Method and apparatus for building and presenting network designs

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• generate a data structure that represents a design for a fiber-optic network;
• process the data structure to identify a first cable run that is to be installed across a section of a service area;
• determine that the installation of the first cable run across the section of the service area is illegal based on geographical limitations of the service area, the determination being based on one or more rules that limit cable installation based on physical features of one or more sections of the service area;
• transmit an indication that the installation of the first cable run is illegal to a client device;
• receive an indication from the client device to delete the first cable run from the design for the fiber-optic network and to replace the first cable run with a second cable run;
• modify the design for the fiber-optic network to remove the first cable run from the data structure;
• and
• include the second cable run in the data structure that represents the design for the fiber-optic network.

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a client device, an indication that a first cable run between two nodes in a fiber-optic network is illegal based on geographical limitations of a service area, wherein the geographical limitations of the service area is based on one or more rules that limit cable installation based on physical features of one or more sections of the service area, the first cable run being part of a design for the fiber-optic network, and the first cable run being generated automatically by a server when the design for the fiber-optic network is produced;
• presenting the indication that the first cable run is illegal and a diagram of a design of the fiber-optic network on a display device;
• receiving at the client device, user input indicating a second cable run that replaces the first cable run;
• and
• transmitting, from the client device to the server, an indication of the second cable run for modification of the design of the fiber-optic network.