Network traffic visualization

A distributed computer network system comprising:

• A) a plurality of network components that generate and transmit records to network information files upon performing each network activity;
• B) at least one visualization application generating at least one filtering program, each filtering program displaying filtering criteria including various types of transactions associated with the respective activities of the network components;
• C) means for selecting the desired filtering criteria from the visualization application;
• and
• D) means for generating data representing records in the network information files that meet each selected filtering criterion and dynamically displaying graphical images that represent the generated data;
• E) means for presenting said graphical images to represent said network as nodes connected by lines, said lines representing traffic flow between nodes;
• F) means for displaying a width of a line of said lines, said width indicating a value of said characteristics, said value obtained from said monitoring during a selected time interval;
• and
• G) means for displaying a sequence of said images, each of said images taken during a different time interval, and changes in said width of said line showing changes in said characteristics.

A method for graphically displaying the activities between network components and the composition of transactions that makes up certain network activities in a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:

• A) transmitting to network information files records from a plurality of network components upon performing each network activity;
• B) displaying filtering criteria from at least one filtering program in a visualization application, the filtering program including the various types of transactions associated with respective activities of the network components;
• C) selecting the desired filtering criteria from the visualization application;
• D) filtering records in the network information files based on the selected filtering criteria;
• E) generating data representing records in the network information files that meet each selected filtering criterion;
• and
• F) presenting the generated data as images, said images representing said network in response to said filtering, said network represented as nodes connected by lines, said lines representing traffic flow between nodes;
• G) displaying a width of a line of said lines, said width indicating a value of said characteristics, said value obtained from said monitoring during a selected time interval;
• and
• H) means for displaying a sequence of said images, each of said images taken during a different time interval, and changes in said width of said line showing changes in said characteristics.

A data visualization system comprising:

• A) means for monitoring traffic on a distributed computer network system;
• B) means for pre-selecting characteristics of said traffic, performing computations on traffic data, and storing computed results for subsequent graphical display;
• C) means for presenting said characteristics in a graphical format, said graphical format representing said system in response to said monitoring, said system represented as nodes connected by lines, said lines representing traffic flow between nodes;
• D) means for displaying a width of a line of said lines, said width indicating a value of said characteristics, said value obtained from said monitoring during a selected time interval;
• and
• E) means for displaying a sequence of said images, each of said images taken during a different time interval, and changes in said width of said line showing changes in said characteristics.

A distributed computer network system comprising:

• A) a plurality of network components that generate and transmit records of their network activity to network information files;
• B) at least one visualization application generating at least one filtering program, each filtering program displaying the filtering criteria, which includes various types of transactions associated with the respective activities of each network component;
• C) means for selecting the desired filtering criteria for the visualization application
• D) means for generating data representing records in the network information files that meet each selected filtering criterion;
• E) means for presenting said data in a graphical format, said graphical format representing said system in response to said filtering, said system represented as nodes connected by lines, said lines representing traffic flow between nodes;
• F) means for displaying a width of a line of said lines, said width indicating a value of said characteristics, said value obtained from said monitoring during a selected time interval;
• and
• G) means for displaying a sequence of said images, each of said images taken during a different time interval, and changes in said width of said line showing changes in said characteristics .

A method for graphically displaying network traffic comprising the steps of:

• A) monitoring traffic on a distributed computer network system;
• B) pre-selecting characteristics of said traffic, performing computations on traffic data, and storing computed results for subsequent graphical display;
• and
• C) presenting said characteristics in a graphical format, said graphical format representing said system in response to said monitoring, said system represented as nodes connected by lines, said lines representing traffic flow between nodes;
• D) means for displaying a width of a line of said lines, said width indicating a value of said characteristics, said value obtained from said monitoring during a selected time interval;
• and
• E) means for displaying a sequence of said images, each of said images taken during a different time interval, and changes in said width of said line showing changes in said characteristics.

A method for displaying traffic on a computer network, comprising:

• monitoring traffic by a node, said node sending results of said monitoring to network information files stored on a first computer;
• selecting characteristics of said traffic for display by a second computer, said first computer sending data to said second computer;
• and
• displaying, in response to said data, said selected characteristics by said second computer;
• presenting said characteristics in a graphical format, said graphical format representing said system in response to said monitoring, said system represented as nodes connected by lines, said lines representing traffic flow between nodes;
• displaying a width of a line of said lines, said width indicating a value of said characteristics, said value obtained from said monitoring during a selected time interval;
• and
• displaying a sequence of said images, each of said images taken during a different time interval, and changes in said width of said line showing changes in said characteristics.