Trunk Demand Servicing in the Presence of Measurement Uncertainty

Trunk network administration is composed of two major operations, planned servicing and demand servicing. Together, they determine the quantities and locations of interoffice trunks required to maintain a reasonable balance between network service and cost. Planned servicing provides circuits, using forecasts of demand made on a yearly basis. Demand servicing uses recent traffic measurements to detect and correct existing service problems. Because the Bell System trunk network represents a multi-billion dollar investment in equipment, personnel, and operation support systems, it is important that these functions be cost-effective and that they be performed efficiently. This paper describes recently developed procedures for demand servicing the trunk network. Demand servicing compensates for the effects of forecast errors on the planned network. Its main function is to detect the need for trunk group augments when service problems develop, and to take corrective action in a timely and cost-effective manner. In general, demand servicing is not concerned with disconnecting trunks in excess of current demand, since the removal of excess trunks is a part of the planned servicing function, which makes such decisions on the basis of 845