US 5,703,938 A · Method of optimizing access trunk configurations and system therefor

Abstract

A network access optimization modeling initiative (NAOMI) that enables the operating personnel of a wide area service provider to configure the trunk connections of a telecommunications access network so as to gain access to the end offices of local area access providers at a given level of performance at minimal cost. Upon request, NAOMI optimizes the direct end office trunk and tandem trunk connections between the serving wire center (SWC) to which a wide area service provider gains access to a local area access provider and the end offices to which long distance calls are directed. In operation, NAOMI first obtains a configuration of the access network so that the respective positions of the points-of-presence (POPs) of the wide area service provider, tandem switches, end offices and various direct end office trunks (DEOTs) and tandem trunks of the access network are known. NAOMI then defines a tandem service area (TSA) to contain at least the POP and the end office through which calls from the wide area service provider are routed. Once the TSA is defined, an optimization process takes place in which the locations of the POP and the end office, the end office's traffic profile and servicing capabilities, the service provider's rates, and the tandem switches are taken into consideration. An optimized trunk configuration is generated at a given grade of service for a minimum cost in response to the optimization process. The optimal trunk configuration is then presented to the operating personnel of the wide area service provider who can follow the recommendations and request the local area access provider to change its trunk configurations for connecting the wide area service provider's POP to its end office.

Claims51

Dependent claims

In a telecommunications network including a wide area service provider having a plurality of points-of-presence (POPs) and a plurality of local area access providers each having a plurality of end offices and tandem switches, a method of effecting an optimized configuration of direct and tandem trunk connections between at least one point-of-presence (POP) of said wide area service provider and at least one end office of a local area access provider for a particular grade of service at minimal access cost, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining the respective locations of the POPs, tandem switches and end offices within said network;
(b) determining access capabilities of said one end office of said local area access provider to which access is sought by said one POP of said wide area service provider;
(c) obtaining cost information relating to direct and tandem trunk utilization between said one POP and said one end office;
(d) identifying telecommunications traffic pattern of said one end office;
(e) defining a tandem service area to include at least said one POP, said one end office and at least one tandem switch;
and
(f) utilizing data at least relating to the relative distance between said one POP and said one end office, said access capabilities of said one end office, said cost information and said traffic pattern to determine how best to configure direct and tandem trunks to connect said one POP with said one end office for effecting within said tandem service area an optimized trunk configuration at a minimum access cost.

4 more elements

A method of optimally configuring direct and tandem trunk connections between a wide area network and end offices of access providers through points-of-presence (POPs) of said wide area network, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining data defining access capabilities of the end offices from which access is to be gained from said POPs:
(b) obtaining cost data pertaining to direct and tandem trunk capabilities of the to be accessed end offices and their respective access providers;
(c) obtaining data characteristic of telecommunications traffic patterns from said to be accessed end offices;
(d) defining tandem service areas to be configured with direct and tandem trunk connections of said to be accessed end offices and said POPs such that each defined tandem service area includes at least one end office, at least one POP and at least one tandem switch;
(e) identifying tandem service areas which are candidates for optimization;
and
(f) for each tandem service area identified, effecting an optimized trunk configuration for a particular grade of service at a minimum access cost therefor by calculating a minimum number of direct and tandem trunk connections for said each identified tandem service area based on at least the data obtained in said steps (a), (b) and (c) for said each identified tandem service area.

4 more elements

In a telecommunications network including a wide area service provider having a plurality of points-of-presence (POPs) and a plurality of local area access providers each having a plurality of end offices and tandem switches, a system for effecting an optimized configuration of direct and tandem trunk connections between at least one point-of-presence (POP) of said wide area service provider and at least one end office of a local area access provider for a particular grade of service at minimal access cost, comprising:

database means for storing the respective locations of the POPs, tandem switches and end offices within said network, and cost information relating to direct and tandem trunk utilization between at least said one POP and said one end office;
means for determining access capabilities of said one end office of said local area access provider to which access is sought by said one POP of said wide area service provider;
means for collecting telecommunications traffic pattern of said one end office;
and
processor means for defining a tandem service area to include at least said one POP, said one end office and at least one tandem switch, said processor means further utilizing data at least relating to the relative distance between said one POP and said one end office, said access capabilities of said one end office, said cost information and said traffic pattern to determine how best to configure direct and tandem trunks to connect said one POP with said one end office for effecting within said tandem service area an optimized trunk configuration at a minimum access cost.

2 more elements

A system for optimally configuring direct and tandem trunk connections between a wide area network and end offices of access providers through points-of-presence (POPs) of said wide area network, comprising:

means for obtaining data defining access capabilities of the end offices from which access is to be gained from said POPs, cost data pertaining to direct and tandem trunk capabilities of the access providers of said to be accessed end offices, and data characteristic of telecommunications traffic patterns from said to be accessed end offices;
and
processor means for defining tandem service areas to be configured with direct and tandem trunk connections of said to be accessed end offices and POPs such that each defined tandem service area includes at least one end office, at least one tandem switch and at least one POP, and for identifying tandem service areas which are candidates for optimization, said processor means effecting an optimized trunk configuration for a particular grade of service at a minimum access cost therefor for each identified tandem service area by calculating a minimum number of direct and tandem trunk connections for said identified tandem service area based on at least the access capabilities data, the cost data and the traffic patterns data obtained for said identified tandem service area.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of optimizing access trunk configurations and system therefor

Life of this patent

Method of optimizing access trunk configurations and system therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51