US 5,295,244 AGranted

Network management system using interconnected hierarchies to represent different network dimensions in multiple display views

AssigneeCabletron Systems, Inc.

InventorsRoger H. Dev, Dale H. Emery, Eric S. Rustici, Walter P. Scott, Dwayne S. Wiggin

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Abstract

A network management system includes a user interface, a virtual network and a device communication manager. The virtual network includes models which represent network entities and model relations which represent relations between network entities. Each model includes network data relating to a corresponding network entity and one or more inference handlers for processing the network data to provide user information. The system performs a fault isolation technique wherein the fault status of a network device is suppressed when it is determined that the device is not defective. User displays include hierarchical location views and topological views of the network configuration. Network devices are represented on the displays by multifunction icons which permit the user to select additional displays showing detailed information regarding different aspects of the corresponding network device.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method for displaying information relating to a computer network to a user, comprising the steps of:

maintaining information relating to a computer network in a network management system;
in response to user selections, said network management system generating a first set of views showing selected portions of said information relating to said computer network, said first set of views comprising at least a first view and one or more second views selectable from said first view, said first and second views having a first hierarchical relationship representative of a first dimension of the computer network and being displayed at different times on a video display unit;
in response to user selections, said network management system generating a second set of views showing selected portions of said information relating to said computer network, said second set of views comprising at least a third view and one or more fourth views selectable from said third view, said third and fourth views having a second hierarchical relationship representative of a second dimension of the computer network and being displayed at different times on said video display unit;
and
in response to user selections, said network management system traversing between the views of said first set of views and the views of said second set of views, said first set of views and said second set of views having at least one common element such that a user can traverse upwardly or downwardly through said first set of views from said common element and can traverse upwardly or downwardly through said second set of views from said common element.

2 more elements

A system for displaying information relating to a computer network, comprising:

a digital computer, a video display unit connected to the computer and storage means connected to the computer;
means for maintaining and updating information relating to a computer network in the storage means;
means for generating on said video display unit a first set of user selectable views showing selected portions of said information relating to said computer network, said first set of views comprising at least a first view and one or more second views selectable from said first view, said first and second views having a first hierarchical relationship representative of a first dimension of the computer network and being displayed at different times on a video display unit;
means for generating on said video display unit a second set of user selectable views showing selected portions of said information relating to said computer network, said second set of views comprising at least a third view and one or more fourth views selectable from said third view, said third and fourth views having a second hierarchical relationship representative of a second dimension of the computer network and being displayed at different times on said video display unit;
and
means for traversing between the views of said first set of views and the views of said second set of views in response to user selections, said first set of views and said second set of views having at least one common element such that a user can traverse upwardly or downwardly through said first set of views from said common element and can traverse upwardly or downwardly through said second set of views from said common element.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/101,777Filed 3 Aug 1993 · continuation
Priority: 17 Sep 1990
Granted: 15 Mar 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

G06F 11/2257
Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing: using expert…
H04L 41/0609
Using filtering, e.g. reduction of information by using priority, element types, position or time: based on severity or priority
H04L 41/0613
Using filtering, e.g. reduction of information by using priority, element types, position or time: based on the type or category of the network…
H04L 41/0622
Using filtering, e.g. reduction of information by using priority, element types, position or time: based on time