US5680326A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method therefor of estimating optimal spare capacity for a distributed restoration scheme
Assignee: MCI Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-22
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Granted: 1997-10-21
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Expires: 2015-06-22
Abstract
Abstract To estimate an optimal amount of spare capacity for a network so that efficient distributed restoration of the network can take place in the event of a network failure, parameter assumptions and network design guidelines are provided to a network modeling tool to generate a desirable amount of spare links for the network. The spare links are allocated to the different nodes of the network. After a failure in the network, the result of the restoration of the network due to the failure is reported to the controller of the system. If necessary, the parameter assumptions and network design guidelines are updated and fed back to the network modeling tool for further refining the spare capacity of the network. An optimal amount of spare capacity is thus achieved by a continuous redeployment of the spare capacity output provided by the network modeling tool. Simulated failures and subsequent restorations of the network are provided to an exerciser periodically. Results from the exerciser further enhance the operations of the network modeling tool to provide an optimal amount of spare capacity for the telecommunications network.
Inventors
- 👤 Will Russ
- 👤 Mark Wayne Sees
- 👤 Lee Dennis Bengston
- 👤 Clinton Allen Wagner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0062; H04Q3/0075; H04Q3/0079; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/06; H04L41/0654; H04L41/14; H04L41/145; H04L45/00; H04L45/28; H04L69/00; H04L69/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
Apparatus for estimating an optimal amount of spare capacity to be provided for and allocated within a telecommunications network so that efficient distributed restoration of traffic may be effected on said network if a disruption of traffic occurs between at least two adjacent nodes of said network, comprising: network modelling tool means having predetermined engineering and design guidelines for calculating the amount of spare capacity required for said network if said network is defined to have a given topology of nodes and links and a predefined amount of traffic traversing therethrough; implement means for provisioning said calculated amount of spare capacity to appropriate locations of said network; control means for monitoring and determining whether said provisioned spare capacity provides for an efficient distributed restoration of traffic in said network when a traffic disruption fault occurs in said network, said control means providing a feedback to said network modelling tool means to enable said tool means to recalculate said amount of spare capacity required to obtain said optimal amount of spare capacity for said network if said control means determines said previously provisioned spare capacity fails to provide for said efficient distributed restoration of traffic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
Apparatus for estimating an optimal amount of spare capacity to be provided for and allocated within a telecommunications network so that efficient distributed restoration of traffic may be effected on said network if a disruption of traffic occurs between at least two adjacent nodes of said network, comprising: network modelling tool means having predetermined engineering and design guidelines for calculating the amount of spare capacity required for said network if said network is defined to have a given topology of nodes and links and a predefined amount of traffic traversing therethrough; implement means for provisioning said calculated amount of spare capacity to appropriate locations of said network; control means for monitoring and determining whether said provisioned spare capacity provides for an efficient distributed restoration of traffic in said network when a traffic disruption fault occurs in said network, said control means providing a feedback to said network modelling tool means to enable said tool means to recalculate said amount of spare capacity required to obtain said optimal amount of spare capacity for said network if said control means determines said previously provisioned spare capacity fails to provide for said efficient distributed restoration of traffic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means provides as said feedback to said network modelling tool means at least adjusted assumed parameters, network design guidelines and data to enable said network modelling tool means to update said given topology.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus of claim 2, wherein said adjusted assumed parameters comprise: nodal processing delays; throughput speed on signalling circuits between nodes; and values of various timers for controlling the process of said distributed restoration of traffic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus of claim 2, wherein said network design guidelines comprise: patching policies of said network; provisioning rules of said network; and the type of said links in said network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: exerciser means, in response to a simulated restoration event, for determining whether said calculated amount of spare capacity does provide for said optimal amount of spare capacity in a distributed restoration event in response to a simulated fault.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means interfacing with said distributed restoration of traffic for transmitting the result of said restoration in response to said fault in said network, said control means utilizing said result to determine whether said calculated amount of spare capacity is said optimal amount of spare capacity for said distributed restoration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus of claim 5, wherein said exerciser means begins operation upon receipt of a command from either said control means or a central operations means to simulate a distributed restoration event.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
186 words
Method of estimating an optimal amount of spare capacity to be provided for a telecommunications network for effecting efficient distributed restoration of traffic in said network if a disruption of traffic occurs between at least two adjacent nodes of said network, comprising the steps of: (a) providing predetermined engineering and design guidelines for said network to a modelling tool means; (b) defining said network to have a given topology of nodes and links and a predefined amount of traffic traversing therethrough; (c) calculating the amount of spare capacity required for said network; (d) provisioning said calculated amount of spare capacity to appropriate locations of said network; (e) monitoring and determining whether said provisioned spare capacity provides for an efficient distributed restoration of traffic in said network when a traffic disruption fault occurs in said network; and (f) providing a feedback to said network modelling tool means to enable said tool means to recalculate said amount of spare capacity required to obtain said optimal amount of spare capacity for said network if said previously provisioned spare capacity fails to provide for said efficient distributed restoration of traffic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
186 words
Method of estimating an optimal amount of spare capacity to be provided for a telecommunications network for effecting efficient distributed restoration of traffic in said network if a disruption of traffic occurs between at least two adjacent nodes of said network, comprising the steps of: (a) providing predetermined engineering and design guidelines for said network to a modelling tool means; (b) defining said network to have a given topology of nodes and links and a predefined amount of traffic traversing therethrough; (c) calculating the amount of spare capacity required for said network; (d) provisioning said calculated amount of spare capacity to appropriate locations of said network; (e) monitoring and determining whether said provisioned spare capacity provides for an efficient distributed restoration of traffic in said network when a traffic disruption fault occurs in said network; and (f) providing a feedback to said network modelling tool means to enable said tool means to recalculate said amount of spare capacity required to obtain said optimal amount of spare capacity for said network if said previously provisioned spare capacity fails to provide for said efficient distributed restoration of traffic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
Method of claim 8, wherein said step (f) further comprising the step of: providing as said feedback to said network modelling tool means at least adjusted assumed parameters, network design guidelines and data to enable said network modelling tool means to update said given topology.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
Method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of: simulating said traffic disruption fault; and determining whether said calculated amount of spare capacity does provide for said optimal amount of spare capacity in a simulated distributed restoration event in response to said simulated fault.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
Method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of: transmitting the result of said distributed restoration of traffic of said system in response to said fault in said network; and utilizing said result to determine whether said calculated amount of spare capacity is said optimal amount of spare capacity for said distributed restoration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
Method of claim 8, further comprising the step of: effecting optimal placement of available spare links between adjacent nodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
Method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: exercising a distributed restoration event in response to said simulated traffic disruption fault upon receipt of a command from a control means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-20 | 2001-04-21 | 2001-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-20 | 2005-04-21 | 2005-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-20 | 2009-04-21 | 2009-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |