FLEXPLANET, a flexible multi-layer network design tool

Abstract

The provision of services with complex multi-layer communication networks requires appropriate and generic network models describing accurately the existing networks and flexible softwares supporting the adaptation of the used algorithms to the new planning and analysis tasks. The paper introduces an object-oriented modeling and planning tool that is suitable to describe the existing multi-layer networks in detail, provides framework for modeling, dimensioning and analyzing new technological solutions, and for introducing new planning and evaluation approaches and algorithms. The framework is used at Hungarian Telekom, and its capabilities are validated with some illustrative examples. I. MOTIVATION AND PRELIMINARIESThe evolution of information services requires the continuous enhancement and development of the telecommunication infrastructure. This development is not a simple qualitative change, but in the last two decades several new communication technologies become available and many others were investigated as possible options. Both the available and the possible future technologies offer increasing capacities, however, instead of replacing each other step by step the different technologies compose complex multi-layer architecture and provide higher level and new networking and end-user services.This always changing and evolving environment requires complex networking models that support not only the management of the different networking layers, but the administration, design and analysis of these multi-layer networks taking into consideration the resilience schemes provided by the different layers. Therefore, the provision of high-value services with complex multi-layer communication networks requires not only appropriate and generic network planning and analysis models that accurately describe the existing network structure and components, but the design and analysis software environment should be flexible to support the adaptation of the used algorithms to the new dimensioning and evaluation challenges.The academic research group provides planning and analysis models and tools for the Hungarian Telekom for more than 20 years ([1], [2]).taking information from the management systems. The role of this operational database is presented in details in [3].This paper focusses on the flexible network model and tool, and it is organized as follows:• in Section II the relating works are briefly summarized, • in Section III the structure of the design and analysis tool is introduced, • Section IV presents the concept of the flexible network model and some details concerning its main components, • Section V illustrates the application of the model, and finally • in Section VI the paper is concluded and the planned further activities are highlighted. II. NETWORK MODELING APPROACHESThe network designing models can be classified according to several aspects. In the next subsections two of the interesting viewpoints will be emphasized: the generic models for different technologies provided by the telecommunication indu...