def skip_tree_node(self, tree_node, tx_context=None):
        """ method skips the node and all its dependants and child nodes """
        if not tx_context:
            # create transaction context if one was not provided
            # format: {process_name: {timeperiod: AbstractTreeNode} }
            tx_context = collections.defaultdict(dict)

        if tree_node.timeperiod in tx_context[tree_node.process_name]:
            # the node has already been marked for skipping
            return tx_context

        if tree_node.job_record.is_finished:
            # the node is finished and does not require skipping
            pass
        else:
            state_machine_name = context.process_context[tree_node.process_name].state_machine_name
            state_machine = self.state_machines[state_machine_name]
            state_machine.skip_job(tree_node.job_record)

        tx_context[tree_node.process_name][tree_node.timeperiod] = tree_node
        for timeperiod, node in tree_node.children.items():
            self.skip_tree_node(node, tx_context)

        dependant_nodes = self._find_dependant_tree_nodes(tree_node)
        for node in dependant_nodes:
            self.skip_tree_node(node, tx_context)

        return tx_context
method skips the node and all its dependants and child nodes