US6487604B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Route monitoring graphical user interface, system and method
Assignee: Nortel Networks Corp
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Filing: 1999-06-30
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Granted: 2002-11-26
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Expires: 2019-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A network management method and system for managing a network in which routes between pairs of end points take different paths is provided. To begin, device level status and performance information is collected from the network and transformed into path and route information. Next, from the path and route information parameters which characterize the state of each of the routes are computed. Next, the parameters of each of the routes are displayed graphically. This allows a user to obtain a quick visual identification of the state of all of the routes in the network individually and in relation to one another. The invention also provides a network management graphical user interface method in which a 3-D representation of three axes is displayed. Each axis pertaining to a respective one of three route parameters. On these three axes, for each route a parameter point representing the routes parameters is displayed as a function of time. An instantaneous direction and rate of change for each parameter is computed. Each parameter point is displayed in the form of a cone having a central axis pointing in the instantaneous direction of the parameter point, and which has a length which is proportional to the rate of change of the corresponding parameter point.
Inventors
- 👤 Suzanne L. Rochford
- 👤 Larry A. Franko
- 👤 Allan Wille
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/22; H04L45/00; H04L45/22; H04L45/24; H04L41/50; H04L41/5003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A network management method for managing a network comprising: collecting device-level information from the network; transforming the device-level information into route information for each of a plurality of routes in the network, each route from a respective first endpoint and a respective second endpoint, and into path information for each path of a respective plurality of paths taken through the network for each route; computing, from the path and route information, parameters which characterize the state of each of the plurality of routes: and displaying the parameters of each of the plurality of routes graphically.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A network management method for managing a network comprising: collecting device-level information from the network; transforming the device-level information into route information for each of a plurality of routes in the network, each route from a respective first endpoint and a respective second endpoint, and into path information for each path of a respective plurality of paths taken through the network for each route; computing, from the path and route information, parameters which characterize the state of each of the plurality of routes: and displaying the parameters of each of the plurality of routes graphically.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein displaying the parameters of each of the plurality of routes graphically comprises displaying a parameter point in the form of a single graphical display element for each route.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein displaying the parameters of each of the plurality of routes graphically comprises: displaying a 3-D representation of three axes, each axis pertaining to a respective one of three route parameters; displaying for each of the plurality of routes a parameter point at a point in the 3-D representation corresponding to the route's parameters as a function of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein displaying the parameters of each of the plurality of routes graphically comprises displaying them in a manner from which the instantaneous rate of change of the parameters can be visually ascertained.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein each position and direction indicator is a cone which has a central axis pointing in the instantaneous direction of the parameter point and which has a length which is proportional to the rate of change of the corresponding parameter point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 3 further comprising: upon receiving a particular input from a user selecting a particular parameter point, displaying further details in relation to the corresponding route.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 6 further comprising: displaying a cuboid with one corner at the origin of the three axis and with a corner diagonal to the origin at the location of the particular parameter point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising: determining for each of the parameters whether they are within a respective acceptable operating range or are outside their respective acceptable operating range; wherein displaying the parameters of each of the plurality of routes graphically comprises displaying a parameter point with a first characteristic if none of the parameters are outside their respective acceptable operating range, and displaying the parameter point with a second characteristic if at least one of the parameters are outside their respective acceptable operating range.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 3 further comprising: displaying a selected time indicator indicating a time for which parameters are being displayed; upon receipt of a particular input from a user revising the selected time indicator to indicate a different time, updating the display to show the parameters for the revised selected time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 3 further comprising producing an animated display by refreshing the display repeatedly for parameters for the routes for times between a first time and a second time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
A network management system comprising: a network management interface device operable to collect device-level status and performance information from a network; one or more processing devices operable to transform the device-level status and performance information into route information for each of a plurality of routes in the network, each route from a respective first endpoint and a respective second endpoint, and into path information for each path of a respective plurality of paths taken through the network for each route and to compute from the path and route information parameters which characterize the state of each of the plurality of routes; and a graphical user interface operable to display the parameters of each of the plurality of routes graphically.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
A network management system comprising: a network management interface device operable to collect device-level status and performance information from a network; one or more processing devices operable to transform the device-level status and performance information into route information for each of a plurality of routes in the network, each route from a respective first endpoint and a respective second endpoint, and into path information for each path of a respective plurality of paths taken through the network for each route and to compute from the path and route information parameters which characterize the state of each of the plurality of routes; and a graphical user interface operable to display the parameters of each of the plurality of routes graphically.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 3 further comprising: determining an instantaneous direction of motion of each parameter point as a function of time; wherein displaying a parameter point comprises displaying a position and direction indicator in a manner from which the instantaneous direction of the parameter point can be visually ascertained.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 3 further comprising: determining a rate of change of the parameter point; wherein each position and direction indicator has a visual feature which is correlatable with the rate of change of the corresponding parameter point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein each position and direction indicator is a cone which has a central axis pointing in the instantaneous direction of the parameter point and which has a length which is proportional to the rate of change of the corresponding parameter point.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the further details comprise the three parameters for the particular route displayed individually.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 15 further comprising: displaying a cuboid with one corner at the origin of the three axis and with a corner diagonal to the origin at the location of the parameter point.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 15 further comprising displaying markers on each of the three axes indicating the values for the selected parameter point.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said first and second characteristics are different colours.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 3 further comprising: upon receipt of a particular input from an operator revising the orientation of the display of the three axes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the advancement of the first time to the second time is controlled by dragging a selected time indicator between the first time and the second time on a time bar.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising updating the display in real-time to reflect a most recent set of parameters.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising displaying a cuboid having an interior within which all parameter points represent acceptable values, and having an exterior within which at least one parameter point is outside an acceptable range.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising estimating future parameters from archival parameters and current parameters and making these future times available for selection of display.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer system adapted to implement the method of claim 1 .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
A graphical user interface adapted to implement the method of claim 1 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer readable medium having software stored thereon for instructing a computer to implement a method according to claim 1 .
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer system adapted to implement the method of claim 3 .
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
A graphical user interface adapted to implement the method of claim 3 .
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer readable medium having software stored thereon for instructing a computer to implement a method according to claim 3 .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-25 | 2006-05-27 | 2006-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-25 | 2010-05-27 | 2010-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-25 | 2014-05-27 | 2014-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |