Misnet—the APL management information system for communications network
Isaak Gilyutin · ACM SIGAPL APL Quote Quad · 1984
MISNET is a multi purpose computer system created for the Western Union Telegraph Company to serve as a combined report generator, management information tool, and decision support system. Its main purpose is to evaluate all existing and forecast transmission requirements with regard to the Company's transmission network capacity. The system provides access to the data bank about the Company's communications network, routes and channels. The network itself consists of three sub networks: microwave terrestrial, microwave satellite and cable. Each of three sub networks in turn can carry regular 4 kHz voice frequency or wideband frequency channels. All three sub networks are interconnected. Routes through the network can be “pure”, when only one sub network is used, or “mixed”, when more than one sub network is used. An explanation for the choice of APL as the implementation language is given. System design problems are enumerated and data base design is discussed in detail. Special attention is devoted to route optimization and profitability analysis for new customer requirements. The algorithm for finding optimum routes is given, with an example and supplements. The profitability analysis algorithm is also discussed.