Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A FIBRE OPTIC NETWORK DESIGN METHOD
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method of designing a fibre optic network
for a plurality
of premises in a geographic area comprising existing infrastructure for
utilities in the
geographic area.
Background
Optical fibre can be used as a medium for telecommunication and networking
because it is
flexible and can be bundled as cables. It is especially advantageous for long-
distance
communications because light propagates through the fibre with little
attenuation
compared with electrical cables. In recent times, vast fibre optic networks
have been
commissioned to cope with the increasing growth in Internet communication and
cable
television.
In one existing example, fibre optic networks are designed manually with a
view of
ensuring that engineering and other physical requirements are met. Not only is
this
manual design process often laborious and time consuming, but the resulting
network
design is often far from ideal by including more infrastructure than is
absolutely necessary,
which ultimately adds to network cost. In addition, manually modifying the
designed
network to reduce the amount of infrastructure, or in response to changing
requirements,
is also a laborious and time consuming task.
WO 2012/021933 discloses a system for designing a fibre optic network in an
area that
has existing infrastructure. The system generates a design by optimizing
geographic
locations of the nodes and arcs in the fibre optic network using design inputs
and existing
infrastructure, and outputs a design comprising the optimised geographic
locations of the
nodes and arcs relative to the existing infrastructure.
Summary of the Invention
According to a first broad aspect, the invention provides a computer-
implemented method
of designing a fibre optic network for a plurality of premises in a geographic
area that has
existing infrastructure, the method comprising:
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electronically generating or receiving (whether from an external source or
from an
component of a single computing system) design outputs comprising geographic
locations
of nodes in the fibre optic network and arcs extending between the nodes,
relative to at
least elements of existing infrastructure used as geographic locations for the
nodes and
the arcs, the elements of the existing infrastructure being associated with
characterizing
data that characterizes the elements;
electronically receiving validation data corresponding to the elements of the
existing infrastructure, the validation data being indicative of validity of
the characterizing
data;
electronically generating new design outputs by optimizing geographic
locations of
the nodes and the arcs in the fibre optic network using at least fibre optic
network design
inputs, existing infrastructure inputs and the validation data, wherein the
fibre optic
network design inputs comprise data indicative of a plurality of nodes in the
fibre optic
network and data indicative of arcs extending between the nodes in the fibre
optic network
based on allocated bandwidth for the premises in the geographic area, and the
existing
infrastructure inputs comprise data indicative of the existing infrastructure,
and wherein the
new design outputs comprise optimized geographic locations of the nodes and
the arcs in
the fibre optic network relative to the existing infrastructure; and
electronically outputting the new design outputs.
The design outputs may comprise geographic locations of nodes in the fibre
optic network
and arcs extending between the nodes, relative to at least elements of
existing
infrastructure and potential new elements of infrastructure generated based on
existing
elements of infrastructure indicated by the existing infrastructure inputs and
in accordance
with infrastructure generation rules, the potential new elements of
infrastructure being
associated with characterizing data that characterizes the potential new
elements.
The method may further comprise automatically generating potential new
elements of
infrastructure based on existing elements of infrastructure indicated by the
existing
infrastructure inputs and in accordance with infrastructure generation rules,
the potential
new elements of infrastructure being associated with characterizing data that
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characterizes the potential new elements. The method may include optimizing
the
geographic locations of the nodes and the arcs in the fibre optic network
using at least the
fibre optic network design inputs, the existing infrastructure inputs, the
potential new
elements of infrastructure and the validation data.
The method may further comprise performing optimization with respect to the
fibre optic
network design inputs and the existing infrastructure inputs using an
optimization model.
The optimization model may comprise a tree optimisation model wherein each
tree is
centred at one of the nodes and comprises one or more of the arcs connected
thereto.
The optimization model may further comprise a linear optimization function
subject to any
one of: i) linear constraints; ii) integer constraints; and iii) linear
constraints and integer
constraints.
In one embodiment, the method includes electronically generating the design
outputs by
optimizing geographic locations of the nodes and the arcs in the fibre optic
network using
at least the fibre optic network design inputs and the existing infrastructure
inputs (and
optionally potential new elements of infrastructure generated based on
existing elements
of infrastructure indicated by the existing infrastructure inputs and in
accordance with
infrastructure generation rules, the potential new elements of infrastructure
being
associated with characterizing data that characterizes the potential new
elements).
Generating the design outputs may involve using an optimization model; the
optimization
model may comprise a tree optimization model wherein each tree is centred at
one of the
nodes and comprises one or more of the arcs connected thereto, and/or a linear
optimization function subject to any one of: i) linear constraints; ii)
integer constraints; and
iii) linear constraints and integer constraints.
In a particular embodiment, the method comprises at least once (though
typically more
than once):
(a) subsequently electronically receiving further validation data
corresponding to
elements of the existing infrastructure used as geographic locations for the
nodes and the
arcs in the new design outputs, for which elements validation data has not yet
been
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received, the further validation data being indicative of validity of
characterizing data that
characterizes the elements, and augmenting the validation data with the
further validation
data; and
(b) electronically generating still further design outputs by optimizing
geographic
locations of the nodes and the arcs in the fibre optic network using fibre
optic network
design inputs, existing infrastructure inputs and the validation data, wherein
the still further
design outputs comprise optimized geographic locations of the nodes and the
arcs in the
fibre optic network relative to the existing infrastructure.
The fibre optic network design inputs may further comprise data indicative of
a plurality of
arcs extending between the nodes and each of the premises. In this embodiment,
i) each
of the arcs may comprise at least one fibre optic cable; ii) the nodes may
comprise Fibre
Distribution Hubs (FDHs) or fibre optic cable splice locations; or iii) each
of the arcs may
comprise at least one fibre optic cable, the nodes comprising Fibre
Distribution Hubs
(FDHs) or fibre optic cable splice locations.
The existing infrastructure may comprise:
i) a power network, wherein the optimised geographic locations of the nodes
comprises a plurality of power poles of the power network so that at least one
fibre optic
cable can be hung therebetween; and/or
ii) a duct network having a plurality of pits and a plurality of existing
ducts therein,
wherein the optimised geographic locations of the nodes further comprise the
plurality of
pits of the duct network so that fibre optic cables can be laid in the
existing ducts
therebetween.
In one embodiment, the existing infrastructure comprises a duct network having
a plurality
of pits and a plurality of existing ducts therein, the optimised geographic
locations of the
nodes further comprise the plurality of pits of the duct network so that fibre
optic cables
can be laid in the existing ducts therebetween, and the optimised geographic
locations of
the arcs further comprise new ducts, not of the duct network, so that the
fibre optic cables
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can be laid therein where the existing infrastructure cannot be used for the
fibre optic
network.
The fibre optic network design inputs may further comprise data indicative of
costs.
