System for displaying a computer managed network layout with transient display of user selected attributes of displayed network objects

A method for determining the status of attributes of a plurality of network objects each respectively associated with one of a plurality of linked network nodes in a computer managed communication network with user interactive access via a plurality of display terminals comprising

• storing data representing attributes of said network objects,
• graphically displaying on at least one of said display terminals, at least a portion of said linked network nodes and associated objects,
• selecting an attribute to be transiently displayed, and
• activating for a selected time period a transient display of said selected attribute of one of said displayed objects proximate to said object.

A computer program for a computer managed communication network with user interactive access via a plurality of display terminals and including a plurality of network objects, each respectively associated with one of a plurality of linked network nodes, said program having data structures included on a computer readable medium comprising

• means for storing data representing attributes of said network objects,
• means for graphically displaying on at least one of said display terminals, at least a portion of said linked network nodes and associated objects,
• user interactive means for activating for a selected time period a transient display of a selected attribute of one of said displayed objects proximate to said object, and
• user interactive means for selecting the attribute to be transiently displayed.