System and method for determining an evolving combination of network components to maximize the net present value of a provider's cash flow

• US 7,080,031 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Das, Indraneel, Reynolds, Mark A., Koster, Paul J., Rushmeier, Russell A, Crowe, James Q., Alvarez, Jose F., Lotosky, Lorraine
• Primary Examiner(s): Reagan, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Agwumezie, Charlie Lion
• Application Number:
  US10/060,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/42, 705/43, 705/53, 370/352, 370/404, 370/462, 370/463, 370/468, 370/471, 455/453
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A method and computer program product are presented for selecting and arranging an appropriate combination of network components, or elements, in a communications network. The selection of network components is done in a manner that maximizes the net present value of cash flow resulting from the provision of communications services between nodes of the network. The method comprises the steps of receiving information that constrains network design and price establishment, and then using the constraint information to select a combination of network components for each link in the communications network. According to the invention, the selection of network components is performed for each of several successive time periods, effectively planning the evolution of the network. The selections are made so that the network components satisfy demand over time while maximizing the net present value of the cash flow that results from the provision of communications services.

Claims

1. A method of maximizing a net present value (NPV) of a cash flow that results from provision of communication services between nodes of a network, wherein maximization is achieved through selection of an appropriate combination of network components and product prices over a plurality of consecutive time periods, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving constraint information regarding demand for products, prices of products, network topology, available technology, costs, and an initial state of the network;

(b) forming an expression that models revenue received as a result of sales of products at each time period T, wherein the revenue expression is a function of price and demand for each product p at each time period T;

wherein the revenue expression is;

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(g) using the optimization to determine network components for each link in the communications network, the timing and location of the deployment of the components, the prices of products, and the timing of price changes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the constraint information regarding demand for products comprises the following:

(a) non-decreasing demand from any time period to the next, wherein the extent of any demand increase from one time period to the next is capped;

(b) a predetermined level of demand for each link and each product in an initial time period; and

(c) a fixed proportion of total network-wide demand for each link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the constraint information regarding prices of products comprises the following:

(a) a non-increasing price for each product for any time period to the next;

(b) a constant price elasticity with respect to price for each product;

(c) a bell-shaped curve for the elasticity of any product over time; and

(d) a predetermined price for each product in an initial time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the constraint information regarding network topology comprises the following:

(a) a fixed set of nodes requiring connectivity; and

(b) a fixed set of links providing the connectivity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the constraint information regarding available technology comprises the following:

(a) a predetermined set of possible combinations of data rates and maximum numbers of wavelengths for a fiber, wherein any technology is an element of the predetermined set;

(b) a predetermined set of fiber generations, wherein any fiber belongs to one of the fiber generations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the constraint information regarding costs comprises the following:

(a) the prevailing market cost of each network component at each time period T; and

(b) a predetermined fixed cost compression rate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the constraint information regarding the initial state of the network comprises the following:

(a) the number of wavelengths bought in an initial time period;

(b) the number of rings bought in the initial time period; and

(c) the amount of fiber bought in the initial time period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (c) comprises the step of determining the network components necessary to provide the determined capacity for each link at each time period T.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost expression is Σ

d_T TotalCost_T, where

TotalCost_T=InvestmentCost_T+OperatingCost_T+AccessCost_T+TotalRetirementCost_T, and

11. The method of claim 10, wherein

12. The method of claim 10, wherein

OperatingCost_T=VendorTechnicalSupportCost_T+MetroOperationExpense_T+IntercityOperationExpense_T+ProvisioningExpense_T+BusinessExpense_T.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein

14. The method of claim 12, wherein

15. The method of claim 12, wherein

16. The method of claim 12, wherein

17. The method of claim 12, wherein

18. The method of claim 10, wherein

19. The method of claim 10, wherein

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the objective function is

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (f) comprises the steps of:

(i) removing any non-increasing price constraint;

(ii) performing an initial optimization; and

(iii) evaluating a resulting plan.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step (f) further comprises the steps of:

(iv) when a price increase is observed for a product, adjusting the price at the point of increase to eliminate the increase; and

(v) performing a subsequent optimization using the adjustment of step (iv) as a further constraint.

23. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing an application program to execute on a computer that selects an appropriate combination of network components and product prices over a plurality of consecutive time periods to maximize a net present value (NPV) of a cash flow that results from provision of communication services between nodes of a network, said computer readable program code means comprising:

(a) a first computer readable program code means for receiving constraint information regarding demand for products, prices of products, network topology, available technology, costs, and an initial state of the network;

(b) a second computer readable program code means for forming an expression that models revenue received as a result of sales of products at each time period T, wherein the revenue expression is a function of price and demand for each product p at each time period T, wherein the expression is;

24. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising:

(g) a seventh computer readable program code means for using the optimization to determine network components for each link in the communications network, the timing and location of the deployment of the components, the prices of products, and the timing of price changes.

25. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the constraint information regarding demand for products comprises the following:

(a) non-decreasing demand from any time period to the next, wherein the extent of any demand increase from one time period to the next is capped;

(b) a predetermined level of demand for each link and each product in an initial time period; and

(c) a fixed proportion of total network-wide demand for each link.

26. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the constraint information regarding prices of products comprises the following:

(a) a non-increasing price for each product for any time period to the next;

(b) a constant price elasticity with respect to price for each product;

(c) a bell-shaped curve for the elasticity of any product over time; and

(d) a predetermined price for each product in an initial time period.

27. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the constraint information regarding network topology comprises the following:

(a) a fixed set of nodes requiring connectivity; and

(b) a fixed set of links providing the connectivity.

28. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the constraint information regarding available technology comprises the following:

(a) a predetermined set of possible combinations of data rates and maximum numbers of wavelengths for a fiber, wherein any technology is an element of the predetermined set;

(b) a predetermined set of fiber generations, wherein any fiber belongs to one of the fiber generations.

29. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the constraint information regarding costs comprises the following:

(a) the prevailing market cost of each network component at each time period T; and

(b) a predetermined fixed cost compression rate.

30. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the constraint information regarding the initial state of the network comprises the following:

(a) the number of wavelengths bought in an initial time period;

(b) the number of rings bought in the initial time period.

31. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein said fourth computer readable program code means (d) comprises computer readable program code means for determining the network components necessary to provide the determined capacity for each link at each time period T.

32. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the cost expression is

Σ

d_TTotalCost_T, where

TotalCost_T=InvestmentCost_T+OperatingCost_T+AccessCost_T+TotalRetirementCost_T, and

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein

34. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein

OperatingCost_T=VendorTechnicalSupportCost_T+MetroOperationExpense_T+IntercityOperationExpense_T+ProvisioningExpense_T+BusinessExpense_T.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein

36. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein

37. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein

38. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein

39. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein

40. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein

41. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein

42. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the objective function is

43. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein said seventh computer readable program code means (g) comprises:

(i) computer readable program code means for removing any non-increasing price constraint;

(ii) computer readable program code means for performing an initial optimization; and

(iii) computer readable program code means for evaluating a resulting plan.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein said seventh computer readable program code means (g) further comprises:

(iv) computer readable program code means for adjusting the price at the point of increase if a price increase is observed for a product, to eliminate the increase; and

(v) computer readable program code means for performing a subsequent optimization using the adjustment of computer readable program code means (iv) as a further constraint.