Optimization for network utilization

• US 7,742,433 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bryant, Elliott, Harshavardhana, Paramasiviah, Chen, Song C., Bickerstaff, Robert, Brinkley, James King
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore; Ian N
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENG, CHI TANG P
• Application Number:
  US11/431,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/230, 370/401, 705/40, 705/402, 705/404, 709220- 4, 37911206- 9, 37911401- 5, 379/114.1, 379/121.04, 379/126
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A network optimization application receives as input information about a telecommunications network and the current use of that network. An optimization is performed in order to generate a preferred network use configuration which minimizes price for one or more customers of the telecommunications network. Information utilized as input into the application includes network nodes (e.g., switches, central offices, customer premises), linkages among nodes, prices associated with the network, and current use of the network. The output network use configuration may be browsed using a configuration interface listing network elements and also a detail interface for viewing details of individual network elements.

Claims

1. A method for determining a preferred communications network use configuration, the method comprising:

receiving current usage information indicating the current usage of at least one user of a communications network;

receiving linkage information for the communications network;

receiving price information associated with the communications network;

receiving previous usage information for the communications network;

receiving geographic location information for switches within the communications network;

receiving geographic location information for customer facilities within the communications network;

determining, by a processor, the preferred communications network use configuration based on the current usage, linkage, price, and previous usage information, wherein determining includes optimizing the preferred communications network use configuration to minimize price and determining fees associated with a communications network use configuration based on the geographic locations of switches relative to customer facilities within the communications network;

displaying a configuration interface on a display in communication with the processor, the configuration interface configured to detail a plurality of elements comprising the preferred communications network use configuration; and

displaying a detail interface on the display, the detail interface configured to show the details of an element of the preferred communications network use configuration, wherein the element of the preferred communications network use configuration comprises at least one of;

a logical ring, wherein the logical ring identifies at least three nodes, or a circuit, wherein the circuit identifies two nodes.

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

receiving tariff information associated with the communications network; and

wherein determining the preferred communications network use configuration comprises determining tariffs associated with a communications network use configuration.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the configuration interface allows a user to review the preferred communications network use configuration.

4. The method of claim 3,

wherein displaying the configuration interface includes displaying a list of elements of the preferred communications network use configuration.

5. The method of claim 3,

wherein the detail interface allows a user to review details of an element of the preferred communications network use configuration.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein displaying the detail interface includes displaying a visual representation of the element of the preferred communications network use configuration.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the detail interface enables manual alteration of one or more aspects of the element of the preferred communications network use configuration.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the previous usage information comprises communications network usage information for a single customer entity.

9. A system for creating a preferred network use configuration, the system comprising:

a processor;

a display, in communication with the processor;

a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions comprising;

receiving node information for a plurality of nodes comprising at least a portion of a communications network;

receiving linkage information for the plurality of nodes;

receiving price information associated with the communications network;

receiving current usage information, wherein the current usage information comprises data detailing current use of the communications network by a customer;

receiving previous usage information for the communications network;

receiving geographic location information for switches within the communications network;

receiving geographic location information for customer facilities within the communications network;

determining a preferred network use configuration for the customer using the node, linkage, price, current usage information and previous usage information as components of an optimization, wherein the optimization minimizes price, wherein determining the preferred network use configuration includes determining fees associated with a communications network use configuration based on the geographic locations of switches relative to customer facilities within the communications network;

displaying a configuration interface on the display, the configuration interface configured to detail a plurality of elements comprising the preferred network use configuration; and

displaying a detail interface on the display, the detail interface configured to show the details of an element of the preferred network use configuration, wherein the element of the preferred network use configuration comprises at least one of;

a logical ring, wherein the logical ring identifies at least three nodes, or a circuit, wherein the circuit identifies two nodes.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the detail interface displays a graphical representation of the element of the preferred network use configuration.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a customer premise.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the price information comprises data regarding prices charged to the customer.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the price information comprises information regarding discounts and credits available to the customer.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions for determining a customer'"'"'s preferred network use configuration, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform:

modeling a telecommunications network, wherein elements of the telecommunications network are individually described, the elements including a switch, an interface, and a circuit;

receiving price information associated with use of the telecommunications network;

receiving customer-specific information, including information about a customer premise, to supplement the telecommunications network model;

receiving customer-specific telecommunications network use information;

receiving customer-specific previous network use information to further supplement the telecommunications network model;

receiving geographic location information for switches within the telecommunications network;

receiving geographic location information for customer facilities within the telecommunications network;

performing an optimization on the telecommunications network model using the price information, customer-specific information including information about a customer premise, customer-specific current network use information, and customer-specific previous network use information to determine a preferred network use configuration for the customer, the optimization minimizing price to the customer, and the optimization including determining fees associated with a telecommunications network use configuration based on the geographic locations of switches relative to customer facilities within the telecommunications network;

displaying a configuration interface on a display, the configuration interface configured to detail a plurality of elements comprising the preferred network use configuration; and

displaying a detail interface on the display, the detail interface configured to show the details of an element of the preferred network use configuration, wherein the element of the preferred network use configuration comprises at least one of;

a logical ring, wherein the logical ring identifies at least three nodes, or a circuit, wherein the circuit identifies two nodes.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the customer-specific previous network use information is derived from information stored in a customer billing system.