System and method for strategic network planning

• US 8,331,250 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Middleton-Hand, Nancy, Byrne, David M., Shields, Robert B., Stutzman, Michael W., Tedder, Kenneth B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): O CONNOR, BRIAN T
• Application Number:
  US12/175,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20100014441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/254, 700/96, 700/97, 705/4, 705/8, 705/9
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour

Abstract

A system and method for strategic network planning includes a service forecast module that determines a forecasted service need for additional telecommunication network services. A network equipment module is in communication with the service forecast module. The network equipment module is operable to determine an equipment need for telecommunications network equipment in response to the determined forecasted service need. The equipment need includes a list of equipment that is desired to meet the forecasted service need. A task module is also in communication with the network equipment module. The task module is operable to determine task needs in response to the determined equipment need. The task needs include a list of tasks that need to be completed to meet the equipment need. A project module is also in communication with the task module. The project module is operable to calculate a project start date. The project start date is calculated in response to the determined task needs. The project module is further operable to automatically initiate at least one task by the project start date.

Claims

1. A system for strategic network planning, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory storing a service forecast module, a network equipment module, a task module, and a project module, wherein the processor is configured to execute the service forecast module, the network equipment module, the task module, and the project module, the service forecast module configured to determine a forecasted service need for additional telecommunication network services in response to forecast information;

the network equipment module in communication with the service forecast module, the network equipment module configured to determine an equipment need for telecommunications network equipment in response to the determined forecasted service need, the equipment need including a list of equipment that is desired to meet the forecasted service need;

the task module in communication with the network equipment module, the task module configured to determine a task needs list in response to the determined equipment need, the task needs list including;

at least one internal approval task,

at least one regulatory approval task,

at least one building permit application task; and

the project module in communication with the task module, the project module configured to calculate a project start date, the project start date calculated in response to the determined task needs, the project module further configured to automatically initiate at least one task by the project start date, the project module further configured to automatically request approval of;

the at least one internal approval task,

the at least one regulatory approval task; and

the at least one building permit application task.

2. The system of claim 1, the request for approval of the at least one internal approval task includes an indication of one or more drivers for the forecasted service need.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the forecasted service need is determined in response to one or more drivers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the forecasted service need is determined in response to one or more drivers, the one or more drivers including one or more of customer growth, bandwidth need, equipment malfunction, technology advancement, infrastructure change, regulatory change, or new service offering.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the task module is operable to automatically generate an electronic message upon a completion of one of the list of tasks.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the task module is operable to automatically generate an electronic message upon an initiation of one of the list of tasks.

7. A system for strategic network planning, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor;

instructions encoded in the memory, the instructions being configured so that when executed by the processor to;

determine a forecasted service need for additional telecommunication network services in response to forecast information;

determine an equipment need for telecommunications network equipment in response to the determined forecasted service need, the equipment need including a list of equipment that is desired to meet the forecasted service need;

determine task needs in response to the determined equipment need, the task needs including a list of tasks that need to be completed to meet the equipment need, the list of tasks further including;

at least one internal approval task,

at least one regulatory approval task,

at least one building permit application task, and

calculate a project start date, the project start date calculated in response to the determined task needs;

automatically initiate at least one task by the project start date; and

automatically request approval of;

the at least one internal approval task,

the at least one regulatory approval task, and

the at least one building permit application task.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions are operable when executed by the processor to automatically request approval of the at least one internal approval task, to further include an indication of one or more drivers for the forecasted service need.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions are further operable when executed by the processor to determine the forecasted service need in response to one or more drivers.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions are further operable when executed by the processor to determine the forecasted service need in response to one or more drivers, the one or more drivers including one or more of customer growth, bandwidth need, equipment malfunction, technology advancement, infrastructure change, regulatory change, or new service offering.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions are further operable when executed by the processor to automatically generate an electronic message upon a completion of one of the list of tasks.

12. A computer-implemented method for strategic network planning, the method comprising:

determining, using a processor, a forecasted service need for additional telecommunication network services in response to forecast information;

determining, by the processor, an equipment need for telecommunications network equipment in response to the determined forecasted service need, the equipment need including a list of equipment that is desired to meet the forecasted service need;

determining, by the processor, task needs in response to the determined equipment need, the task needs including a list of tasks that need to be completed to meet the equipment need, the list of tasks further including;

at least one internal approval task,

at least one regulatory approval task,

at least one building permit application task; and

calculating, by the processor, a project start date, the project start date calculated in response to the determined task needs

automatically requesting, by the processor, approval of;

the at least one internal approval task,

the at least one regulatory approval task,

the at least one building permit application task.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising automatically generating a request for approval of the at least one internal approval task, the request including an indication of one or more drivers for the forecasted service need.

14. The method of claim 12, and further comprising determining the forecasted service need in response to one or more drivers.

15. The method of claim 12, and further comprising determining the forecasted service need in response to one or more drivers, the one or more drivers including one or more of customer growth, bandwidth need, equipment malfunction, technology advancement, infrastructure change, regulatory change, or new service offering.

16. The method of claim 12, and further comprising automatically generating an electronic message upon a completion of one of the list of tasks.

17. The method of claim 12, and further comprising automatically generating an electronic message upon an initiation of one of the list of tasks.