ROUTING ENGINE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

• US 20100020695A1
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yaworski, Geoff R., Asalian, Kaveh, Bonewitz, Christopher M., Train, Colin G., Hollman, Brett P., Henes, Alex J., Ryczek, Gary L., Martin, Jeffrey L., Joseph, George T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,144,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/12 Shortest path evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/302 Route determination based on requested QoS

Abstract

A system for automated installation of a communication line using an optimal route between a source location and a destination location is disclosed. The system includes a routing engine providing an automated design process for rendering the optimal route. The routing engine utilizes a routing algorithm to select the optimal route from a graph of capacity links defining a plurality of possible routes between the source and destination locations. If, at any time during the design process, the optimal route or capacity links defining the optimal route are detected as unavailable for any reason, the routing engine re-initiates the design process and thereafter selects a new optimal route based upon a new capacity graph built without the previously unavailable capacity link. Once designed, the available optimal route is provided to a command and control engine, which, in turn, manages the installation of the communication line using the optimal route. The command and control engine manages the process for assigning the optimal route in the provisioning system.

Claims

1. A method for providing a telecommunications service between a source node and a destination node in a communications network, wherein the telecommunications service is associated with at least one service requirement, the method comprising:

(a) identifying a plurality of fiber segments within the communications network that provide capacity links between the source node and the destination node, wherein each of the plurality of fiber segments is associated with a cost;

(b) analyzing the costs of the plurality of fiber segments and selecting therefrom at least two fiber segments to form a route for the telecommunications service;

(c) identifying one or more network elements communicatively coupled to the at least two selected fiber segments for use in provisioning the telecommunications service over the route;

(d) analyzing the one or more identified network elements to determine whether use of the one or more identified network elements in the route conforms to the at least one service requirement; and

(e) based on the analyzing operation (d), if use of the one or more identified network elements causes the route not to conform to the at least one service requirement, selecting at least one other fiber segment to form the route for the telecommunications service.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the analyzing operation (b) comprises:

selecting the at least two fiber segments based on an analysis designed to avoid delay.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the cost associated with each of the plurality of fiber segments relates to distance, the analyzing operation (b) comprising:

selecting the at least two fiber segments that collectively result in the route having a shorter distance between the source node and the destination node relative to other routes that could be formed by other fiber segments therebetween.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one service requirement relates, at least in part, to a speed at which data is transmitted using the telecommunications service.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one service requirement is a bandwidth requirement.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more identified network elements comprise intermediate nodes communicatively connecting the at least two selected fiber segments.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more identified network elements comprise demarcation equipment located at the source node and the destination node.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more identified network elements comprise at least a first network element and a second network element, the first network element and the second network element being co-located at a node, and wherein the analyzing operation (d) comprises:

analyzing the first network element to determine whether use of the first network element in the route conforms to the at least one service requirement and, if the first network element causes the route not to conform to the at least one service requirement, analyzing the second network element to determine whether use of the second network element in the route conforms to the at least one service requirement.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one service requirement relates, at least in part, to a speed at which data is transmitted using the telecommunications service.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least one service requirement is a bandwidth requirement.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the node comprises one of the source node and the destination node.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the telecommunications service is a wavelength service.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the cost associated with each of the plurality of fiber segments relates to distance, the analyzing operation (b) comprising:

selecting the at least two fiber segments that collectively result in the route having a shorter distance between the source node and the destination node relative to other routes that could be formed by other fiber segments therebetween.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one service requirement relates, at least in part, to a speed at which data is transmitted using the telecommunications service.

15. A computer-based system for providing a telecommunications service between a source node and a destination node in a communications network, wherein the telecommunication service is associated with at least one service requirement, the system comprising:

a first identification module configured to identify a plurality of fiber segments within the communications network that provide capacity links between the source node and the destination node, wherein each of the plurality of fiber segments is associated with a cost;

a first analysis module configured to analyze the costs of the plurality of fiber segments and selecting therefrom at least two fiber segments to form a route for the telecommunications service;

a second identification module configured to identify one or more network elements communicatively coupled to the at least two selected fiber segments for use in provisioning the telecommunications service over the route;

a second analysis module configured to analyze the one or more identified network elements to determine whether use of the one or more identified network elements in the route conforms to the at least one service requirement; and

an elimination module configured to eliminate the one or more identified network element as candidate network elements for use in the route if the second analysis operation determines that the one or more network elements would cause the route not to conform to the at least one service requirement.

16. A computer-based system as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more identified network elements comprise intermediate nodes communicatively connecting the at least two selected fiber segments.

17. A computer-based system as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more identified network elements comprise demarcation equipment located at the source node and the destination node.

18. A computer-based system as recited in claim 15, wherein the first analysis module comprises:

a selection module configured to select the at least two fiber segments; and

a verification module configured to verify that the route will satisfy the at least one service requirement, wherein if the verification module verifies that the formed route will satisfy the at least one service requirement, then the formed route is selected as the route for the telecommunications service.

19. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by one or more processing devices, enabling the one or more processing devices to perform operations comprising:

(a) identifying a plurality of fiber segments within a communications network that provide capacity links between a source node and a destination node in the communication network, wherein each of the plurality of fiber segments is associated with a cost;

(b) analyzing the costs of the plurality of fiber segments and selecting therefrom at least two fiber segments to form a route for a telecommunications service between the source node and the destination node, wherein the telecommunications service is associated with at least one service requirement;

(c) identifying one or more network elements communicatively coupled to the at least two selected fiber segments for use in provisioning the telecommunications service over the route;

(d) analyzing the one or more identified network elements to determine whether use of the one or more identified network elements in the route conforms to the at least one service requirement; and

(e) based on the analyzing operation (d), if use of the one or more identified network elements causes the route not to conform to the at least one service requirement, selecting at least one other fiber segment to form the route for the telecommunications service.

20. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the analyzing operation (b) comprises:

selecting the at least two fiber segments based on an analysis designed to avoid delay.

21. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the cost associated with each of the plurality of fiber segments relates to distance, the analyzing operation (b) comprising:

selecting the at least two fiber segments that collectively result in the route having a shorter distance between the source node and the destination node relative to other routes that could be formed by other fiber segments therebetween.

22. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one service requirement relates, at least in part, to a speed at which data is transmitted using the telecommunications service.

23. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 22, wherein the at least one service requirement is a bandwidth requirement.

24. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more identified network elements comprise at least a first network element and a second network element, the first network element and the second network element being co-located at a node, and wherein the analyzing operation (d) comprises:

analyzing the first network element to determine whether use of the first network element in the route conforms to the at least one service requirement and, if the first network element causes the route not to conform to the at least one service requirement, analyzing the second network element to determine whether use of the second network element in the route conforms to the at least one service requirement.

25. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the cost associated with each of the plurality of fiber segments relates to distance, the analyzing operation (b) of the process comprising:

selecting the at least two fiber segments that collectively result in the route having a shorter distance between the source node and the destination node relative to other routes that could be formed by other fiber segments therebetween.