The method may further comprise:
i) displaying the design of the fibre optic network with respect to a map of
the
geographic area using the design outputs; and/or
ii) estimating the plurality of nodes and the arcs in the fibre optic network
based on
the allocated bandwidth for the premises in the geographic area.
In one embodiment, the existing infrastructure inputs comprise data indicative
of a cost of
inspecting elements of the existing infrastructure.
In one embodiment, generating the new design outputs includes constraining a
cost of
implementation of the new design outputs relative to a cost of implementation
of the
design outputs by a predefined amount.
This aspect also provides a computer software product, configured to control a
computing
device, when executed thereon, to implement the method described above.
The computer software product may be stored (in some cases in permanent form)
on a
computer-readable medium.
According to a second broad aspect, the invention provides a system for
designing a fibre
optic network for a plurality of premises in a geographic area that has
existing
infrastructure, the system comprising:
an input module arranged to electronically receive design outputs comprising
geographic locations of nodes in the fibre optic network and arcs extending
between the
nodes, relative to at least elements of existing infrastructure used as
geographic locations
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for the nodes and the arcs, the elements of the existing infrastructure being
associated
with characterizing data that characterizes the elements;
the input module being further arranged to electronically receive validation
data
corresponding to the elements of the existing infrastructure, the validation
data being
indicative of validity of the characterizing data;
an optimizer arranged to electronically generate new design outputs by
optimizing
geographic locations of the nodes and the arcs in the fibre optic network
using at least
fibre optic network design inputs, existing infrastructure inputs and the
validation data,
wherein the fibre optic network design inputs comprise data indicative of a
plurality of
nodes in the fibre optic network and data indicative of arcs extending between
the nodes
in the fibre optic network based on allocated bandwidth for the premises in
the geographic
area, and the existing infrastructure inputs comprise data indicative of the
existing
infrastructure, and wherein the new design outputs comprise optimized
geographic
locations of the nodes and the arcs in the fibre optic network relative to the
existing
infrastructure; and
an output arranged to output the new design outputs.
The design outputs may comprise geographic locations of nodes in the fibre
optic network
and arcs extending between the nodes, relative to at least elements of
existing
infrastructure and potential new elements of infrastructure generated based on
existing
elements of infrastructure indicated by the existing infrastructure inputs and
in accordance
with infrastructure generation rules, the potential new elements of
infrastructure being
associated with characterizing data that characterizes the potential new
elements.
In an embodiment, the system further comprises an infrastructure generator and
infrastructure generation rules, wherein the infrastructure generator is
configured to
automatically generate potential new elements of infrastructure based on
existing
elements of infrastructure indicated by the existing infrastructure inputs and
in accordance
with infrastructure generation rules, the potential new elements of
infrastructure being
associated with characterizing data that characterizes the potential new
elements. The
optimizer may be arranged to optimize the geographic locations of the nodes
and the arcs
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in the fibre optic network using at least the fibre optic network design
inputs, the existing
infrastructure inputs, the potential new elements of infrastructure and the
validation data.
In one embodiment, the optimizer is arranged to perform optimization with
respect to the
fibre optic network design inputs and the existing infrastructure inputs using
an
optimization model. The optimization model may comprise a tree optimisation
model
wherein each tree is centred at one of the nodes and comprises one or more of
the arcs
connected thereto, and/or a linear optimization function subject to any one
of: i) linear
constraints; ii) integer constraints; and iii) linear constraints and integer
constraints.
In another embodiment, the optimizer is arranged to generate the design
outputs by
optimizing geographic locations of the nodes and the arcs in the fibre optic
network using
at least the fibre optic network design inputs and the existing infrastructure
inputs (and
optionally potential new elements of infrastructure generated based on
existing elements
of infrastructure indicated by the existing infrastructure inputs and in
accordance with
infrastructure generation rules, the potential new elements of infrastructure
being
associated with characterizing data that characterizes the potential new
elements).
Generating the design outputs may involve using an optimization model. The
optimization
model may comprise a tree optimization model wherein each tree is centred at
one of the
nodes and comprises one or more of the arcs connected thereto, and/or a linear
optimization function subject to any one of: i) linear constraints; ii)
integer constraints; and
iii) linear constraints and integer constraints.
In a particular embodiment, the system is configured to:
(a) receive further validation data corresponding to elements of the existing
infrastructure used as geographic locations for the nodes and the arcs in the
new design
outputs, for which elements validation data has not yet been received, the
further
validation data being indicative of validity of characterizing data that
characterizes the
elements, and augment the validation data with the further validation data;
and
(b) generate still further design outputs by optimizing geographic locations
of the
nodes and the arcs in the fibre optic network using fibre optic network design
inputs,
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existing infrastructure inputs and the validation data, wherein the still
further design
outputs comprise optimized geographic locations of the nodes and the arcs in
the fibre
optic network relative to the existing infrastructure.
the system may be controlled to perform steps (a) and (b) once, but commonly
the system
will be controlled to perform steps (a) and (b) a plurality of times.
In another embodiment, the existing infrastructure inputs comprise data
indicative of a cost
of inspecting elements of the existing infrastructure.
The system may comprise a cost monitor configured to control the optimizer so
as to
constrain a cost of implementation of the new design outputs relative to a
cost of
implementation of the design outputs by a predefined amount.
It should be noted that any of the various individual features of each of the
above aspects
of the invention, and any of the various individual features of the
embodiments described
herein including in the claims, can be combined as suitable and desired.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In order that the invention can be more clearly ascertained, embodiments will
now be
described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for designing a fibre optic
network
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the system of figure 1;
Figures 3A to 30 are examples of user interface screens generated by the
software product of the system of figures 1 and 2 according to an embodiment
of the
present invention;
Figure 4 is an exemplary map of a fibre optic network design produced by the
system of figures 1 and 2, the map being displayed using design outputs
produced using
the system of figures 1 and 2;
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Figure 5 is a flow diagram of a fibre optic network design method in
accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 7 is an exemplary user interface screen generated by the re-optimizer
of the
network design software product of the system of figures 1 and 2, showing
exemplary
inputs and a progress panel, according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
Detailed Description
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
system 10, as
shown schematically in figure 1, for designing a fibre optic network for a
plurality of
premises in a geographic area, such as a suburb, comprising existing
infrastructure for
utilities in the suburb, such as infrastructure for a power network. System 10
includes an
input 11 arranged to receive fibre optic network design inputs comprising data
indicative of
a plurality of nodes in the fibre optic network and data indicative of a
plurality of arcs
extending between the nodes in the fibre optic network based on allocated
bandwidth for
premises in the suburb. The network design inputs include data indicative of
costs
(including of material and labour), so that the cost of any design generated
by system 10
can be determined by system 10 as a part of the network design process, and
minimized if
desired.
