Monitoring system status

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, wherein said axes extend radially from a common point.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1, wherein said parameters comprise CRC error rate and alignment error rate.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1, wherein said parameters comprise network utilization and frame utilization.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 1, wherein said parameters comprise broadcast rate and multicast rate.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises a multiple domain data communication network, respective ones of said multiple measurements of each parameter being acquired for respective domains of said network.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 6, wherein said domains comprise segments of a local area computer communications network.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 6, wherein said parameters comprise call-related measurements in a telecommunications signalling network.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 6, wherein said parameters comprise loads on at least some of signalling links and signalling points in a telecommunications signalling network.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 9, wherein call-related measurements are plotted on a first multiplicity of axes, and loads on said signalling links and signalling points are contemporaneously plotted on a second multiplicity of axes.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 1, wherein said scaling function is piecewise linear between said threshold values.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 1, wherein said scaling function has an upper threshold value, a lower threshold value and at least one intermediate threshold value.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 12, wherein said scaling function has four threshold values.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 1, including the step of excluding at least one measurement of a parameter from said selection of an extreme value of that parameter, in response to operator identification of said measurement.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 1, wherein said threshold values are adjustable under operator control.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 1, including the step of providing a display of respective values of a selected one of said parameters for a plurality of respective sections of said system in response to operator selection of that parameter.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 16, including the step of providing a display of multiple measurements of a parameter for a section of said system in response to operator selection of said section.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 1, including the step of connecting each value plotted on a respective said axis to its neighbouring plotted values to define a polygonal figure.

Claim 20

Computer apparatus for monitoring and displaying measurements of each of multiple different parameters related to an operational status of a system, comprising: means coupled to said system for receiving measurements of each of said parameters; means for applying, for each parameter, a scaling function to each measurement of that parameter to derive a scaled value thereof as a function of predetermined threshold values for that parameter, said scaled values being within a predetermined range common to all said parameters; means for selecting, for each parameter, a maximum one of said scaled values; means for creating a graphical display including plural axes, each axis manifesting a scale which is associated with a parameter being measured, each axis identified as to a respective parameter being measured, said display further indicating at least one threshold value for each axis; means for indicating on said display for each said measured parameter, said selected maximum one of said scaled values corresponding thereto on a corresponding, axis and thereby indicating if any said selected maximum one of said scaled values exceeds said threshold indicated on said axis; and means responsive to any said selected maximum one of said scaled values exceeding a threshold indicated on a corresponding axis for altering a graphical component of the graphical display to indicate that at least one said scaled values exceeds a threshold on a corresponding axis.

Claim 21

Computer apparatus for monitoring and displaying measurements of each of multiple different parameters related to an operational status of a system, comprising: means coupled to said system for receiving measurements of each of said parameters; means for applying, for each parameter, a scaling function to each measurement of that parameter to derive a scaled value thereof as a function of predetermined threshold values for that parameter, said scaled values being within a predetermined range common to all said parameters; means for selecting, for each parameter, a maximum one of said scaled values; means for creating a graphical display including plural axes, each axis manifesting a scale which is associated with a parameter being measured, each axis identified as to a respective parameter being measured, said display further indicating at least one threshold value for each axis; means for indicating on said display for each said measured parameter, said selected maximum one of said scaled values corresponding thereto on a corresponding, axis and thereby indicating if any said selected maximum one of said scaled values exceeds said threshold indicated on said axis; and means responsive to any said selected maximum one of said scaled values exceeding a threshold indicated on a corresponding axis for altering a graphical component of the graphical display to indicate that at least one said scaled values exceeds a threshold on a corresponding axis.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said axes extend radially from a common point.