A University of Queensland research team has helped develop a model to evaluate quickly and accurately the performance of telecommunications networks.
The model can be installed into switching software controlling telephone, mobile telephone, satellite or computer networks to ensure more efficient service and reduced congestion at peak times.
Funded by a three-year, $150,000 Australian Research Council large grant, the project was led by Mathematics Department Associate Professor Philip Pollett and senior lecturers in statistics Dr Mark Bebbington from Massey University and the University of Auckland's Dr Ilze Ziedins.
Mathematics Department PhD student Mark Thompson and postdoctoral research fellow Dr Andrew Hart were also involved with the project. Dr Hart is developing a method for installing the model into parallel computers - state-of-the-art, multi-tasking computers with many chips working simultaneously.
According to Dr Pollett, the key to developing the model was being able to model dependency between neighbouring sub-systems.
"Past models in this area assumed system components behaved independently when in reality, many lines and circuits are shared. The assumption is particularly poor during peak times when alternative routes must be found," he said.
He said the new model could be used to design telecommunications networks, assign capacities, develop protocols and solve congestion problems.
Computer calculations and simulations using variables such as the arrival rate of calls on routes, routing structure, existence of alternative routes, channel capacities and the means of choosing routes were employed to develop the model.
Dr Pollett said the team had also helped develop a system to reduce congestion in telecommunication networks. Known as trunk reservation, the system reserves a set amount of circuits for direct as opposed to alternative calls.
"It's a similar notion to the eight-items-or-less aisle at the supermarket. You reduce congestion by using a sensible allocation of resources. You reserve some service capacity for smaller jobs. We found that reserving just one percent of circuits for direct calls greatly reduced congestion at peak times," Dr Pollett said.
He said the project was a further example of using good mathematics to solve engineering problems.
"Australia relies on the United States, Sweden and Britain for telecommunications switching technology. In all these countries, a large number of mathematicians are employed to do basic research within the telecommunications industry. This isn't happening in Australia," Dr Pollett said.
For more information, contact Dr Pollett (telephone 07 3365 3459).