Input 11 is also arranged to receive existing infrastructure design inputs
comprising data
indicative of the existing infrastructure that can be used as geographic
locations for the
nodes and arcs in the fibre optic network. System 10 further includes an
optimizer 12
arranged to perform optimization with respect to the fibre optic network
design inputs and
the existing infrastructure design inputs to optimize the geographic locations
of the nodes
and the arcs and to generate design outputs comprising the optimized
geographic
locations of the nodes and arcs in the fibre optic network relative to the
existing
infrastructure; this may be done, for example, to minimize costs associated
with
construction of the fibre optic network.
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System 10 includes an infrastructure generator 14. Infrastructure generator 14
is
arranged to generate potential new elements of infrastructure for use in the
generation of
the design outputs by optimizer 12. It has been found that in some
environments as little
as 20% or less of the required infrastructure is available in the form of
existing
infrastructure, so the design outputs may include a significant and in some
cases
dominant number of new elements of infrastructure. It will commonly be
advantageous,
therefore, to optimize where the new elements of infrastructure are located.
During the generation of such design outputs, optimizer 12 will typically
determine that the
elements of existing infrastructure are insufficient to generate the design
and that at least
some new elements of infrastructure are required. Infrastructure generator 14
automatically generates potential new elements of infrastructure that would be
suitable for
completion of the design, based on existing elements of infrastructure
(received as
described above at input 11 as existing infrastructure design inputs) and
infrastructure
generation rules 15. Infrastructure generation rules 15 define the
relationship between
elements of existing infrastructure and possible new elements of
infrastructure, according
to the ability of the possible new elements to be supported or accommodated
by¨or
otherwise co-exist with¨elements of existing infrastructure.
For example, in general new ducts are most commonly required and readily
installed
along and under roads, so infrastructure generation rules 15 define that
infrastructure
generator 14, when generating potential new ducts, locate the potential new
ducts
accordingly, based on road locations and widths specified in the existing
infrastructure
design inputs. As a consequence, infrastructure generator 14 will generate a
set of
potential new ducts located in association with one or more roads, using the
geometry of
the roads' edges. In each case, the potential new ducts will resemble a ladder-
like
arrangement, with potential ducts along each side of the road and potential
ducts crossing
the road at regular intervals.
The potential new elements of infrastructure may be merged into the existing
infrastructure
inputs or otherwise made similarly accessible by optimizer 12, so that
optimizer 12 will
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employ the potential new elements of infrastructure just as it would elements
of existing
infrastructure during the generation of the design. The costs associated with
a potential
new element of infrastructure, however, are typically significantly higher
than the costs
associated with a comparable element of existing infrastructure in the same
(or essentially
the same) location. This is because certain costs¨such as those of the
materials and/or
labour required to construct or install the potential new elements¨do not
arise when using
a comparable element of existing infrastructure. This generally encourages
optimizer 12
to employ an element of existing infrastructure over a potential new element
of
infrastructure, all other considerations being equal.
In this embodiment, system 10 is configured to control infrastructure
generator 14 to
generate potential new elements of infrastructure each time a design is to be
generated by
optimizer 12, so that the generated potential new elements of infrastructure
are available
or use by optimizer 12. In another embodiment, the user may be given the
ability to select
whether or not system 10 employ infrastructure generator 14, or infrastructure
generator
14 may be omitted. In still another embodiment, system 10 is configured not to
automatically employ infrastructure generator 14 each time a design is to be
generated,
but instead in response to optimizer 12 determining that so high a number of
new
elements of infrastructure will be required that infrastructure generator 14
should be
employed before optimizer 12 generates the ultimate design.
System 10 also includes a re-optimizer 16 arranged to permit a user to modify
one or
more design inputs or select one or more design constraints (or both) and to
control
system 10 to generate new design outputs according to the design inputs as
modified
and/or the selected one or more design constraints. Re-optimizer 16 includes a
cost
monitor 17 that facilitates the control of cost during such design
modification, as described
below.
System 10 has an output 18, a memory 20, and a user interface 22. Memory 20
stores a
software product comprising instructions for the fibre optic network design
method of this
embodiment, including performing optimization and re-optimization using the
fibre optic
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network design inputs, the existing infrastructure inputs and user inputs, to
generate the
design outputs for output via output 18 to a user. The user interface 22 is
typically
provided in or as a remote user computing device and various computer
peripherals in
communication with the other components of system 10 via a telecommunications
network
(not shown), such as the Internet or an Ethernet. Hence, the user typically
receives any
outputs remotely at user interface 22.
Output 18 is thus arranged to output the design outputs for design of the
fibre optic
network, for subsequent implementation. In this way, the nodes can be located
at
locations of existing infrastructure, such as power poles, and arcs of fibre
optic cables
hung therebetween. Alternatively, the design outputs output by output 18 may
be checked
against the existing infrastructure to verify that all the elements of the
existing
infrastructure exploited by the design outputs remain suitable for use in the
fibre optic
network (lest, for example, some have meanwhile deteriorated or become
inaccessible). If
some of the elements of the existing infrastructure exploited by the design
outputs can no
longer be used, or if for any reason it is desired that they not be used, a
user may use re-
optimizer 16 arranged to control system 10 generate new design outputs (as
described
below).
In the embodiment shown in figure 1, input 11, optimizer 12, infrastructure
generator 14,
re-optimizer 16, output 18 and memory 20 reside on a server 24, which may be
in the form
of a personal or other computer.
Figure 2 is a more detailed, schematic diagram of certain functional
components of user
interface 22 and server 24. Referring to figure 2, server 24 includes a
processor 30 (or
one or more processors) that accesses RAM 32, ROM 34 and various secondary
data
storage 36 such as hard disk drives. RAM 32, ROM 34 and secondary storage 36
together constitute memory 20. Secondary storage 36 includes the
aforementioned
software product 37. Processor 30 executes software product 37. In this
embodiment,
input 11, optimizer 12, re-optimizer 16 and output 18 of figure 1 are
implemented by
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software product 37, utilizing various hardware components of server 24, as
will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art.
Software product 37 can update design outputs when desired network design
inputs are
varied by a user, typically in the form of a network designer. Software
product 37 is also
provided on an optical or magnetically readable medium, such as a CD-ROM 29,
though it
might also be provided in a ROM or other electronic circuit as firmware or
provided over a
distributed computer network such as the Internet. The software product 37
also includes
instructions for the computational device 3 to implement the fibre optic
network design
method.
Server 24 also includes a main board 46 with interfacing circuitry, and an I/O
board 48
(which may include a network support module, such as a LAN switch or Internet
gateway).
Main board 46 controls the flow of data and commands to and from user
interface 22 via
I/O 48. User interface 22 includes one or more displays 50, a keyboard 52, a
computer
mouse 54, and peripherals a printer 56a (for converting files, spreadsheets
and maps into
paper hardcopy), a scanner 56b (for converting documents into electronic file
format), and
an optical disk writer 56c (for writing files, spreadsheets and maps to
removable optical
disks).
Thus, in use, a network designer either estimates the desired locations of the
nodes and
arcs of the intended fibre optic network based on the allocated bandwidth for
the premises
and their location in the geographic area, or receives these locations from a
government
or utility GIS (geographic information system), or any combination of these.
Next, the
designer generates¨using a suitable software module¨the fibre optic network
design
input data based on these desired locations. The software module that
generates the
fibre optic network design input data may be provided in the aforementioned
remote user
computing device as a part of system 10, or in a separate computing device and
imported
into system 10 via user interface 22.
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The user communicates the input data from user interface 22 to server 24.
Input 11
receives the estimates along with data indicative of the existing
infrastructure so that
optimizer 12 can perform optimization on these inputs to generate a network
design
employing elements of the existing infrastructure, generally to minimize
construction
and/or material costs of the proposed network.
As described above, the arcs extend between the nodes and each of the premises
so that
each premise receives at least one optical fibre and each node of the network
comprises a
Fibre Distribution Hub (FDH) or a fibre optic cable splice location. In the
example given
below, the existing infrastructure is a power network. However, as described
above, the
system 200 can be applied to more than one utility network (e.g. a power
network and
telecommunications network) to generate a multi-layered network design reusing
different
types of existing infrastructure.
In the example, optimizer 12 performs optimization on the inputted estimated
node and arc
locations with respect to the location of power poles and underground ducts of
the power
network to minimize, for example, the need to dig new trenches for new ducts
for the optic
fibre cables. In this way, the nodes of the network can be located at the
power poles or
underground pits of the power network so that the arcs of fibre optic cable
can be hung or
laid therebetween. Optimization is performed by optimizer 12 on the inputs
using an
optimization model in the form of, in this example, a tree optimisation model,
whereby
each tree has a FDH (Fibre Distribution Hub) centred at one of the nodes and
one or more
arcs connected thereto. This model can be expressed as a linear optimisation
function
subject to a number of linear and integer constraints, which is as follows:
minimise CHIzp + Cs Wp + tv v C
- aA at
pEH pEH aEA,tET
This is subject to constraints (1) to (4) as follows:
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MHzp + 1 xa Dp + 1 Xa VP (1)
a,Ta=P a,Fa=p
Zp + 1 Y at = 1 V p, Dp >0 (2a)
t,a,Ta=p
1 Y at 1 V p, Dp = 0 (2b)
t,a,Ta=p
v_>_
., at ¨ 1 Yat V p, t (3)
a,Ta=p a,Fa=p
xa 5- 1 MtYat V a (4)
t
The optimization model employed by optimizer 12 assumes the following:
= A set of NP power poles P indexed by p (where the term pole and power
pole are
used interchangeably).
= Each pole has a demand Dp ¨ the number of fibres that are needed at this
pole
= A set of NA possible arcs A indexed by a, each going from pole Fa to pole
Ta. Each
span will correspond to two arcs. The length of arc a is given by la
= The degree of each pole, dp ¨ the number that start at (and end at) pole
p
= The set H of poles which are potential FDH or splice locations. A splice
location is
a location where one cable can be joined to two other cables, usually a larger
one
into two smaller ones. Not all poles may be allowed to locate an FDH or a
splice.
= The fixed cost of an FDH = CH.
= A set of NT cable types T indexed by t. Each cable type has a maximum
fibre
capacity M. Each arc a has a known cost for being connected by cable type t =
C. . This is calculated from the type of arc, its length and the type of
cable.
= MH is the maximum fibre capacity for an FDH.
The above variables are defined as follows:
= zp c {0,1), which is 1 if pole p is used as an FDH. By definition zp = 0
if p E H.
= wp c {0,1), which is 1 if pole p is used as a splice location. By
definition wp =
0 if p E H.
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= Yat 6 {0,1}, which is 1 if arc a has a cable of type t installed.
= Xa which is the "fibre flow" on arc a. That is, the number of free fibres
that will be
available at the end pole.
Constraint (1) ensures that the "fibre flow" into a pole is at least as large
as the demand at
the pole plus the fibre flow out of the pole. For an FDH, "inwards fibre flow"
is the capacity
of the FDH (MHz).
Constraint (2a) ensures that a pole with demand is either an FDH or it has
exactly one
cable connecting in to it. If a pole has no demand, it must have at most one
cable
connecting in to it (2b). These constraints, together with the preservation of
cable types
imposed by constraint (3), ensure that there is no branching in the
distribution cable
network, except at an FDH or a splice.
Constraint (3) ensures that for each pole the inflow of a particular cable
type is at least as
large as the outflow of that cable type, unless the pole is an FDH or a
splice.
Constraint (4) ensures that the "fibre flow" on an arc is less than the
maximum for the
installed cable.
Thus, the optimisation function can be seen as minimizing the combined
construction cost
of installed FDHs and splices and the cost of installing cables between nodes
and
between nodes and premises by utilizing existing infrastructure where possible
rather
than, say, digging new trenches for the arcs of the network. The design
outputs from the
optimisation function can then applied to a map of the suburb for construction
of the
network.
In use, server 24¨executing software product 37¨receives design inputs from
the fibre
optic network designer as described above, such as with keyboard 52 and mouse
54,
relating to the network design and the existing infrastructure. That is, the
designer enters
the inputs into software product 37, which is displayed on display 50.
Optimizer 12 then
performs the optimization model based on the inputs from the designer and
produces
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design outputs relating to the network design, which are displayed on display
50 and
stored in a file or files in secondary storage 36.
Software product 37 generates and displays various user interface screens on
user
interface 22. These user interface screens typically include various control
buttons and
network design parameters. The network design parameters include designer
defined
inputs for a given network design and generic network inputs (or parameters)
for a
network design, including the fibre optic network design inputs and the
existing
infrastructure design inputs, and design outputs as discussed below.
The designer defined inputs include a node domain set relating to feasible
geographic
location of nodes. In practice, these may be a set of usable power poles of
the existing
power infrastructure in the geography being modelled, or they may be a set of
nodes
representing street junction points or intersections. The designer defined
inputs also
include the number of fibres that have to be delivered to each node in the
network design
(e.g. demand) and an arc domain set relating to feasible geographic location
of arcs,
which can be used to connect nodes with cables of a specific type. In
practice, the arc
domain set can either be defined by the set of power poles that are connected
by existing
electrical infrastructure, or the pre-existing duct network which may be
available for use, or
they can represent the connection between nodes representing street junctions
or
intersections to host new trenched networks, or a combination thereof.
Designer defined
inputs further include a cable type domain set relating to feasible types of
cable to be used
in the network design, and an optimisation model parameter set for the
optimisation
model.
The generic network inputs include information relating to the minimum and
maximum
number of FDHs, the fibre capacity of each FDH (viz, the maximum number of
fibres
connect to an FDH), the maximum distance from an FDH to a node, the allowable
consumable capacity of fibres in the allowable cable set, the entry point of
the distribution
cable into the area being planned, whether splicing is allowed, the number of
fibres per
tube in accordance with the reference architecture, whether or not the
solution must
CA 02894341 2015-06-16
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include only trenched cable, or a combination of both trenched and aerial
cable and
network component costs.
The network component costs include the fixed cost of each FDH, splice
enclosure costs,
the fixed cost of an individual fibre splices and splice enclosure pits,
aerial cable
installation cost (per metre), trenching costs (per metre), hauling fibre
through trenched
ducts (cost per metre) and cable costs (per metre). The base data required is
the location
of nodes, the fibre demand for each node, and a determination of whether the
node can
act as an FDH or cable splice location. These data sets also have a number of
spans or
arcs¨potential connection between nodes. Spans can be thought of as undirected
potential arcs that may or may not be used in the output design. Each
potential arc
includes a determination of whether or not it can be used to string aerial
cable only, run
trenched cable only, or string both aerial and run trenched cable.
Design outputs include an output node set relating to optimised geographic
location of
FDHs and cable splice nodes in the network design and an output arc set
relating to
optimised use of arcs in the network design, including whether or not each arc
is used to
string aerial cable only, run new trenched cable only, utilize pre-existing
duct capacity
only, or both string aerial and run trenched cable (new or pre-existing).
Also, the design
outputs include the type of cable used and the utilized capacity in each
specific cable.
Figures 3A to 3C are examples of such user interface screens, arranged as
tabs, as
generated by software product 37 and displayed on user interface 22. These
tabs are
arranged to be consistent with and to enforce preferred workflow, and are
generally
followed by the user from left to right on user interface 22.
Figure 3A is a view of a project setup tab 60 configured to allow the user to
specify input
files containing the name of the design 62 (labelled "FSAM identifier") for¨in
this
example¨a particular telecom, and the design's version number 64, and
respective file
selection buttons for selecting a fibre servicing area module (FSAM) file 66,
a geocoded
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national address file (GNAF) 68, a cadastre file 70, a pit file 72 of the
telecom, a trench file
74 of the telecom, and a duct file 76 of the telecom.
Also generated by software product 37 are a quality assurance (QA) tab 78, a
Network tab
80 and a Propagation tab 82: these tabs are configured to allow the user
either to prepare
the input data (e.g. check the data for errors) or wrap the finished design
for submission.
A "?" tab 84 allows the user to request customer support.
Figure 3B is a view of a FDH placement tab 86 including controls that allow
the user to
specify FDH fibre capacity (at 88), the grid size to be employed to find FDHs
(at 90), the
percentage at which optimizer 12 should stop (at 92), and the number of FDHs
(at 94).
The percentage at which optimizer 12 should stop, controlled by control 92,
may be used
to control optimizer 12 to halt before it determines an optimal solution. This
functionality is
provided because optimizer 12 may generate numerous permitted (or 'legal') but
sub-
optimal solutions in the course of searching for the optimal solution. This
percentage is
enforced based on the theoretical optimality for the given inputs (which may
be calculated
by optimizer 12 before commencing its determination of a solution).
The location of the output file can be selected (at 96), and a Run button 98
is provided to
control optimizer 12 to commence operation.
Figure 30 is a view of a solver tab 100 with controls for allowing the user to
specify
FDH multiport capacity (at 102), the percentage at which optimizer 12 should
stop (at
104), the percentage at which cable tracing should stop (at 106), the location
of a local
cable blocker file (at 108), the maximum MSS length in metres (at 110), aerial
cost per
metre (at 112), trenching cost per metre (114), duct cost per metre (116), and
whether all
cable types should be considered for updated Distribution Sheath Segment (DSS)
formulation (at 118). A Run button 120 is again provided to control optimizer
12 to
commence operation.
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The cost optimisation model thus determines a suitable fibre optic network
design with a
minimum number of components to minimize cost. The design outputs are
outputted by
output 18 to a design file 38 (which, hence, stores the design and is
synonymous with the
design) in secondary storage 36. As is described below, design 38 may be
modified by
system 10 under certain circumstances, resulting in the generation of new
design outputs
by system 10; the new design outputs are outputted by output 18 to a design
file 39 (which
is synonymous with the new design) in secondary storage 36.
System 10 may also be controlled to generate the design of the fibre optic
network with
respect to a map of the geographic area using the design outputs. This is
generally done
by inputting design 38 or 39 into an appropriate geospatial application of a
display module
(not shown) of server 24 and executed by processor 30. Figure 4 is a schematic
map 121
of a fibre optic network design produced by system 10, map 121 being displayed
using
design outputs produced using the user interface screens of figures 3A to 3C
and
imported from design 38 or 39.
Referring to figure 4, the resulting fibre optic network design includes one
or more
disconnected 'trees' 122 each with cable branches extending from nodes located
at street
intersections. The exemplary tree 122 shown in figure 4 includes one FDH 123,
which is
the fibre connection node for cables 124 in the network. Also, splices 125
join two cables
together to form a continuous optical waveguide. As described, tree 122 can
only branch
at nodes that are either an FDH 123 or splice 125 and the cable connection
between
nodes is achieved by stringing aerial cable, running trenched cable, or both
stringing aerial
and running trenched cable along an arc. In practice, there is a cost incurred
for every arc
and node in the network design depending on how the arc is used to connect the
nodes at
either end of the arc with cable 124. It will be seen that the design does not
dictate that all
of streets 126 have cable deployed therein. Also, it should be noted that arcs
to individual
premises are not shown in this example.
The network planning process is typically completed in two phases. The first
is the
production of a design, as described above , in which input data indicative
of, for example,
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the location and capacity of pits and ducts, and the location and path of
poles and other
existing aerial network infrastructure. However, once the design outputs have
been
generated, and the design outs puts outputted (such as in the form of map
121), according
to this embodiment, a second phase involving revision of the design is
performed following
a comparison between the initial design outputs and a field inspection.
In preparation for the second phase, the design outputs (in effect, the design
generated by
system 10) are validated in the field. This typically involves checking those
elements of
the existing infrastructure that are exploited by the design, in case one or
more of those
elements no longer exist, have changed or for any reason can no longer be used
in the
proposed network design.
For example, a design may propose to use a duct shown as empty in the original
input
data along the east side of a street, but subsequent field inspection might
show that the
duct is not empty. This may mean that the duct cannot be used, or cannot be
used as
extensively as proposed. Hence, this part of the original input data must be
deemed
incorrect.
Potential new elements of infrastructure generated by infrastructure generator
14 are also
validated in the field, even though these elements do not at this point exist.
A field
inspector will typically inspect the site of a potential new element and
accept or reject the
proposed location. For example, in the course of the field inspection of a
potential new
element of infrastructure an inspector may check the suitability of the site
based on the
location of nearby driveways, the availability of space on a nature strip, and
the presence
or otherwise of utilities such as water, gas or buried power lines.
Once the designer has collected some or all of the validation information
(pertaining both
to elements of existing infrastructure and to potential new elements of
infrastructure), the
designer enters that data into system 10. The entry of such validation
(including
modification, as described below) information may be done in any convenient
way. In this
embodiment, this is done by importing into system 10 a file that identifies
that identifies all
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elements in the design (that is, elements of existing infrastructure and
potential new
elements of infrastructure), each flagged as one of valid, invalid or
unchecked. In other
embodiment, this may be done by typing into system 10 information identifying
the invalid
(or valid or modified) elements, or by clicking with mouse 54 on the invalid
(or valid or
modified) elements as displayed, for example, as map 121 to prompt re-
optimizer 16 to
display a pop-up menu with options "validate", "invalidate" and "modify" for
user selection.
The most suitable approach may depend on¨for example¨whether most checked
elements are likely to be found valid or most are likely to be found invalid.
Each approach
should result, however, in¨at a minimum¨all such elements employed in the
design
being flagged as "valid" or "invalid" (or "unchecked" if for some reason
certain elements
have not or could not be inspected), and optimally all elements of existing
infrastructure
input into the optimization process being flagged as "valid", "invalid" or
"unchecked".
In another example, this is done using user interface 22, such as by
interaction with a
validation screen of re-optimizer 16. The designer may control system 10 to
control re-
optimizer 16 to open and read in the original design 38 or a previously
generated new
design 39 (stored, as described above, in secondary storage 36). Re-optimizer
16 may be
arranged such that it can be controlled to prompt the designer for validation
inputs. The
validation inputs specify which of the elements of the existing infrastructure
employed by
the design are valid (that is, may be used in the design) and which are
invalid.
In each case, once the validation information has been entered or system 10
provided
with, for example, a file location indicative of the location of a file of
validation information,
re-optimizer 16 flags the elements that have been checked and found valid as
"valid"), the
elements that have been checked and found invalid as "invalid", and other
elements as
"unchecked".
Re-optimizer 16 allows the designer to modify the characteristics of elements
of existing
infrastructure used in original design 38. For example, field inspection may
have revealed
that the capacity of an element of existing infrastructure is greater or less
than originally
indicated. For example, if the element of existing infrastructure is a duct,
field inspection
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may reveal that it empty when it was understood to be full, so its capacity is
greater than
originally indicated. On the other hand, if field inspection reveals that the
duct is full when
it was understood to be empty or only partially used, its capacity is less
than originally
indicated. Both increased and reduced capacity, but especially the latter, may
necessitate
modification of the original design 38. Such an amendment of the
characteristics of an
element is treated by re-optimizer 16 as the invalidating of the element, sore-
optimizer 16
flags such an element as "invalid"), and the creation of a new element (or
elements)
having the characteristics ascertained during field inspection, which re-
optimizer 16 flags
as "valid". This allows such modifications to be handled within the validation
framework.
The resulting validation data is stored¨in this embodiment¨in a validation
data file 42.
As discussed above, the information in validation data file 42 generally
relates both to
elements of the existing infrastructure and potential new elements of
infrastructure. In this
embodiment, validation data 42 comprises a set of field inspection files 44a,
44b, 44c, etc,
each relating to a type of infrastructure element. In this example, pit field
inspection
information pertaining to pits is stored in field inspection file 44a, duct
field inspection
information pertaining to ducts is stored in field inspection file 44b, and
pole field
inspection information pertaining to poles is stored in field inspection file
44c.
At this point in the process, therefore, system 10 possesses the original
infrastructure
information and design inputs, the original design outputs (viz. design 38)
and the
validation data 42. In addition, optimizer 12 includes a field inspection cost
determiner 13
for estimating the cost of field inspection, and re-optimizer 16 can control
optimizer 12 to
generate a new design in a manner than employs the estimated costs of field
inspection.
System 10 thus has, as fibre optic network design inputs, field inspection
costs 40 (stored
in secondary storage 36), in the form of data indicative of the cost of
inspecting the types
of element of infrastructure that are encountered or are likely to be
encountered in
generating the design. For example, the fibre optic network design inputs may
include
values for the cost of inspecting an existing trench, the cost of inspecting
an existing pole,
the cost of inspecting an existing duct, etc. Field inspection costs 40 also
includes the
cost of inspecting the sites of potential new elements of infrastructure
generated by
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infrastructure generator 14 (as described above), and hence¨for example¨may
include
values for the cost of inspecting the proposed site of a potential new trench,
the cost of
inspecting a potential new pole, the cost of inspecting a potential new duct.
Field inspection cost determiner 13 uses field inspection costs 40 to estimate
the actual
cost of inspecting each element of existing infrastructure and each potential
new element
of infrastructure. For example, the cost of inspecting an existing trench may
be specified
in field inspection costs 40 as $x, such that generally the field inspection
cost determiner
13 will assign a cost of $x to inspecting each of the existing trenches.
However, field
inspection cost determiner 13 is configured to take into account the
geographic proximity
of such elements of existing infrastructure, and it is arranged to assign a
significantly lower
cost estimate when a single field inspection can inspect a plurality of
elements flagged
with the default value "unchecked" in close proximity (i.e. such that they can
readily be
inspected in a single field inspection trip). For example, field inspection
cost determiner
13 may assign a cost estimate of, say, $(x + n x 0.1 x) to the cost of
inspecting n existing
trenches in close mutual proximity. Similarly, field inspection cost
determiner 13 may
assign an inspection cost of $(a + 0.1 x), where $a is the cost of inspecting
an existing
pole, to the inspection of an existing pole flagged as "unchecked" and a
nearby existing
trench flagged as "unchecked".
Field inspection cost determiner 13 may be configured to estimate such costs
on the basis
of other factors, if desired, such as the distance of elements (existing or
potential) from the
construction office or the location of the inspectors. It should be noted,
however, that in
one variation optimizer 12 omits or does not employ field inspection cost
determiner 13 in
this manner, and instead uses field inspection costs 40 without reference to
the proximity
of "unchecked" elements of existing or potential infrastructure, or other
factors.
In this embodiment, the cost of field inspection will generally not be taken
into account
when design 38 is generated. This is because every element of existing
infrastructure and
of generated potential new infrastructure will be "unchecked" during that
initial generation,
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so there is expected to be generally little benefit in taking that cost into
account until after
a first round of field inspection has been conducted.
Optimizer 12 may thus generate the new design based on the fibre optic network
design
inputs, the costs determined by field inspection cost determiner 13 and the
validation data.
Costs determined by field inspection cost determiner 13 and the validation
data allow
optimizer 12 to take into account the cost of inspecting an "unchecked"
element of existing
or potential new infrastructure, and by implication the cost saving associated
with using
"valid" elements of existing or potential new infrastructure.
