Optimal allocation of multi-service concentrators

Abstract

This is a system and method for optimally allocating multi-service traffic concentrators in telecommunications network. A problem model representing the telecommunications network topology is formulated and input to a linear programming algorithm for an optimal solution. In the model, data set indices are defined as those components and/or factors in the telecommunications network which affect various operations of the network, and include origination, concentration, and destination sites as well as different multiplexer levels at each of the sites. Decision variables representing measure of efficiency in the network and whose optimal values are to be computed by the linear program are defined to include concentrator node selection, concentrator to destination site connection status, and the number of optical carrier trunks for each concentrator. The values for each of the three variables provide the equipment quantity for optimally allocating multi-service traffic concentrators. The objective function to be minimized is defined as minimum of the sum of total transmission cost between selected origination sites and selected concentration sites, total transmission cost between selected concentration sites and selected destination sites, total unit cost of concentrators, total port cost on the low side of the concentrators, and total optical carrier level port cost on the high side of the concentrators and the destination switches.