Abstract: A method of searching for a shortest path from a single source node to a single destination node in a two dimensional computer network. The method is similar to Dijkstra shortest path algorithm (“Dijkstra”) in the way it builds a shortest path tree. However, instead of starting from the source node and searching through to the destination node as Dijkstra does, the method runs a shortest path search from both ends (i.e. source and destination) simultaneously or alternatively, until a shortest path tree from one end meets a shortest path tree from the other end at an intermediate node, and the concatenated path (source node intermediate node-destination node) satisfies a condition. Conditions other than those used by Dijkstra determine when the search should terminate, and whether the search has succeeded or failed. It has been verified that the new method requires less overhead and time than Dijkstra.

Abstract: “Midway” is a new method to search for a shortest path from a single source node to a single destination node in a two dimensional computer network. It is similar to Dijkstra shortest path search algorithm in the way to build a shortest path tree, but it is different from Dijkstra algorithm in the following points. Instead of starting from the source node and searching all the way through to the destination node as what Dijkstra algorithm does, Midway runs shortest path search from both ends (i.e. source and destination) simultaneously or alternatively, until a shortest path from one end meets a shortest path from the other end on midway. Algorithms are designed to run shortest path search from both ends, and conditions other than those used by Dijkstra are defined to determine when the search should terminate. It has been verified that the new search method takes much less overhead and time than Dijkstra to find a shortest path.