System, method, and computer program product for determining a hop count between network devices utilizing a binary search

#The present invention relates to communications between network devices, and more particularly to identifying a hop count on the network between such network devices.

#Traditionally, a distance between network devices has been represented by a hop count (i.e. a number of hops) on a network between the network devices. The hop count has generally indicated a number of transitions on a network that must be made when communicating between the network devices. Unfortunately, traditional techniques for determining a hop count on a network between network devices have exhibited various limitations.

#Just by way of example, hops have conventionally been determined by sending network ping messages from a source device to a destination device, where each message has a sequentially increasing hop count threshold, until a network echo response is received by the source device from the destination device. However, such a technique is conventionally time consuming and generates a significant amount of network traffic. Specifically, a number of hops on a network between network devices has been determined via traceroute and/or netmask operations. The traceroute operations have required a linear sequential search and have generated a significant amount of network traffic, whereas the netmask operations have generally provided inaccurate determinations of hop counts while also causing substantial bandwidth usage.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a network architecture, in accordance with one embodiment.

#FIG. 2 shows a representative hardware environment that may be associated with the servers and/or clients of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment.

#FIG. 3 shows a method for determining a hop count between network devices utilizing a binary search, in accordance with another embodiment.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a network architecture 100, in accordance with one embodiment. As shown, a plurality of networks 102 is provided. In the context of the present network architecture 100, the networks 102 may each take any form including, but not limited to a local area network (LAN), a wireless network, a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, peer-to-peer network, etc.

#Coupled to the networks 102 are servers 104 which are capable of communicating over the networks 102. Also coupled to the networks 102 and the servers 104 is a plurality of clients 106. Such servers 104 and/or clients 106 may each include a desktop computer, lap-top computer, hand-held computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), peripheral (e.g. printer, etc.), any component of a computer, and/or any other type of logic. In order to facilitate communication among the networks 102, at least one gateway 108 is optionally coupled therebetween.

#FIG. 2 shows a representative hardware environment that may be associated with the servers 104 and/or clients 106 of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment. Such figure illustrates a typical hardware configuration of a workstation in accordance with one embodiment having a central processing unit 210, such as a microprocessor, and a number of other units interconnected via a system bus 212.