Patent ID: 7688723

Claim:
A method for analyzing at least a portion of a telecommunications network, comprising: (a) a processor assigning a plurality of network components to at least first, second, and third groupings of components, wherein the first and second groupings of components correspond to communication endpoints, wherein the members of the first grouping of components are a common first type of communication endpoint and the members of the second grouping of components are a common second type of device, and wherein the first and second types of communication endpoint are different; (b) the processor determining bulk traffic flows at least one of generated and received by the first and second groupings of components and passing through the third grouping of components, wherein determining bulk traffic flows comprises: (B1) determining a first fraction of first traffic generated by the first grouping of components that terminates on the second grouping of components; (B2) determining a second fraction of second traffic generated by the second grouping of components that terminates on the first grouping of components; (B3) based on the first and second fractions, propagating simulated traffic through the third grouping of components and between the first and second groupings of components; and (B4) during simulation, recording a traffic volume passing through the third grouping of components; (c) based on the bulk traffic flow passing through the third grouping of components, the processor determining a requirement for the third grouping of components to realize a selected grade and/or quality of service, wherein the bulk traffic flow is the total recorded traffic volume passing through the third grouping of components; and (d) the processor creating a logical characterization of the at least a portion of the telecommunications network, wherein the logical characterization defines the relationships among the first, second, and third groupings of components.