Persistence specification system and method for producing persistent and transient submaps in a management station for a data communication network

A persistence specification system for enhancing intercommunication between an integrating application and a graphical user interface so that more information concerning a network is provided to a user, while memory requirements and processing time are minimized, comprising:

• a topology database for storing a plurality of submaps of map data for a graphical user interface, said submaps for driving a display;
• a translator configured to convert said topology data from said topology database to map data for said map database, said translator configured to generate submaps from said map data for said graphical user interface for driving said display;
• a persistence specification mechanism associated with said translator, said persistence specification mechanism configured to evaluate objects within said map data and configured to specify each object as persistent and, alternatively, as transient, based upon said object evaluation an persistence input pertaining to said objects, said persistence mechanism configured to evaluate each said submap and configured to specify a submap as persistent and, alternatively, as transient, based upon said submap evaluation, said submap being specified as persistent when said submap comprise a persistent object, said submap being specified as transient when said submap comprises no persistent object;
• and
• said translator configured to generate and continuously maintain said persistent submaps within said map database, said translator configured to generate and temporarily maintain said transient submaps upon receiving a user prompt for a temporary time period corresponding with said user prompt;
• said integrating application in communication with said persistence specification mechanism for generating said persistence input:
• said persistence specification mechanism being configured to advise said integrating application of said persistent objects;
• and
• said integrating application being configured to provide supplemental display information to said graphical user interface based upon said persistent objects.

A computer readable medium having a program for enhancing intercommunication between an integrating application and a graphical user interface so that more information concerning a network is provided to a user, comprising:

• a topology database for storing topology data pertaining to devices and device interconnections of said network;
• a map database for storing a plurality of submaps of map data for a graphical user interface, said submaps for driving a display;
• a translator configured to convert said topology data from said topology database to map data for said map database, said translator configured to generate submaps from said map data for said graphical user interface for driving said display;
• a persistence specification mechanism associated with said translator, said persistence specification mechanism configured to evaluate objects within said map data and configured to specify each object as persistent and, alternatively, as transient, based upon said object evaluation and a persistence input pertaining to said objects, said persistence mechanism configured to evaluate each said submap and configured to specify a submap as persistent and, alternatively, as transient, based upon said submap evaluation, said submap being specified as persistent when said submap comprises a persistent object, said submap being specified as transient when said submap comprises no persistent object;
• and
• said translator configured to generate and continuously maintain said persistent submaps within said map database, said translator configured to generate and temporarily maintain said transient submaps upon receiving a user prompt for a temporary time period corresponding with said user prompt;
• said integrating application in communication with said persistence specification mechanism for generating said persistence input;
• said persistent specification mechanism being configured to provide supplemental information to said graphical user interface based upon said persistent objects.