Active Topology Inference in Store, Code, and Forward Networks

Abstract

This paper presents a technique for active topology inference in store, code, and forward networks. Many techniques exist for topology inference and are well suited for store-and-forward and cut-through switching; however, these simpler techniques fail to capitalize on the flexibility of recoding afforded by store, code, and forward networks. This is in contrast to network coding, which recodes the data whenever possible and consequently achieves the maximum flow (and minimum cut) of throughput across a network. The technique herein utilizes a single probe message between a single source and potentially many destination nodes to achieve deterministic topology inference.