Automated network sizing and pricing system for satellite network
First Claim
1. An automated method of pricing a satellite network, using a computer programmed with electronic spreadsheet software, comprising the steps of:
- receiving sizing input data into a traffic sizing spreadsheet, said sizing input data representing the quantity of communications traffic on said network;
using said traffic sizing spreadsheet to calculate sizing output data for said network;
receiving cost input data into a unit costing spreadsheet, said cost input data representing the cost for each of a number of units of equipment and service associated with said network;
receiving network input data into an input spreadsheet, said network input data comprising equipment unit data, hub service data, hub equipment data, and space segment data, wherein said equipment unit data represents a desired number of units of equipment for said network, and wherein said hub service data represents characteristics of hub service for said network, and wherein hub equipment data and said space segment data are obtained at least in part from said sizing output data;
using said unit costing spreadsheet to calculate total costs per unit of said network;
using a technical infrastructure spreadsheet to calculate financial data from data retrieved from other of said spreadsheets; and
using a quote document spreadsheet to calculate customer quote data from data retrieved from other of said spreadsheets.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated satellite network sizing and pricing workbook (15) implemented on a computer system (10) that is programmed to execute electronic spreadsheet software. The workbook (15) is comprised of a number of worksheets (15A-15J). Some of the worksheets receive data, sometimes manually from a network provider and sometimes automatically from other worksheets, and perform “hidden” calculations to provide various data used for sizing and pricing the network. Other worksheets are for reference or for generating reports of calculated values. The worksheets interact with each other, and the network provider uses them interactively and iteratively to design a network that is feasible in terms of both capacity and cost.
48 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An automated method of pricing a satellite network, using a computer programmed with electronic spreadsheet software, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving sizing input data into a traffic sizing spreadsheet, said sizing input data representing the quantity of communications traffic on said network;
using said traffic sizing spreadsheet to calculate sizing output data for said network;
receiving cost input data into a unit costing spreadsheet, said cost input data representing the cost for each of a number of units of equipment and service associated with said network;
receiving network input data into an input spreadsheet, said network input data comprising equipment unit data, hub service data, hub equipment data, and space segment data, wherein said equipment unit data represents a desired number of units of equipment for said network, and wherein said hub service data represents characteristics of hub service for said network, and wherein hub equipment data and said space segment data are obtained at least in part from said sizing output data;
using said unit costing spreadsheet to calculate total costs per unit of said network;
using a technical infrastructure spreadsheet to calculate financial data from data retrieved from other of said spreadsheets; and
using a quote document spreadsheet to calculate customer quote data from data retrieved from other of said spreadsheets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A computer implemented network pricing system, comprising:
-
a computer system having a processor and memory, the computer system executing an electronic spreadsheet software application that provides said network pricing system;
said electronic spreadsheet software operable to provide the following spreadsheets;
a traffic sizing spreadsheet that receives sizing input data, said sizing input data representing the quantity of communications traffic on said network, and the calculates sizing output data for said network;
a unit costing spreadsheet that receives cost input data, said cost input data representing the cost for each of a number of units of equipment and service associated with said network, and that calculates total costs per unit of said network;
an input spreadsheet that receives network input data, said network input data comprising equipment unit data, hub service data, hub equipment data, and space segment data, wherein said equipment unit data represents a desired number of units of equipment for said network, and wherein said hub service data represents characteristics of hub service for said network, and wherein hub equipment data and said space segment data are obtained from said sizing output data;
a technical infrastructure spreadsheet that calculates financial data from data retrieved from other of said spreadsheets; and
a quote document spreadsheet that calculates customer quote data from data retrieved from other of said spreadsheets.- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification