Patent ID: 7016484

Claim:
A computer implemented method for effecting inside plant load balancing in a telecommunications system, the system including at least one switch, each switch including a plurality of cards, each card having a plurality of ports, each port being adapted to provide a customer with one or more telecommunications services, the method comprising: compiling a list of switches, cards and ports available for providing the desired services; and selecting a port for provision of the desired service on the basis of one or more of (a) an extent to which other ports on the card on which the port under consideration is located are in use, (b) a loading of services on the card, (c) a length of jumper wire necessary to connect the port under consideration to a frame in a telecommunications central office, (d) a cost of the card on which the port under consideration is located, and (e) selected percentage weighting factors for the respective priorities of (a), (b) and (c).