Data processing: financial – business practice – management – or co – For cost/price
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-21
2001-04-10
Cosimano, Edward (Department: 2161)
Data processing: financial, business practice, management, or co
For cost/price
C705S030000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216117
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to computer software, and more particularly to an automated system for producing sizing and pricing data for a satellite network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Over the last two decades, satellite communications has captured the interest of diverse commercial users. The interconnections provided by satellite networks permit an economical and reliable transmission of voice, television, and data.
In one sense, a satellite system is a microwave radio system with a single repeater—the transponder in outer space. In another sense, satellites have a broadcast capability that is not easily duplicated with conventional land-line techniques. Broadcasting means that transmission from an earth station to a satellite can be relayed back to earth, addressed so that many earth stations can receive the transmitted message at the same time. This capability has made satellite television a recent success.
Due to technological advances in developing both launch vehicles and the satellites themselves, it has become possible to place into orbit larger satellites with expanded capacities for transmission to and from earth stations. In addition, the size and cost of earth stations have decreased to a point where user-owned earth stations are now a practical consideration for a business enterprise.
Satellite communications systems have distinctively different cost characteristics when compared to terrestrial communications systems. For example, the distance of transmission is not as large a factor as in communications systems that use transmission lines. Further complications in costing satellite communication are associated with shared versus private networks. With a shared network, the satellite customer relies on “hub” earth stations (receiving and transmitting antennas and related equipment) that are shared with other users of the same satellite. The links to the customer's premises are accomplished with telephone company interconnections. With a private network, the earth station is installed at the customer's site. This customer-owned earth station is connected by cable to the customer's on-premise communications network and further connections may be made to off-premise.
Satellite network providers typically lease bandwidth from a satellite operator, and then provide their customers with the equipment and services for the customer's network. These network providers base their fees on a multitude of factors. Just a few of the pricing considerations are: whether the hub earth station is shared or private, traffic or baseband equipment requirements, the bandwidth and power consumed on the satellite, antenna characteristics such as model and size and related equipment, and post-installation service. Added to this complicated set of pricing factors, is the fact that each customer's needs are unique. The task of designing and pricing a network system is a difficult one.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention is an automated method of pricing a satellite network, using a computer programmed with electronic spreadsheet software. The method makes use of an “electronic workbook”, comprised of a number of interrelated spreadsheets. A traffic sizing spreadsheet receives sizing input data, which represents the quantity of communications traffic on the network, and calculates sizing output data for the network. A unit costing spreadsheet receives cost input data, which represents the cost for each of a number of units of equipment and service associated with the network, and calculates unit cost values. An input spreadsheet receives various network input data, such as, equipment unit data, hub service data, hub equipment data, space segment data, where the hub equipment data and said space segment data are obtained from the sizing output data. A technical infrastructure spreadsheet calculates financial data from data retrieved from the input spreadsheet. Likewise, a quote document spreadsheet calculates customer quote data from data retrieved from the input spreadsheet. Thus, the spreadsheets share both input data and calculated data to provide a variety of network sizing and pricing data.
An advantage of the invention is that it provides a “workbook” of interconnected spreadsheets for use by a network provider. The workbook simplifies and standardizes the design, costing, and quote process for satellite networks. Specialized models, tables, and algorithms are integrated into the workbook. For shared hub networks, a consistent and fair treatment of each customer is guaranteed by the use of an embedded “shared usage” algorithm.
For a particular customer, the workbook can be run with different parameters, so that the customer can intelligently compare networks on the basis of their cost. For example, the workbook could be run once for a shared hub and once for a private hub.
The workbook provides various documents that suited for various aspects of the design and pricing process. For example, the technical infrastructure spreadsheet is designed to meet requirements for the network provider's internal financial records, whereas the quote document spreadsheet is designed for the customer's use. An optional competitive analysis spreadsheet provides a convenient means for providing cost comparisons with competing network providers. In the case of the latter spreadsheet, it solves the problem of unbundling network components, an especially difficult task in the case of satellite systems.
In summary, the invention provides an automated process for pricing any satellite network design. The pricing information can be provided to a potential customer, who may then make an informed decision about whether to obtain the satellite network and, if so, what type of equipment and service should be included.
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Parkinston: “Build Your Own Economical Treasury System”; Corporate Cashflow, Sep. 1992, v13, n10, pp. 47-47.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Cosimano Edward
Electronic Data Systems Corp.
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