Method and apparatus for determining approximate network distances using reference locations

A method of determining an approximate network distance between a first point and a second point of a network having one or more nodes, comprising:

• selecting at least one reference point from said nodes of said network;
• obtaining first distance metric information associated with at least one path associating a first point and said at least one reference point;
• obtaining second distance metric information associated with at least one path associating a second point and said at least one reference point;
• and
• determining a total approximate distance associated with at least one path associating said first point and said second point based on said first and second distance metric information,
• wherein there are at least two second points, said method further comprising:
• obtaining second distance metric information associated with said at least one path associating each second point and said at least one reference point, determining a total approximate distance associated with said at least one path associating said first point and each second point based on said first and second distance metric information, and including selecting a closest second point by selecting a path to a second point having a shortest total approximate distance.

A method of determining an approximate network distance between a first point and a second point of a network having one or more nodes, comprising:

• selecting at least one reference point from said nodes of said network;
• obtaining first distance metric information associated with at least one path associating a first point and said at least one reference point;
• obtaining second distance metric information associated with at least one path associating a second point and said at least one reference point;
• and
• determining a total approximate distance associated with at least one path associating said first point and said second point based on said first and second distance metric information;
• wherein said first distance metric information comprises at least one first and at least one second metric, and including the step of obtaining a first distance from said at least one first and second metric information.

A method of determining an approximate network distance between a first point and a second point of a network having one or more nodes, comprising:

• selecting at least one reference point from said nodes of said network;
• obtaining first distance metric information associated with at least one path associating a first point and said at least one reference point;
• obtaining second distance metric information associated with at least one path associating a second point and said at least one reference point;
• and
• determining a total approximate distance associated with at least one path associating said first point and said second point based on said first and second distance metric information;
• wherein said second distance metric information comprises at least one first and at least one second metric, and including obtaining a second distance from said at least one first and second metric information.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for determining an approximate distance between two points on a network, said medium comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to select at least one reference point of said network;
• computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to obtain first distance metric information associated with said at least one path associating said first point and said at least one reference point;
• computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to obtain second distance metric information associated with at least one path associating said second point and said at least one reference point;
• and
• computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine a first set of total approximate distance information for paths associating said first point and said second point based on said first and second distance metric information.