Method for network capacity planning with proper accounting of spare capacity

Abstract

An apparatus and method for introducing new factors to properly account for the benefits of carrying an appropriate amount of capacity in a communication network. The present invention defines a variable that represents the benefit of the spare capacity of a link. The notion of benefit is similar to the notion of a negative cost of link augments.

1 . A method for assisting capacity planning in a network having a plurality of links, said method comprising:
 determining a spare capacity on at least one link of the network, where said spare capacity is representative of an existing capacity plus an augmented capacity minus a bandwidth of a plurality of circuits routed on said at least one link of the network; and   computing an overall cost in accordance with said spare capacity for provisioning a circuit on said at least one link of the network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying a benefit weight to said spare capacity.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 outputting said overall cost to an output device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said benefit weight accounts for a cost for financing said augmented capacity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said benefit weight accounts for a discount period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining a minimum amount of said spare capacity for each of said links.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for assisting capacity planning in a network having a plurality of links, comprising:
 means for determining a spare capacity on at least one link of the network, where said spare capacity is representative of an existing capacity plus an augmented capacity minus a bandwidth of a plurality of circuits routed on said at least one link of the network; and   means for computing an overall cost in accordance with said spare capacity for provisioning a circuit on said at least one link of the network.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 means for applying a benefit weight to said spare capacity.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 means for outputting said overall cost to an output device.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said benefit weight accounts for a cost for financing said augmented capacity. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said benefit weight accounts for a discount period. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 means for maintaining a minimum amount of said spare capacity for each of said links.   
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for assisting capacity planning in a network having a plurality of links, comprising of:
 determining a spare capacity on at least one link of the network, where said spare capacity is representative of an existing capacity plus an augmented capacity minus a bandwidth of a plurality of circuits routed on said at least one link of the network; and   computing an overall cost in accordance with said spare capacity for provisioning a circuit on said at least one link of the network.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 applying a benefit weight to said spare capacity.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 outputting said overall cost to an output device.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein said benefit weight accounts for a cost for financing said augmented capacity. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein said benefit weight accounts for a discount period. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 maintaining a minimum amount of said spare capacity for each of said links.