I had not put together the comparison applying to the same requests.   That 
makes matters convenient as the included data only applies to the response.

Without formal metric compliance though there are a lot of algorithms that 
could not be reliably applied.  I think we should consider this as we move 
forward in developing ALTO.  It may be worthwhile to clarify matters in a 
future update.

From: Wendy Roome [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2015 2:45 PM
To: Bertz, Lyle T [CTO]; Y. Richard Yang
Cc: [email protected]; Hans Seidel; [email protected]
Subject: Re: [alto] Interop test

Interesting point!  RFC 7285 does NOT require cost metrics -- numerical or 
ordinal -- to follow the requirements for a formal metric. Other than the 
values must be non-negative.

In particular, there is no requirement that d(x,x) = 0, or that d(x,y) = 0 iff 
x = y.

Costs are directed, so symmetry isn't even appropriate.

I guess I would expect a numeric metric to follow the triangle inequality, more 
or less, but there is no formal requirement for it do so.

Incidentally, for ordinal mode costs, the values are only comparable to other 
costs in the same request. In other words, if an ordinal cost in a filtered 
cost map is 0, that just means it is the lowest cost for the set of sources & 
destinations you requested. It is NOT the lowest cost for the full map.

                - Wendy Roome


From: "Bertz, Lyle T [CTO]" 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Date: Fri, May 29, 2015 at 15:21
To: Wendy Roome 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>, "Y. Richard 
Yang" <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Cc: "[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>" 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>, Hans Seidel 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>, 
"[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>" 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: RE: [alto] Interop test

I have a much larger question about ordinal rank in 7285, is it the expectation 
that ordinal ranks are true metrics in practice.  In other words are they or 
even the original metrics true mathematical metrics, i.e. non-negative, have 
symmetry, coincidence axiom and the triangle inequality.  Further are they 
formally ultrametrics or intrinsic?

I only ask because depending on the answer we can add services for max 
distance, sum distance and the like that apply graph theory to the resulting 
maps.  Who know, I may even be able to apply my only graph theories to them but 
I will keep such aspirations low at the moment.



________________________________

This e-mail may contain Sprint proprietary information intended for the sole 
use of the recipient(s). Any use by others is prohibited. If you are not the 
intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete all copies of the 
message.
_______________________________________________
alto mailing list
[email protected]
https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/alto

Reply via email to