Patent ID: 8379527

Claim:
A method of planning a network, the method comprising: estimating, at a processor, a first cost of forming a direct electrical signal connection between a first origination central office and a destination central office to carry first residual demand traffic destined for the destination central office; estimating, at the processor, a second cost of foaming a spoke connection between the first origination central office and a hub node and forming a hub-to-destination central office connection between the hub node and the destination central office, wherein the spoke connection is formed to carry the first residual demand traffic from the first origination central office to the hub node, wherein the hub-to-destination central office connection is formed to carry the first residual demand traffic and second residual demand traffic to the destination central office, and wherein the second residual demand traffic is received at the hub node from one or more other origination central offices; and determining whether to implement the direct electrical signal connection based on whether the second cost exceeds the first cost.