Patent ID: 6819662
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of constructing a telecommunications network, in which the network is formed of plural nodes connected by plural spans, each node having a nodal switching device for making connections between adjacent spans meeting at the node, the method comprising the steps of:a) selecting a set of candidate rings, each candidate ring being formed of nodes connected by spans, the candidate rings each being capable of serving a number of demands and having a ring construction cost C; b) assessing the total transport utility U of each candidate ring, wherein the total transport utility is a measure of at least the number of demands served by the respective candidate ring; c) assessing the construction cost of each candidate ring; d) calculating a ratio formed of U/C for each candidate ring; e) choosing, from the set of candidate rings, a best set of candidate rings, wherein candidate rings in the best set of candidate rings have a higher ratio of U/C than candidate rings not in the best set; the best set of candidate rings being capable of covering the network; and f) forming rings in the network that are selected from the best set of candidate simple rings.