The designer can now control re-optimizer 16 to generate a new or modified
design that
achieves the original goals of the design inputs, but takes into account the
fact that some
of the elements of infrastructure used in the original design 38 are flagged
as "invalid" and
hence should not be used in the new design, and that some are "unchecked" so
available
for use but with an associated cost of field inspection. Re-optimizer 16 uses
optimizer 12
to do so, including controlling optimizer 12 to enforce these two rules: 1)
"invalid" elements
of infrastructure must not be employed in the new design (as they have a 0%
probability of
being valid), and 2) "valid" elements of infrastructure should be preferred
over "unchecked"
elements of infrastructure, as valid elements have a 100% probability of being
valid while
unchecked elements have a probability of being valid that, even if high, will
be less than
100% (which is why validation is required).
The new design may (and commonly will) include some elements of infrastructure
that
were not employed in original design 38 and remain flagged as "unchecked",
and/or
require new infrastructure elements not included in the potential new elements
of
infrastructure generated by infrastructure generator 14. Optimizer 12, under
the control of
re-optimizer 16, will tend to maximize the use of elements of existing
infrastructure flagged
as "valid", so optimizer 12 will 'shadow', so to speak, the original design 38
when
generating a new design 39. This is for a number of reasons. Firstly, the use
of
unchecked elements of existing infrastructure necessarily entails a cost
penalty (i.e. of
field inspection) compared to the use of "valid" elements of existing
infrastructure¨and
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elements of existing infrastructure will generally be flagged as "valid" only
if employed in
the original (or at least a previous) design.
Secondly, "valid" potential new elements of infrastructure also do not require
further field
inspection so will be favoured to a degree, but in any event are generally
situated close to
existing infrastructure because infrastructure generation rules 15 are
configured so that
infrastructure generator 14 generates potential new elements of infrastructure
where they
can be conveniently¨and hence economically¨constructed or installed. Hence,
although
the use of potential new elements of infrastructure will involve procurement
and/or
installation costs, the favouring of "valid" potential new elements of
infrastructure will also
encourage the shadowing of the original design.
Thirdly, the creation of new elements of infrastructure not included in the
potential new
elements of infrastructure generated by infrastructure generator 14 will be
least favoured,
because the use of such elements includes procurement and/or installation
costs and
such elements, as they were not generated by infrastructure generator 14, will
generally
be located in less convenient locations than potential new elements of
infrastructure
generated by infrastructure generator 14.
Optionally, re-optimizer 16 is controllable by the designer to set a cost
parameter that is
used to specify what level of additional cost would excessively compromise
cost
optimization. The cost parameter has a default percentage value (e.g. 2%). In
this
variation, the cost of the new design as determined by optimizer 12 under the
control of re-
optimizer 16 is permitted to exceed the cost of the original design 38 by at
most the
percentage indicated by the cost parameter. When the designer controls re-
optimizer 16
to generate the new design, of possible optimizer 12 will generate a new
design using only
the elements of existing infrastructure employed in the original design 38
flagged as
"valid", owing to the additional cost of using unchecked elements or adding
new
infrastructure. Commonly, however, this will lead to a cost of the new design
that is
greater than the cost of the original design 38 by the value of the cost
parameter. If
optimizer 12 cannot find a solution that uses only elements of existing
infrastructure
employed in the original design 38 flagged as "valid" without leading to a
cost that exceeds
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the original cost by more than the cost parameter, optimizer 12 will generate
a design that
additionally includes elements of existing infrastructure flagged as
"unchecked" (generally
because they were not employed in the original design 38) and/or that require
the creation
or installation of new trenches, ducts, poles, etc., without exceeding a cost
that exceeds
the original cost by more than the cost parameter. In any event, if optimizer
12 cannot find
a solution subject to the cost parameter constraint, cost monitor 17 will
control optimizer
12 to generate a design that optimizes cost even though exceeding the desired
cost, on
the basis of all available design inputs, field inspection costs 40 and
validation data 42.
In each of these scenarios the use of elements flagged as "unchecked" and the
creation of
new elements of infrastructure entails a cost penalty (i.e. of field
inspection and of
procurement/installation, respectively) compared to the use of "valid"
elements, so
optimizer 12 will tend to maximize the use of elements of existing
infrastructure flagged as
"valid" and hence "shadow' the previous design when generating the new design.
The value of the cost parameter may be modified (generally increased) by the
designer by
suitably controlling re-optimizer 16. Decreasing the cost parameter will, in
effect,
encourage optimizer 12 to employ more elements of infrastructure that are
flagged as
"unchecked", and hence generally decrease the ratio of validated to
invalidated elements
of infrastructure, but this will be tempered by the cost associated with
inspecting such
"unchecked" elements. The lower the cost parameter, the closer will optimizer
12 be
driven to perform cost optimization as before (corresponding to the use of the
least labour
and materials for construction), without reference to the cost of field
inspection. Indeed,
setting the cost parameter to zero controls cost monitor 17 to allow optimizer
12 to
consider all elements of infrastructure irrespective of whether they have been
inspected,
because all new design options will necessarily exceed the cost of the
previous design
and hence do so by more than the cost parameter.
Increasing the cost parameter will increase the ability of optimizer 12 to
find a solution that
uses only elements of infrastructure flagged as "valid" (or at least increase
the ratio of
"valid" to "unchecked" elements of infrastructure). Setting the cost parameter
very high
will ultimately force optimizer 12 either to generate a design that uses only
"valid"
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elements of infrastructure (cf. the scenario described above), or reach the
conclusion that
there is no feasible design that both satisfies the various design constraints
and uses only
"valid" elements of infrastructure.
Irrespective of the ultimate optimized design generated by system 10, the
designer may
select for use one of various new designs 39, taking into account
considerations such as
the cost of delaying the design process.
In this embodiment, optimizer 12, under the control of re-optimizer 16 as
described above,
will commonly make subtle changes across the entire design in order to achieve
the
desired optimization, including the adjustment of many elements and how they
are
employed in a manner whose benefit to the design overall would not be apparent
to the
designer.
In use, the fibre optic network design shown in figure 4 is obtained using the
method of
designing an optical fibre network shown as a flow diagram 128 in figure 5.
Referring to
figure 5, at step 130 input 11 of software product 37 receives design inputs
relating to fibre
optic network design including sets of feasible node and arc locations based
on, for
example, bandwidth allocation for premises in the suburb and existing
infrastructure
information. At step 132, infrastructure generator 14 generates potential new
elements of
infrastructure based on the existing elements of infrastructure according to
infrastructure
generation rules 15, for use as design inputs.
At step 134, optimizer 12 generates a design including performing optimization
using the
optimization model and the design inputs, the latter including existing
infrastructure design
inputs and the potential new elements of infrastructure (but without
inspection costs).
