Generalization of the ECCS method to the multihour case

The classical ECCS method for dimensioning hierarchical telephone networks is extended to the multihour case. The problem is reformulated as a nonlinear optimization method, and the Kuhn-Tucker equations are derived. It is shown why the ECCS method cannot solve this multihour case. The ECCS method is presented as a solution technique for the Lagrangian relaxation of the multihour problem in which subgradient techniques are used for the solution of the dual. A numerical algorithm implementing these ideas is described that can handle networks with arbitrary hierarchies and allows time-of-day routing changes. Preliminary numerical results of the method are presented, showing that the multihour algorithm can reduce a network´s cost when compared to currently used methods