The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 26, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 23, 1999
Daniel Matthew Andrews, New Providence, NJ (US);
Yihao Lisa Zhang, New Providence, NJ (US);
Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
A method is disclosed, for designing an access network that is to carry communication traffic between end nodes and a core network. Information is provided that describes end node locations, the level of demand associated with each end node, available trunk types and their related capacities, and a cost structure. The cost structure includes a fixed overhead cost for each trunk type, and a service charge per unit distance for each trunk type. The provided information is incorporated in a linear program to find an optimal-cost access network. The linear program is solved to obtain a provisional solution that defines the composition and usage of each link of the optimal-cost access network. For each such link, the composition is defined by a fractional level of investment (incurring a like fraction of the corresponding overhead charge) in each pertinent trunk type. The provisional solution is rounded such that each trunk in which there is a fractional investment is either removed, or replaced by a trunk in which there is an integral investment.