Patent ID: 7532586
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network design method comprising: inputting network information describing a number of aggregator nodes and core nodes associated with a deployed network in which each of the aggregator nodes is connected to at least two of the core nodes and each of the core nodes is connected to at least two other of the core nodes and the aggregator nodes and the core nodes are located at central offices associated with the deployed network; inputting customer information describing demands of existing customers supported by the deployed network; inputting forecast information describing future customer demands; determining whether the deployed network is sufficient for supporting the existing and future customer demands; determining a number of new aggregator nodes and new core nodes to add to the deployed network to support the existing and future customer demands if the deployed network is insufficient for supporting the existing and future customer demands; determining which central offices associated with the deployed network are candidates for receiving the new aggregator nodes as a function of traffic volume handled by the aggregator nodes of the central offices such that the central offices having the highest traffic volume are the candidates for receiving the new aggregator nodes; determining which central offices associated with the deployed network are candidates for receiving the new core nodes as a function of connectivity of the core nodes of the central offices such that the central offices having the highest connectivity are the candidates for receiving the new core nodes; and generating an augmented network design for augmenting the deployed network to include the new aggregator nodes at the central offices which are the candidates for receiving the aggregator nodes and to include the new core nodes at the central offices which are the candidates for receiving the new core nodes such that the deployed network is a subset of the augmented network with the connectivity provided by the aggregator nodes and the core nodes associated with the deployed network to the existing customers remaining the same on both the deployed network and the augmented network, thereby permitting augmenting of the deployed network without interruption of services to the existing customers supported by the deployed network.