Patent Document ID: 7903564
Application ID: 12643409
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for adding links to a network topology model having a plurality of nodes connected by existing links to reduce the cost of network operation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) identifying, using a processing device, a maximum number of potential links to be added to the network topology model; (b) selecting a maximum number of allowed new links to be added to the network topology; (c) determining, using a processing device, a potential link that when added to the current network topology will result in a maximum reduction in the cost of network operation (d) adding the potential link to the current network topology; (e) repeating (c) and (d) until the maximum number of potential links have been added to the current network topology; (f) determining, using a processing device, the potential link that when removed from the current network topology will result in the lowest cost of network operation; (g) removing the potential link from the current network topology; (h) repeating (f) and (g) until the maximum number of potential links is reduced to the maximum number of allowed new links to be added to the network topology; and (i) adjusting link weights for the current network topology model to reduce at least one of a cost of network operation and an imbalance in link utilization, wherein the removal of the potential link in (g) is performed to reduce the cost of network operation without increasing an imbalance in link utilization, wherein adjusting link weights for the current network topology model in (i) comprises: (1) unmarking each link in the network topology; (2) calculating a network cost for operating the current network topology based upon a link cost associated with the each link; (3) incrementing the weight of one of the each link in the current network topology having the maximum link cost to modify the network topology; (4) calculating a network cost for operating the modified network topology; (5) restoring the weight and marking one of the each link having the maximum link cost when the network cost for operating the modified network topology is greater than or equal to the network cost for operating the current network topology; and (6) repeating (2) through (5) until the each link in the network topology is marked.