Advanced dimensioning tool for circuit-switched networks

The paper has developed an advanced tool for dimensioning circuit-switched networks, called CNEP (Circuit-Switched Network Evaluation Program), for effective design of digital networks. CNEP features a high-reliability network structure (node dispersion, double homing, etc), both-way circuit operation, and circuit modularity (or big module size), all of which are critical for digital networks. CNEP also solves other dimensioning problems such as the cost difference between existing and newly installed circuits, and handles multi-hour traffic conditions, dynamic routing, and multiple-switching-unit nodes. Operations Research techniques are applied to produce exact and heuristic algorithms for these problems. Algorithms with good time-performance trade-off characteristics are chosen for CNEP.