# US 2013/0188488 A1 · Using routing information and inter-layer relationships to determine utilization in a transport network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0188488 A1 - Document ID: US20130188488A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/745,055 - Filed: 2013-01-18 - Published: 2013-07-25 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-19 - Assignees: OPNET Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Gordon BOLT; Stein Somers; Xiaofeng Liu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130188488A1 ## CPC - H04L 41/12: Discovery or management of network topologies - H04L 41/14: Network analysis or design - H04L 47/30: in combination with information about buffer occupancy at either end or at transit nodes - H04L 41/22: comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI] - H04L 43/0817: by checking functioning - H04L 43/16: Threshold monitoring - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Embodiments provide systems, methods, and computer program products for mapping higher-layer circuits, links, flows, and services to lower layer circuit and connection elements to determine utilization of the lower layer circuit elements based on the high-layer traffic. Higher layer configuration data and lower layer configuration data are imported to populate a model. An inter-layer relationship is either directly or indirectly mapped from the higher layers to the lower layer. Once the inter-layer relationship is established, the higher-layer circuits, links, flows, and services are inspected using the lower layer circuit and connection elements. Circuit and packet-based utilization is determined for the lower layer elements based on the higher-layer traffic flows. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for generating a multi-layer model in a network using a server, comprising: determining traffic information at a lower layer and an upper layer of the network, the lower layer being configured to support at least the upper layer; and calculating utilization of the lower layer based on the traffic information of the upper layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying the utilization in an interactive graphical user interface (GUI), the utilization being depicted within a plurality of thresholds; and generating a traffic report including node, link, and connection utilization of the lower layer based on a selection of a node, a link, or a connection from the GUI. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: mapping the upper layer to the lower layer, wherein the mapping comprises at least one of mapping an upper layer device to a lower layer device and an upper layer link to a lower layer connection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the mapping comprises: directly determining a relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer based on a supporting relationship between the lower layer connection and the upper layer link. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the mapping comprises: automatically matching upper layer information with lower layer information to indirectly determine a relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer, the upper layer information comprising one or more of device name, description, and location and the lower layer information comprising one or more of device name, site name, and point of presence location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the mapping comprises: manually matching upper layer information with lower layer information utilizing a graphical user interface dialog box to indirectly determine a relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the mapping comprises: importing data that defines a relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer from a file. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lower layer comprises a Layer-1 layer, and the upper layer comprises one or more of a Layer-2 layer and a Layer-3 layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a link on the upper layer is supported by a plurality of connections on the lower layer, and wherein the calculating further comprises: allocating the traffic information to the plurality of connections utilizing a “first fit” approach, wherein the traffic information is first assigned to a first connection from the plurality of connections up to the first connection's capacity. ### Claim 10 A system for generating a multi-layer model in a network, comprising: a data interface module configured to receive traffic information for a lower layer and an upper layer of the network, the lower layer being configured to support at least the upper layer; a computing module configured to calculate utilization of the lower layer based on the traffic information of the upper layer; and a user interface module configured to inspect the utilization and the traffic information of the upper layer supported by the lower layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the user interface module is further configured to: display the utilization in an interactive graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the utilization is broken down into a plurality of thresholds; and generate a traffic report that includes node, link, and connection utilization of the lower layer based on a selection from the GUI. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the computing module is further configured to: map the upper layer to the lower layer, comprising at least one of mapping an upper layer device to a lower layer device and an upper layer link to a lower layer connection. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the computing module is further configured to: directly determine a relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer based on a supporting relationship between the lower layer connection and the upper layer link. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the computing module is further configured to: automatically match upper layer information with lower layer information to indirectly determine a relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer, the upper layer information comprising one or more of device name, description, and location and the lower layer information comprising one or more of device name, site name, and point of presence location. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the computing module is further configured to: manually match upper layer information with lower layer information utilizing a graphical user interface dialog box to indirectly determine a relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the computing module is further configured to: import data that defines a relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer from a file. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the lower layer comprises a Layer-1 layer, and the upper layer comprises one or more of a Layer-2 layer and a Layer-3 layer. ### Claim 18 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having control logic recorded thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method for generating a multi-layer model in a network, the method comprising: determining traffic information at a lower layer and an upper layer of the network, the lower layer being configured to support at least the upper layer; and calculating utilization of the lower layer based on the traffic information of the upper layer; inspecting the utilization and the traffic information of the upper layer; and generating a utilization report including node, link, and connection utilization of the lower layer based on a selected location. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising: mapping the upper layer to the lower layer, wherein the mapping comprises at least one of mapping an upper layer device to a lower layer device and an upper layer link to a lower layer connection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the mapping comprises: automatically matching upper layer information with lower layer information to indirectly determine a relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer, the upper layer information comprising one or more of device name, description, and location and the lower layer information comprising one or more of device name, site name, and point of presence location. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the mapping comprises: manually matching upper layer information with lower layer information utilizing a graphical user interface dialog box to indirectly determine a relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein a link on the upper layer is supported by a plurality of connections on the lower layer, and wherein the calculating further comprises: allocating the traffic information to the plurality of connections utilizing a “first fit” approach, wherein the traffic information is first assigned to a first connection from the plurality of connections up to the first connection's capacity.