Method and computer system for selecting and evaluating data routes and arranging a distributed data communication network
First Claim
1. A computer based method for selecting and evaluating data routes and arranging a data communication network having a number of terminals, said arranged network including backbone nodes, a plurality of first links connecting the backbone nodes, concentrators connected between said terminals and said backbone nodes, a plurality of second links disposed between and connecting said terminals and said concentrators, and a plurality of third links disposed between and connecting said concentrators and said backbone nodes, said method comprising steps of:
- (a) clustering said terminals into terminal clusters and assigning said terminal clusters to virtual terminals, concentrator locations, or backbone node locations;
(b) selecting said backbone nodes from a set of backbone nodes to minimize the cost of the network and adding said selected backbone nodes to the network;
(c) selecting said concentrators from a set of concentrators, assigning said clustered terminals to said selected concentrators, and adding said selected concentrators to the network;
(d) selecting said first links from a set of first links to minimize the cost of said first links and said backbone nodes and adding said selected first links to the network to connect the selected backbone nodes; and
(e) evaluating routes for data traffic between said selected backbone nodes through said selected first links and allocating data traffic among said routes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for constructing and utilizing a distributed data communication network that will meet its performance specifications in the most economical and efficient manner. The steps of the method include clustering terminals based on their proximity and traffic; selecting backbone node sites based on cost; designing the access network composed of terminals, concentrators, backbone nodes and the links between them; generating a backbone link topology; and determining routes in the backbone given the backbone topology and a traffic matrix.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer based method for selecting and evaluating data routes and arranging a data communication network having a number of terminals, said arranged network including backbone nodes, a plurality of first links connecting the backbone nodes, concentrators connected between said terminals and said backbone nodes, a plurality of second links disposed between and connecting said terminals and said concentrators, and a plurality of third links disposed between and connecting said concentrators and said backbone nodes, said method comprising steps of:
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(a) clustering said terminals into terminal clusters and assigning said terminal clusters to virtual terminals, concentrator locations, or backbone node locations; (b) selecting said backbone nodes from a set of backbone nodes to minimize the cost of the network and adding said selected backbone nodes to the network; (c) selecting said concentrators from a set of concentrators, assigning said clustered terminals to said selected concentrators, and adding said selected concentrators to the network; (d) selecting said first links from a set of first links to minimize the cost of said first links and said backbone nodes and adding said selected first links to the network to connect the selected backbone nodes; and (e) evaluating routes for data traffic between said selected backbone nodes through said selected first links and allocating data traffic among said routes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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9. A computer system for selecting and evaluating data routes and arranging a data communication network having a number of terminals, said arranged network including backbone nodes, a plurality of first links connecting the backbone nodes, concentrators connected between said terminals and said backbone nodes, a plurality of second links disposed between and connecting said terminals and said concentrators, and a plurality of third links disposed between and connecting said concentrators and said backbone nodes, said computer system comprising:
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(a) means for clustering said terminals into terminal clusters and assigning said terminal clusters to virtual terminals, concentrator locations, or backbone node locations; (b) means for selecting said backbone nodes from a set of backbone nodes to minimize the cost of the network and adding said selected backbone nodes to the network; (c) means for selecting said concentrators from a set of concentrators, assigning said clustered terminals to said selected concentrators, and adding said selected concentrators to the network; (d) means for selecting said first links from a set of first links to minimize the cost of said first links and said backbone nodes, and for adding said selected first links to the network to connect the selected backbone nodes; and (e) means for evaluating routes for data traffic between said selected backbone nodes through said selected first links and allocating data traffic among said routes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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18. A computer based method for selecting and evaluating data routes and arranging a data communication network having a number of terminals, said arranged network including backbone nodes, a plurality of first links connecting the backbone nodes, concentrators connected between said terminals and said backbone nodes, a plurality of second links disposed between and connecting said terminals and said concentrators, and a plurality of third links disposed between and connecting said concentrators and said backbone nodes, said method comprising steps of:
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(a) clustering said terminals into terminal clusters and assigning said terminal clusters to virtual terminals, concentrator locations, or backbone node locations; (b) selecting said backbone nodes from a set of backbone nodes to minimize the cost of the network and adding said selected backbone nodes to the network; (c) selecting said concentrators from a set of concentrators, assigning said clustered terminals to said selected concentrators, and adding said selected concentrators to the network; (d) selecting said first links from a set of first links to minimize the cost of said first links and said backbone nodes and adding said selected first links to the network to connect the selected backbone nodes; and (e) evaluating routes for data traffic between said selected backbone nodes through said selected first links and allocating data traffic among said routes; wherein said step (d) of selecting said first links to minimize the cost of said first links and said backbone nodes is performed in response to inputs including locations of the set of backbone nodes, a backbone traffic matrix which contains data traffic accumulated at a backbone level, and a list of links available for inclusion in the network as said first links connecting said backbone nodes.
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Specification