Patent ID: 6690646
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A network capacity planning method for use in a high speed packet switching network having a plurality of switching nodes interconnected through a plurality of communication links, each of the switching nodes having means for switching packets from at least one input link to at least one output link, each of the at least one output link being coupled to at least one buffer in the switching node for queuing packets before they are transmitted over the output link, comprising the steps of:in each of the switching nodes and for each of the output links, measuring a time distribution of the occupancy of the at least one buffer during a predetermined monitoring time period; and storing the buffer occupancy time distribution data measured for each output link in a centralized memory location; retrieving the buffer occupancy time distribution data stored in the centralized memory location in all the switching nodes, gathering and storing the retrieved data in a dedicated network server; transmitting the buffer occupancy time distribution data for all the nodes from the dedicated server to a network monitoring center; in the network monitoring center, integrating the buffer occupancy time distribution data on a larger time scale, and storing the integrated buffer occupancy time distribution data; and using the integrated buffer occupancy time distribution data to apply network capacity planning actions.