Patent Document ID: 5404451
Application ID: 08038756
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A computer implemented method for constructing a data communication network having a number of terminals comprising: i) backbone nodes for routing data traffic within a backbone; and ii) a plurality of first links connecting the backbone nodes; said method comprising steps of: (a) finding a shortest path between pairs of said backbone nodes; (b) identifying a candidate link between each pair of backbone nodes for which a length of said candidate link is shorter than the shortest path between the pair of backbone nodes; (c) evaluating an effect on the network of adding each candidate link to the network and adding those candidate links which reduce a cost of the network; (d) determining routing paths along said first links which produce a minimum delay for traffic between said backbone nodes and reducing a capacity of first links that are underutilized; and (e) evaluating an effect of removal of a first link on the network and removing the first link if the effect of removal of the first link is to reduce the cost of the network.