Network Planner Application for Fiber-Optic Cable Run Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Copper wire and wireless networks face bandwidth limitations, struggling to meet increasing service demands, prompting the need for upgrading to optical fiber networks which require efficient design and installation planning.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for designing and presenting fiber-optic network designs, including generating a data structure to represent cable runs, identifying illegal installations, and allowing user input for modifications, with a network planner application that produces diagrams and bills of materials for network components and cable runs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If copper wire and wireless networks are used, then existing infrastructure can be maintained, but bandwidth limitations prevent meeting increasing service demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the network infrastructure from copper wire to optical fiber, fundamentally changing the transmission medium parameter. This enables significantly higher bandwidth capacity and data transmission rates, directly resolving the bandwidth limitation while maintaining infrastructure functionality through a systematic parameter transformation.
2Productivity
If optical fiber networks are deployed, then bandwidth capacity is improved, but design complexity and installation planning requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements comprehensive design planning and visualization tools before optical fiber deployment. By performing preliminary route optimization, cable path planning, and installation simulation, the system reduces on-site installation complexity and ensures proper implementation, directly addressing the increased design complexity through advance preparation.
3Loss of information
If multiple cable runs are consolidated into single representations, then diagram clarity is improved, but information about individual cable characteristics may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hierarchical data structure where individual cable run characteristics are nested within consolidated diagram representations. Each cable run's detailed attributes (length, cost, installation technology) are stored in nested data containers that can be individually accessed while maintaining the simplified visual representation, thus preserving information detail without compromising diagram clarity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus is provided for presenting a design of a fiber-optic network. In one aspect, a server receives from a client device a request for a diagram of the design. The server accesses a data-structure representing the design, generates a representation of a cable run, and transmits the representation to the client device for display. In another aspect, the server transmits to the client device an indication that the cable run is illegal and receives from the client device an indication of a user-specified cable run. Subsequently, the server modifies the data structure to replace the illegal cable run with the user-specified cable run.