Patent ID: 8660010
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: determining a first estimated cost of forming sets of direct connections between an origination central office and a destination central office, the sets of direct connections including a first connection and a second connection, wherein a speed of the first connection is faster than a speed of the second connection; determining a second estimated cost of forming a spoke connection between the origination central office and a hub node, the spoke connection to carry first residual demand traffic from the origination central office to the hub node, wherein the first residual demand traffic is not carried to the destination central office via the sets of direct connections; selecting a connection between the hub node and the destination central office based at least in part on a comparison of total residual demand traffic to a plurality of threshold values in a threshold matrix, wherein each of the plurality of threshold values corresponds to a network connection type and a connection interface, wherein the total residual demand traffic is based on the first residual demand traffic and the second residual demand traffic; adding to the second estimated cost an incremental cost of forming the connection between the hub node and the destination central office, wherein the connection is configured to carry the first residual demand traffic and second residual demand traffic from the hub node to the destination central office, wherein the second residual demand traffic is received at the hub node from other origination central offices; and determining whether the first estimated cost exceeds the second estimated cost.