Patent Document ID: 20130003605
Application ID: 13281372
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A method for optimizing a communication network configuration comprising: identifying, using at least one processor, a plurality of arc paths and a plurality of nodes of a potential extension of an existing communication network sufficient to connect at least one potential customer location to the existing communication network, the at least one potential customer location associated with a value for connecting the at least one potential customer location to the existing communication network, the existing communication network comprising at least a first node and a second node interconnected by at least one existing communication path; executing, using the at least one processor, a linear programming application to optimize a summation of the value of connecting each of the at least one potential customer locations less a cost of connecting each of the at least one potential customer locations using a combination of the plurality of arc paths beginning at the first node of the existing communication network and ending at the second node of the existing communication network, the linear programming application receiving as inputs at least one parameter, at least one variable, and a plurality of constraints including at least one connectivity constraint, at least one saturation constraint, at least one service constraint, and at least one distance constraint, the at least one distance constraint causing the combination of arc paths to not form an isolated loop; and delivering using the at least one processor a solution including at least one path from the first node to the at least one potential location and to the second node.