Methods and Apparatuses for Use in a Network Analytics Tool

A method for a network analytics tool capable of analyzing a time-varying set of parameter values for each of a plurality of measurable parameters and visually outputting a plurality of visualization objects, each of the visualization objects comprising one or more visualization items, each visualization item representative of one of the plurality of measurable parameters, the method comprising:

• obtaining, for each of the plurality of visualization objects, a value of a first object-related metric;
• and
• causing generation of a sensory-perceptible output indicative of a visualization object ranking established on the basis of the obtained value of the first object-related metric of each of the plurality of visualization objects,
• wherein obtaining a value of the first object-related metric includes:
• for each of one or more of the plurality of visualization objects, determining a value of the first object-related metric based at least on the set of parameter values of the measurable parameter of each visualization item included in the visualization object.

The method of claim 43, wherein establishing the user-specific visualization object ranking includes at least one of:

• obtaining an object usage matrix specifying for each of the plurality of users a usage value in relation to each of the two or more visualization objects associated with the user, the usage value representative of a probability of usage of the visualization object by the user;
• or
• decomposing the object usage matrix into the product of a job role matrix (P_) and a toolkit matrix (Q_), the job role matrix (P_) specifying for each of the plurality of users a job role value in relation to each of two or more job roles, the job role value representative of a probability of the user being involved in a task related to the job role, the toolkit matrix (Q_) specifying for each of two or more visualization objects a toolkit value in relation to each of the two or more job roles, the toolkit value representative of a probability of the visualization object requiring to be inspected in order to accomplish a task related to the job role;
• or
• determining an object ranking matrix as a product of the job role matrix (P), the toolkit matrix (q) and a vector (c) including for each of the two or more visualization objects the value of the first object-related metric.

An apparatus operable in a network analytics tool capable of analyzing a time-varying set of parameter values for each of a plurality of measurable parameters and visually outputting a plurality of visualization objects, each of the visualization objects (26) comprising one or more visualization items, each visualization item representative of one of the plurality of measurable parameters, the apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• and
• memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the apparatus to:
• obtain, for each of the plurality of visualization objects, a value of a first object-related metric by at least determining, for each of one or more of the plurality of visualization objects, a value of the first object-related metric based at least on the set of parameter values of the measurable parameter of each visualization item included in the visualization object;
• and
• cause the generation of a sensory-perceptible output indicative of a visualization object ranking established on the basis of the obtained value of the first object-related metric of each of the plurality of visualization objects.