At step 136, output 18 outputs the resulting design outputs to memory 20 (as
original
design 38), and displays a map of the fibre optic network design using the
optimized
outputs. At step 138, input 11 receives the validation data (pertaining both
to elements of
existing infrastructure and to the potential new elements of infrastructure)
and re-optimizer
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16: (i) flags as "valid" those elements found to match their original
specification and those
that have been modified (and hence invalidated and replaced with a new "valid"
element)
such that, as modified, they are adequate for performing the role specified
for that element
in the design 38, and (ii) flags as "invalid" those elements found not to
match their original
specification. All other elements are left unchanged (viz, typically with the
default flag of
"unchecked").
At step 140, re-optimizer 16 determines whether all of the elements used in
the design are
flagged as "valid". If all these elements are found to be flagged as "valid",
processing
ends. If not, processing continues at step 142, where cost monitor 17 of re-
optimizer 16
determines whether the designer has controlled system 10 to use a cost
parameter (or
alternatively prompts the designer to indicate whether he or she wishes to
continue with
the use of a cost parameter). If a cost parameter is to be used, processing
continues at
step 144, where input 11 receives user input indicative of a value of the cost
parameter or
an election to use the default value of the cost parameter. At step 146, field
inspection
cost determiner 13 estimates inspection costs from the inspection cost input
data, and at
step 148 re-optimizer 16 controls optimizer 12 to generate a new design
including
performing optimization using the optimization model, the design inputs,
inspection cost
estimates, the cost parameter and the validation data. At step 150, output 18
outputs the
resulting design outputs to memory 20 (as new design 39) and displays a map of
the fibre
optic network design using the new optimized outputs. The original design is
retained in
38, and its cost is retained for use in subsequent cost comparisons.
At step 152, cost monitor 17 of re-optimizer 16 determines whether the cost of
the new
design satisfies the cost limit imposed by the cost parameter, using the cost
parameter
and the cost of the initial or original design. If so, processing continues at
step 154, where
re-optimizer 16 determines whether all of the elements of infrastructure used
in generating
the new design are flagged as "valid". If so, processing ends. Otherwise,
processing
returns to step 138. If, at step 152, cost monitor 17 of re-optimizer 16
determines that the
cost of the new design does not satisfy the cost limit imposed by the cost
parameter,
processing returns to step 144, where the designer can select a new cost
parameter.
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If, at step 142, cost monitor 17 of re-optimizer 16 determines that the
designer has
controlled system 10 not to use a cost parameter (or alternatively the
designer has
responded negatively to a prompt by cost monitor 17 asking whether he or she
wishes to
continue with the use of a cost parameter), processing continues at step 156
where field
inspection cost determiner 13 estimates inspection costs from the inspection
cost input
data. At step 158 re-optimizer 16 controls optimizer 12 to generate a new
design including
performing optimization using the optimization model, the design inputs
(including the fibre
optic network design inputs, the existing infrastructure design inputs and the
potential new
elements of infrastructure), inspection cost estimates and the validation
data. At step
160, output 18 outputs the resulting design outputs to memory 20 (as new
design 39) and
displays a map of the fibre optic network design using the new optimized
outputs.
Processing then continues at step 154, as described above.
Ultimately, once the cost of the new design is found to satisfy the cost limit
imposed by the
cost parameter (at step 154) or a cost parameter is not used, and all elements
used in the
new design are flagged as "valid" (at step 154), processing ends.
Figure 6 is a flow diagram 200 that summarizes a method of designing a fibre
optic
network for a plurality of premises in a geographic area according to this
embodiment.
The method includes, at step 202, electronically generating or receiving
(whether from an
external source or from an component of a single computing system) a design 38
in the
form of design outputs comprising geographic locations of nodes in the fibre
optic network
and arcs extending between the nodes, relative to elements of existing
infrastructure and
potential new elements of infrastructure (if any) used as geographic locations
for the
nodes and the arcs. The elements of the existing infrastructure and the
potential new
elements of infrastructure are associated with characterizing data that
characterizes the
respective elements. At step 204, the method includes electronically receiving
validation
data corresponding to the elements of the existing infrastructure and the
potential new
elements of infrastructure, the validation data being indicative of validity
of the
characterizing data and hence of the various elements, and at step 206,
electronically
CA 02894341 2015-06-16
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generating new design outputs by optimizing geographic locations of the nodes
and the
arcs in the fibre optic network using the design inputs (including the fibre
optic network
design inputs, the existing infrastructure design inputs and the potential new
elements of
infrastructure) and the validation data. The fibre optic network design inputs
comprise
data indicative of a plurality of nodes in the fibre optic network and data
indicative of arcs
extending between the nodes in the fibre optic network based on allocated
bandwidth for
the premises in the geographic area, the existing infrastructure design inputs
are in the
form of data indicative of the existing infrastructure and the potential new
elements of
infrastructure are in the form of data indicative of the potential new
elements of
infrastructure as generated by infrastructure generator 14; the new design
outputs
comprise optimized geographic locations of the nodes and the arcs in the fibre
optic
network relative to the existing infrastructure. At step 208, the method
includes
electronically outputting the new design outputs.
At step 210 of this embodiment, the method includes electronically receiving
further
validation data corresponding to elements of the existing infrastructure used
as
geographic locations for the nodes and the arcs in the new design outputs, for
which
elements validation data has not yet been received, the further validation
data being
indicative of validity of characterizing data that characterizes the elements,
and at step
212, augmenting the validation data with the further validation data. At step
214, the
method includes electronically generating still further design outputs by
optimizing
geographic locations of the nodes and the arcs in the fibre optic network
using fibre optic
network design inputs, existing infrastructure inputs and the validation data;
the still further
design outputs comprise optimized geographic locations of the nodes and the
arcs in the
fibre optic network relative to the existing infrastructure.
Figure 7 is an exemplary user interface screen 220 of software product 37 of
system 10,
showing exemplary inputs 222 to 228 and a progress panel 230, according to the
embodiment of the present invention. The inputs 222 to 228 are respectively:
the memory
location 222 of the original design 38, the memory location 224 to which the
new design
39 is to be saved, the memory location 226 of the pit field inspection file
44a (containing
CA 02894341 2015-06-16
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the results of the field inspection of pits) and the memory location 228 of
the duct field
inspection file 44b (containing the results of the field inspection of ducts).
Inputs 222 to
228 allow the user to control where the original design, the new design, the
field inspection
file for pits and the field inspection file for ducts are to be stored by
software product 37.
Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the above description of
system 10
and variations thereof. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the
method could be
embodied in program code, executed by a processor, which could be supplied in
a
number of ways, for example on a computer readable medium, such as a disc or a
memory, or as a data signal, such as by transmitting it from a server. Persons
skilled in
the art will also appreciate that program code provides a series of
instructions to
implement the method.
It will also be understood to those persons skilled in the art of the
invention that many
modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention,
except where
the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary
implication, the word
"comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an
inclusive sense,
i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the
presence or
addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.
It will also be understood that the reference to any prior art in this
specification is not, and
should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the
prior art
forms part of the common general knowledge in any country.
