining roots of a tree-like nodal structure formed from one or more nodal elements;
• and
• designating each root as an element operable to compute one or more routing paths to one or more other similarly designated elements outside of an associated cluster.