Method and apparatus for selecting network entities

Abstract

Network management can be made more efficient by using a graphical user interface that is clear and concise in what network information is identified and subsequently displayed. One key to improving graphical user interfaces is the categorizing of network entities into a series of attribute layers that define different features of the network entities. For instance, a layer of attributes may include geographical regions, services, customers, or types of network entities. By selecting a base view from the group of geographical regions and then network features for filtering operations from one or more of the other attribute layers, the network entities defined by the selected network features can be identified and isolated with all other irrelevant network entities being filtered out. The advantages to this graphical user interface is especially evident when considering the case that a specific customer, service, or network entity requires special attention. Other features of this interface include book marking, archiving, and monitoring specific views of a network based off a base view along with one or more filtered network features.

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