A method for identifying a bridge node in a network using a processor and memory unit in a specially programmed special purpose-purpose computer including the steps of, for each node in a plurality of nodes in the network: determining a global metric proportional to total traffic flow in the network and through the node; determining a local metric proportional to traffic flow between the node and each second node in the network connected to the node and traffic flow between each second node and each third node in the network connected to a second node; determining a second local metric proportional to the respective traffic flows between each node and each second node; and calculating a respective combination of the global metric and the first and second local metrics; and selecting, a bridge node from among the plurality of nodes based on the respective combinations.