Proximity aggregated network topology algorithm (panta)

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces adapted to communicate in a proximity network having a plurality of location-communities;
• a processor coupled to the network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory adapted to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
• compute and store a distance from each particular location-community for which the apparatus is responsible to each location-community within the proximity network, each distance computed from a root location-community to a leaf location-community;
• receive and store computed distances from other apparatuses within the proximity network;
• and
• service a proximity request for content through performance of a lookup is operation into the stored computed distances based on a root location-community of an originator of the content and a leaf location-community of a receiver of the content.

A tangible computer-readable media having software encoded thereon, the software when executed on a proximity server of a proximity network operable to:

• compute a distance from each particular location-community for which the proximity server is responsible to each location-community within the proximity network, each distance computed from a root location-community to a leaf location-community;
• share each computed distance with one or more other proximity servers within the proximity network, such that each proximity server in the proximity network maintains a distance between each location-community in the proximity network;
• and
• service a proximity request for content through performance of a lookup operation into the shared computed distances based on a root location-community of an originator of the content and a leaf location-community of a receiver of the content.