Routing engine for telecommunications network

• US 8,155,009 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hollman, Brett P., Martin, Jeffrey L., Joseph, George T., Henes, Alex J., Bonewitz, Christopher M., Asalian, Kaveh, Yaworski, Geoff R., Ryczek, Gary L., Train, Colin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Simon
• Application Number:
  US12/554,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20090323702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 370/238, 370/232, 370/406, 370/237, 370/400, 709/238
• US Class Current: 370/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/12 Shortest path evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/302 Route determination based on requested QoS

Abstract

A system for automated installation of a communication line using an optimal route between a source location and a destination location is disclosed. The system includes a routing engine providing an automated design process for rendering the optimal route. The routing engine utilizes a routing algorithm to select the optimal route from a graph of capacity links defining a plurality of possible routes between the source and destination locations. If, at any time during the design process, the optimal route or capacity links defining the optimal route are detected as unavailable for any reason, the routing engine re-initiates the design process and thereafter selects a new optimal route based upon a new capacity graph built without the previously unavailable capacity link. Once designed, the available optimal route is provided to a command and control engine, which, in turn, manages the installation of the communication line using the optimal route. The command and control engine manages the process for assigning the optimal route in the provisioning system.

Claims

1. A method for providing a telecommunications service between a source node and a destination node in a communications network, wherein the telecommunications service is associated with at least one service requirement, the method comprising:

(a) identifying a plurality of fiber segments within the communications network that provide capacity links between the source node and the destination node;

(b) determining a cost for each of the plurality of fiber segments, wherein the cost is based at least on a distance of each fiber segment;

(c) calculating a first aggregate cost of at least two of the plurality of fiber segments that when communicatively combined form a first route between the source node and the destination node;

(d) calculating at least one other aggregate cost of at least two of the plurality of fiber segments that when communicatively combined form at least one other route between the source node and the destination node, wherein the at least two fiber segments that form the at least one other route comprise at least one fiber segment distinct from the at least two fiber segments that form the first route;

(e) selecting the first route for the telecommunications service based on a comparative analysis between the first aggregate cost and the at least one other aggregate cost;

(f) identifying one or more network elements for use in provisioning the telecommunications service over the first route;

(g) analyzing the one or more identified network elements to determine whether use of the one or more identified network elements in the first route conforms to the at least one service requirement, wherein the one or more identified network elements comprise at least a first network element and a second network element, the first network element and the second network element being co-located at a node, and wherein the analyzing operation (g) comprises;

analyzing the first network element to determine whether use of the first network element in the first route conforms to the at least one service requirement and, if the first network element would cause the first route to not conform to the at least one service requirement, analyzing the second network element to determine whether use of the second network element in the first route conforms to the at least one service requirement; and

(h) based on the analyzing operation (g), if use of the one or more identified network elements causes the first route not to conform to the at least one service requirement, selecting the at least one other route for the telecommunications service.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one service requirement relates, at least in part, to a speed at which data is transmitted using the telecommunications service.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one service requirement is a bandwidth requirement.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the node comprises one of the source node and the destination node.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the telecommunications service comprises a wavelength service.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one service requirement relates, at least in part, to a speed at which data is transmitted using the telecommunications service.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the service requirement is a bandwidth requirement.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by one or more processing devices, enabling the one or more processing devices to perform operations comprising:

(a) identifying a plurality of fiber segments within the communications network that provide capacity links between the source node and the destination node in the communications network;

(b) determining a cost for each of the plurality of fiber segments, wherein the cost is based at least on a distance of each fiber segment;

(c) calculating a first aggregate cost of at least two of the plurality of fiber segments that when communicatively combined form a first route between the source node and the destination node;

(d) calculating at least one other aggregate cost of at least two of the plurality of fiber segments that when communicatively combined form at least one other route between the source node and the destination node, wherein the at least two fiber segments that form the at least one other route comprise at least one fiber segment distinct from the at least two fiber segments that form the first route;

(e) selecting the first route for use with a telecommunications service based on a comparative analysis between the first aggregate cost and the at least one other aggregate cost;

(f) identifying one or more network elements for use in provisioning the telecommunications service over the first route;

(g) analyzing the one or more identified network elements to determine whether use of the one or more identified network elements in the first route conforms to at least one service requirement associated with the telecommunications service, wherein the one or more identified network elements comprise at least a first network element and a second network element, the first network element and the second network element being co-located at a node, and wherein the analyzing operation (g) comprises;

analyzing the first network element to determine whether use of the first network element in the first route conforms to the at least one service requirement and, if the first network element would cause the first route to not conform to the at least one service requirement, analyzing the second network element to determine whether use of the second network element in the first route conforms to the at least one service requirement; and

(h) based on the analyzing operation (g), if use of the one or more identified network elements causes the first route not to conform to the at least one service requirement, selecting the at least one other route for the telecommunications service.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one service requirement relates, at least in part, to a speed at which data is transmitted using the telecommunications service.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least one service requirement is a bandwidth requirement.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the node comprises one of the source node and the destination node.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the telecommunications service comprises a wavelength service.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one service requirement relates, at least in part, to a speed at which data is transmitted using the telecommunications service.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the service requirement is a bandwidth requirement.