Abstract: A graph of a network is created by efficiently modeling the network elements, and the network links and virtual trunks that interconnect these elements. The network elements are model as one or more routing nodes wherein each routing node represents part of an element or a set of one or more elements, and has the characteristic that any ingress and egress ports of the network element or network elements associated with the routing node can be interconnected. The network links and virtual trunks are both modeled as routing links, wherein routing links interconnect the routing nodes to create the graph of the network. The graph is subsequently used for determining routing paths through the network for the provisioning of virtual trunks and circuits.

Abstract: A data base management system is disclosed in which data entities are records representing nodes in an entity-relationship directed graph. The body of each node represents one of the physical entities to be utilized while the edges of each node represent relationships between that physical entity and other physical entities. Some of the edges are hyperedges to permit the identification of simultaneous relationships with more than one other node. An application of this system to the assignment of telephone outside plant equipment to telephone subscribers is also described.