NOS

Network Optimization System

NOS is an extremely flexible and powerful planning tool with embedded advanced optimization algorithms. It can be used to plan network evolution using forecasts, study trade-offs and consider what-if scenarios, all using a user-friendly interface with extensive graphical capabilities.  The Network Optimization Tool works with the concept of Scenario Components and Scenario Studies. Scenario Components are standalone files that contain information to be used in planning scenarios.

The main components used by NOS are:
Nodes - where the user can specify the number of elements and their location;
Links -  where the existing connections between elements and their capacities are stored;
Costs - where the cost associated to using capacity on available links is stored, on an incremental basis
Traffic - where the demand matrix between the elements is stored. For each demand, individual desired blocking levels can be set and will be taken into consideration by the routing engine
Routing - if the user wants to specify current routing or force a routing scheme, and
Parameters -  where user-defined parameters used in the planning can be stored;

Scenario Studies – Mix and Match Components

Other than in their stand-alone format, Scenario Components can also be stored together in a file format called a Scenario Study.  A Scenario Study has all the information required to run an optimization.  NOS allows the user to mix-and-match components from different scenario studies or even standalone components to create a new scenario study. Also, existing components can be very easily edited inside the software, so a new link can be tested, the effects of increasing a demand can be studied, the allowed blocking on the network can be tweaked to see how it reflects the network utilization, and many additional functions. This allows your team to collaborate, share scenarios and components, and discuss results. 

Network Optimization

NOS allows multiple planning scenarios to be run as periods of network evolution, so the growth of the network can be considered and an optimal solution can be calculated, using results from a previous period as an input to a period. The user is also able to specify whether the tool should try to use as much as possible capacity from last period, use existing capacity already deployed, use existing routing and so on, allowing for a tradeoff between network optimization and required changes in the network.

A set of graphical interfaces allows the user to quickly navigate between periods and analyze each scenario and the demand routing. The user can also compare how the network has evolved from period to period, graphically comparing side-by-side the route taken by each demand during each period.

Detailed information for each link is available, such as traffic and demands being carried, increased capacity from last period, costs associated, facilities and so on.

For each period, a complete and detailed report of the results can be generated, containing each demand’s routing, capacities required, incremental capacity, costs per link etc. This information can be viewed as a report and sent by e-mail or exported to applications such as word and excel.