# US 6,909,696 B1 · Systems and methods for visualizing a communications network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,909,696 B1 - Document ID: US6909696B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/489,517 - Filed: 2000-01-21 - Granted: 2005-06-21 - Earliest claimed: 2000-01-21 - Assignees: Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc.; BBNT Solutions LLC; Genuity Inc. - Inventors: John Richard Zavgren, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6909696B1 ## CPC - H04L 41/12: Discovery or management of network topologies - H04L 41/22: comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI] - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A system facilitates the visualization of a network having multiple nodes. The system collects information from at least one of the nodes (510). The information describes network operation over a period of time. The system then reconstructs the network operation for the time period from the collected information (520) and presents the reconstructed network operation to an operator (530-550). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for visualizing a network that includes a plurality of nodes, comprising: collecting information from at least one of the nodes, the information describing network operation over a period of time, and wherein collecting information includes obtaining forwarding tables from the nodes; reconstructing the network operation for the time period from the collected information wherein reconstructing includes creating forwarding tables from the collected information; comparing the forwarding tables obtained from the nodes to the created forwarding tables; measuring routing protocol convergence time based on the comparison; and replaying, for an operator, the network operation as the network operation occurred during the time period using the reconstructed network operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the collecting includes: obtaining at least one of node status change information, information regarding messages received and transmitted in the network, and link status change information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the reconstructing includes: combining information from at least two of the nodes; sorting the combined information by time; and reconstructing the network operating using the sorted information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the replaying includes: displaying the network operation to the operator as an interactive network topology diagram. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the displaying includes: providing detailed information regarding the network operation in response to an instruction from the operator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the providing includes: displaying detailed information regarding one of a node, a link and a message in the network. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the replaying includes: displaying the network operation to the operator; and permitting the operator to manipulate the displaying of the network operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the replaying includes; permitting the operator to manipulate the replaying of the network operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the permitting includes: allowing the operator to at least one of fast forward, reset and rewind the replaying of the network operation. ### