System and method for determining an optimal threshold for increasing telephone line capacity and for evaluating line management policies

• US 7,162,017 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Tobin, Roger L., Servi, Leslie D., Drew, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/154,313
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112.01, 379/112.03, 379/112.04, 379/112.05, 379/112.06, 379/112.1, 379/32.01, 379/32.02, 379/221.03, 379/221.04
• US Class Current: 379/112.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2245 Management of the local loop plant

Abstract

A method determines a threshold for increasing telephone line capacity in a telecommunications system. The method includes receiving a group of parameters that relate to at least one of a telephone line management policy (1030), environmental parameters (1020), and cost parameters (1010) and determining the threshold based on the received parameters.

Claims

1. A system that determines an optimal threshold at which telephone line capacity should be expanded, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions and parameters, the parameters relating to at least one line management policy; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to receive the parameters and determine the optimal threshold based on the parameters;

wherein the parameters include at least one of an express dialtone release age indication, an express dialtone dismantle age indication, an outbound express dialtone penetration rate, and a left-in-jumper release age indication.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein, when determining, the processor is configured to determine the optimal threshold for a single central office.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein, when determining, the processor is configured to determine the optimal threshold for a group of central offices.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameters further relate to environmental and cost parameters.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the environmental parameters include at least one of a market segment indication, a line growth rate indication, an outbound customer rate, an interest rate, and an income tax rate.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the cost parameters include at least one of a capital cost per line indication, an average life of a telephone line indication, a feeder plant relief period indication, a capital cost per telephone line card indication, a life of a line card indication, a telephone line provisioning cost indication, an express dialtone activation cost indication, an express dialtone market benefit indication, and a left-in-frame activation cost indication.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein, when determining, the processor is configured to determine the optimal threshold using at least one of vacancy duration information, feeder plant inventory status information and transitions among states information, expense/risk in relation to a telephone line fill rate information, and a capital costs and expenses information.

8. A system for determining an optimal threshold at which telephone line capacity should be increased, the system comprising:

means for receiving a group of parameters, the parameters relating to at least one of a telephone line management policy, environmental parameters, and cost parameters; and

means for determining the optimal threshold based on the parameters;

wherein the parameters include at least one of an express dialtone release age indication, an express dialtone dismantle age indication, an outbound express dialtone penetration rate, and a left-in-jumper release age indication.

9. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing one or more processors to perform a method for determining a threshold for increasing telephone line capacity, the method comprising:

receiving a group of parameters, the parameters relating to at least one of a telephone line management policy, environmental parameters, and cost parameters; and

determining the threshold based on the parameters;

wherein the parameters include at least one of an express dialtone release age indication, an express dialtone dismantle age indication, an outbound express dialtone penetration rate, and a left-in-jumper release age indication.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the determining includes:

determining the threshold using at least one of vacancy duration information, feeder plant inventory status information and transitions among states information, expense/risk in relation to a telephone line fill rate information, and a capital costs and expenses information.

11. A method for determining a threshold for increasing telephone line capacity, comprising:

receiving a group of parameters, the parameters relating to at least one of a telephone line management policy, environmental parameters, and cost parameters; and

determining the threshold based on the parameters;

wherein the parameters relating to a telephone line management policy include at least one of an express dialtone release age indication, an express dialtone dismantle age indication, an outbound express dialtone penetration rate, and a left-in-jumper release age indication.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the environmental parameters include at least one of a market segment indication, a line growth rate indication, an outbound customer rate, an interest rate, and an income tax rate.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the cost parameters include at least one of a capital cost per line indication, an average life of a telephone line indication, a feeder plant relief period indication, a capital cost per telephone line card indication, a life of a line card indication, a telephone line provisioning cost indication, an express dialtone activation cost indication, an express dialtone market benefit indication, and a left-in-frame activation cost indication.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the determining includes:

determining the threshold using at least one of vacancy duration information, feeder plant inventory status information and transitions among states information, expense/risk in relation to a telephone line fill rate information, and a capital costs and expenses information.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

controlling telephone line provisioning based on the determined threshold.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

evaluating the telephone line management policy based on the determining.

17. A graphical user interface for providing data regarding telephone line deployment, comprising:

a first section configured to allow a user to enter cost parameters;

a second section configured to allow a user to enter environmental parameters;

a third section configured to allow a user to enter data relating to a telephone line management policy;

a fourth section configured to output cost results;

a fifth section configured to output customer turnover results; and

a sixth section configured to output outlay implication results;

wherein the third section includes at least one of an express dialtone release age indication input, an express dialtone dismantle age indication input, an outbound express dialtone penetration rate input, and a left-in-jumper release age indication input.

18. The graphical user interface of claim 17 wherein the first section includes at least one of a capital cost per line indication input, an average life of a telephone line indication input, a feeder plant relief period indication input, a capital cost per telephone line card indication input, a life of a line card indication input, a telephone line provisioning cost indication input, an express dialtone activation cost indication input, an express dialtone market benefit indication input, and a left-in-frame activation cost indication input.

19. The graphical user interface of claim 17 wherein the second section includes at least one of a market segment indication input, a line growth rate indication input, an outbound customer rate input, an interest rate input, and an income tax rate input.

20. The graphical user interface of claim 17 wherein the fourth section includes at least one of an annual depreciation cost per telephone line output and an annual variable customer turnover expense per line output.

21. The graphical user interface of claim 17 wherein the fifth section includes at least one of a telephone line capacity threshold output, an inbound express dialtone (EDT) penetration rate output, an EDT fill output, an inbound left-in-frame (LIF) penetration rate output, a left-in-jumper (LIJ)/LIF fill output, an effective fill for assignments output, an implicit cost per non EDT/LIJ/LIF assignment output, and a typical cost per non EDT/LIJ/LIF assignment output.

22. The graphical user interface of claim 17 wherein the sixth section includes an annual value per line of delayed outlay output.