System and Method for Designing a Network

A network node in a network in which network nodes originate and terminate traffic, the network comprising:

• a processor;
• a module controlling the processor to receive incoming network traffic;
• and
• a module controlling the processor to reroute the incoming network traffic according to shortest paths with respect to link lengths, while maintaining delay related to node-to-node delay-sensitive communication below a specified threshold, wherein the link lengths are determined by steps comprising:
• obtaining an initial network topology including links and traffic routing based on a volume of traffic;
• allocating a maximum delay to each link in the network topology in proportion to a square root of an imputed cost for each of the links;
• sizing a bandwidth required for each of the links based on a current traffic routing and the maximum delay allocated to the link;
• and
• determining link lengths based on the sized bandwidth and the maximum delay.

A method for participating as a network node in a network in which network nodes originate and terminate traffic, the method causing a computing device to perform steps comprising:

• receiving incoming network traffic;
• and
• rerouting the incoming network traffic according to shortest paths with respect to link lengths, while maintaining delay related to node-to-node delay-sensitive communication below a specified threshold, wherein the link lengths are determined by steps comprising:
• obtaining an initial network topology including links and traffic routing based on a volume of traffic;
• allocating a maximum delay to each link in the network topology in proportion to a square root of an imputed cost for each of the links;
• sizing a bandwidth required for each of the links based on a current traffic routing and the maximum delay allocated to the link;
• and
• determining link lengths based on the sized bandwidth and the maximum delay.