An 'all pairs shortest paths' distributed algorithm using 2n(2) messages

In an execution of a distributed program, processes communicate among themselves by exchanging messages. The execution speed of the program could be expedited by a faster message delivery system, transmitting messages to their destinations through their respective shortest paths. Some distributed algorithms have been proposed in recent years for determining all pairs shortest paths for an arbitrary computer network. The best known algorithm uses O(n(2)logn) messages, where n is the number of computers in the network. This paper presents a new distributed algorithm for the same problem using 2n(2) messages in the worst case. This algorithm uses a strategy quite different from those of the other algorithms for the same problem. (C) 1997 Academic Press.