A method of designing a computer network makes use of an object-based model enabling elements of the network to be displayed on screen, and manipulated by way of on-screen icons. A predefined rule list, acting directly on the objects, automatically updates the attributes of the objects to complete the network configuration. The rules are preferably Lisp-based, allowing users access to the standard Lisp functions in defining the rules.

Design of computer networks

A method of designing a computer network uses an object-based computer representation which allows on-screen linking of a service object, representative of a network service, to site objects representative of physical sites on a wide-area network. The user specifies expected traffic demands between the sites, and an algorithm calculates a physical connectivity map representative of proposed hardware circuits linking physical sites.

Engineering design is a complex process requiring solutions that meet the customer’s requirements within the constraints of design rules and cost The initial phase of the design process usually requires a combination of creativity and expertise to translate the requirements into a technically feasible solution While it would be extremely difficult to build creativity into a tool, providing active support for the designer can help to ensure that constraints are not overlooked Later, the detailed design generates a range of outputs such as parts lists and cost breakdown These tasks are laborious and potentially error-prone and thus suited to automation

D L Scott

Papers

A Knowledge-Based System for the Configuration and Pricing of Network Management Systems