Patents Examined by Anochien B. Vuong
  • Patent number: 6195553
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting a path between an originating point and a destination point in a communications network comprising a number of objects for a certain time interval. The method comprises constructing a link availability matrix which comprises a start time and an end time for a link between any two objects in the communications network. The start time for all links in the link availability matrix are arranged in a chronological order. A cost matrix is generated for the first start time in the link availability matrix based on selected factors and continuing through the following start times until a connecting path is found between the originating point and destination point using a number of objects in the network. After a connecting path is found, a first disconnect time based on the end times in the link availability matrix for the objects in the connecting path is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Analytical Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Claffery, David M. Holland, James W. Woodburn