Apparatus and method for mapping network topology elements and connections

Abstract

Mapping of a network topology, comprising a plurality of elements with one or more interconnections between the plurality of elements, is accomplished by representing the plurality of elements in a first matrix dimension, and representing the one or more interconnections in a second matrix dimension. A group of elements can be represented in a third matrix dimension. Instead of representing a connecting device for connecting groups of elements in the first matrix dimension, the connecting device can be represented in the second matrix dimension. The mapping can be used for providing a graphical representation of the network topology. In one embodiment, the plurality of elements is represented by parallel lines in the first matrix dimension, and/or the one or more interconnections by parallel lines are represented in the second matrix dimension. A connection between two elements is preferably represented by dots at the points of intersection between the representation of the interconnection between two elements in the second matrix dimension and the representations of the elements in the first matrix dimension.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.