Abstract: A technique for reducing costs associated with a radio access network of a mobile telecommunications network includes configuring the radio access network using a linear programming model of the radio access network subject to constraints. The technique includes selecting cellular sites and hub locations of the radio access network to be connected by broadband wireless links based on the linear programming model and constraints. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method of designing a radio access network of links between a cellular site and a core network includes selecting at least one first link of the radio access network to be at least one first wireless link at least partially based on a linear programming model of the radio access network. The method includes configuring an output device of a computer system to indicate the selection.

Abstract: A computer readable storage medium stores a set of instructions executable by a processor. The instructions are operable to receive a data set including data corresponding to a set of nodes, the data corresponding to each of the nodes including a node prize, a node cost, and a node value that is the difference between the node prize and the node cost; select one or more of the nodes for inclusion in a cluster, the cluster comprising the one or more of the nodes, two or more external links from nodes in the cluster to a network, and one or more internal links between nodes if the cluster comprises two or more nodes, each of the internal links having an internal link cost, each of the external links having an external link cost; and determine a plan for incorporating the one or more nodes in the cluster into the network, the incorporating comprising building the cluster by building the two or more external links and the one or more internal links.

Abstract: A technique for reducing costs associated with a radio access network of a mobile telecommunications network includes configuring the radio access network using a linear programming model of the radio access network subject to constraints. The technique includes selecting cellular sites and hub locations of the radio access network to be connected by broadband wireless links based on the linear programming model and constraints. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method of designing a radio access network of links between a cellular site and a core network includes selecting at least one first link of the radio access network to be at least one first wireless link at least partially based on a linear programming model of the radio access network. The method includes configuring an output device of a computer system to indicate the selection.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for integrated access network business planning for a telecommunications carrier. The invention enables a user to input a set of network business planning parameters that are utilized by a linear programming model to jointly optimize a carrier's dedicated and radio access network by executing a plurality of network optimization models and determine network configuration changes for the dedicated and radio access networks as a constrained optimization based on the set of business planning parameters.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method guides a user in designing a product defined by data. The method involves examining (420) items of the data to detect whether each item conforms to rules (106) or violates the rules; performing (431 . . . ) at least one action in response to a detection of a rule violation; displaying (450) the data to the user in a manner emphasizing at least one particular data item that caused the rule violation; receiving (460) any new data input from the user; and repeating the examining, action performing, and displaying steps using the new data. The displaying step may involve displaying data defining a current state of the product in a tabular (spreadsheet) format, including displaying data detected to have caused the rule violation in a first manner that is visibly distinct from displaying other data that is not detected to have caused the rule violation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method guides a user in designing a product defined by data. The method involves examining (420) items of the data to detect whether each item conforms to rules (106) or violates the rules; performing (431 . . . ) at least one action in response to a detection of a rule violation; displaying (450) the data to the user in a manner emphasizing at least one particular data item that caused the rule violation; receiving (460) any new data input from the user; and repeating the examining, action performing, and displaying steps using the new data. The displaying step may involve displaying data defining a current state of the product in a tabular (spreadsheet) format, including displaying data detected to have caused the rule violation in a first manner that is visibly distinct from displaying other data that is not detected to have caused the rule violation.

Abstract: A methodology for optimizing the placement of network “Points of Presence” (POPs) across the carrier's entire network (i.e., a “global” solution”) utilizes carefully constructed customer clustering and simulated annealing methodology to create a cost-efficient solution. The customer base is first partitioned into a plurality of clusters such that the customers within each cluster are closer to its centroid than the centroid of any other cluster (e.g., applying the k-means clustering algorithm or any other suitable method of partitioning the customer base). A linear algorithm process is used to minimize the costs associated with the number of placement of POPs within each cluster. A simulated annealing (SA) process is then used to iterate the entire set of potential POP locations until a compact, steady-state solution is achieved (or, alternatively, until a given number of iterations has been performed).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and server for providing a calling area map to a client device. The server receives a query from a client device. The query includes at least a portion of a calling telephone number and may additionally include at least a portion of a called telephone number. The server retrieves a calling area map associated with the at least a portion of the calling telephone number from a plurality of stored calling area maps. The server transmits the retrieved calling area map to the client device.

Abstract: As storage and dispensing system for the storage of dispensable products under atmospherically modified conditions and for the dispensing of such products from the system. The system is for use with dispensable products, more particularly for use with roasted whole-bean coffee in any retailing application, to extend shelf life of the product. The invention comprises a storage and dispensing container, a valve for enabling a fluid communication between the container and an atmosphere modification source (vacuum pump, inert gas insertion device or other oxygen depletion mechanism), and a gateway for opening the container to the atmosphere and dispensing the product therefrom. A merchandising unit for storing and dispensing perishables includes a plurality of the above described vacuum storage and dispensing containers.

Abstract: As storage and dispensing system for the storage of dispensable products under atmospherically modified conditions and for the dispensing of such products from the system. The system is for use with dispensable products, more particularly for use with roasted whole-bean coffee in any retailing application, to extend shelf life of the product. The invention comprises a storage and dispensing container, a valve for enabling a fluid communication between the container and an atmosphere modification source (vacuum pump, inert gas insertion device or other oxygen depletion mechanism), and a gateway for opening the container to the atmosphere and dispensing the product therefrom. A merchandising unit for storing and dispensing perishables includes a plurality of the above described vacuum storage and dispensing containers.

Abstract: Interexchange carriers make their rate information for long-distance service available in a database. PBXs and telephone central offices access that rate information using ISDN and/or SS7 signaling and use it as a basis for determining which carder to use at any given time in the routing of a call. Such accessing may be carried out on a call-by-call basis. Or a carrier's schedule of rates can be stored locally in the PBX or local switching office, thereby obviating the need for a database query for every call.