7.4: Last Mile Infrastructure Physical Feasibility Algorithm
Algorithm Pseudocode
start algorithm
// target area type
display “Is the target area a single building, or a community?”
Wait for user input of Building or Community.
Save the result to variable 1.if variable 1 is community
// dsl
display “Does a telephone network (PSTN) and a CO (central office) exist in the target area, and does a 5.5km radius from the CO reach the whole target area?”
Wait for user input of Yes or No.
Save the result to variable 2.// cable
display “Does a cable television network exist in the target area, and does it reach the whole target area?”
Wait for user input of Yes or No.
Save the result to variable 3.// bpl
display “Is the target area serviced by the electrical grid?”
Wait for user input of Yes or No.
Save the result to variable 4.// wifi mesh
display “Does the target area have a somewhat high population density (i.e. target area is a hamlet, village, town, etc.) and is it physically possible to install a grid of nodes such that they are within 450 metres of both each other and the potential subscribers?”
Wait for user input of Yes or No.
Save the result to variable 5.// canopy and wimax
display “Is there a centrally-located tall building, tower, or potential tower site where a wireless access point could be installed such that a 45km line-of-sight (and 3km non-line-of-sight) radius from the access point could possibly reach all subscribers in the target area?”
Wait for user input of Yes or No.
Save the result to variable 6.if variable 2 is “yes”
dsl cost is 200000
display “Since the target area is serviced by a telephone network and falls within a 5.5km radius from the CO, DSL may be physically feasible. DSL infrastructure costs about [dsl cost] to deploy.”
else
display “Because either a telephone network is not available in the target area, or the target area falls outside a 5.5km radius from the CO, DSL may not be physically feasible.”
end ifif variable 3 is “yes”
cable cost is 200000
display “Since the whole target area is serviced by a cable television network, cable Internet service may be physically feasible. Cable Internet infrastructure costs about [cable cost] to deploy.”
else
display “Because either a cable television network is not available in the target area, or part of the target area is not reached by this network, Cable may not be physically feasible.”
end ifif variable 4 is “yes”
display “Since the target area is serviced by the electrical grid, BPL may be physically feasible. Note, however, that this technology is still experimental so reliable pricing information is not available. Additionally, the future of this technology is in question due to problems related to interference.”
else
display “Because the target area is not serviced by the electrical grid, BPL may not be physically feasible.”
end ifif variable 5 is “yes”
mesh lower bound cost is 4000
mesh upper bound cost is 10000
display “Because the target area has a somewhat high population density and it is possible to install nodes every 450m to cover the area, WiFi mesh may be physically feasible. This technology costs between [mesh lower bound] and [mesh upper bound] to cover an area with a maximum 450m radius.”
else
display “Because the target area either has a low population density or the installation of nodes every 450m is not possible, WiFi mesh may not be physically feasible.”
end ifif variable 6 is “yes”
canmax lower bound cost is 15000
canmax upper bound cost is 20000
display “Because the target area contains a tall structure from which a wireless access point with a 45km line-of-sight radius could cover the target area, Canopy or WiMAX may be physically feasible. This technology likely costs between [canmax lower bound] and [canmax upper bound] for a single access point cluster.”
else
display “Because a tall structure is neither available nor possible to erect, or a 45km line-of-sight radius cannot cover the target area, Canopy and WiMAX may not be physically feasible.”
end ifelse
display “For distribution of Internet connectivity within a single building, an wired or wireless Ethernet LAN is recommended. Equipment starts at $50.”
end ifend algorithm
Algorithm Flowchart
Algorithm Implementation
© Jake Cormier, 2006 [jake (at) stormcloudstudios.com]
Completed as a partial requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Science (specialized)
Department of Computer Science :: Algoma University College :: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario :: Spring 2006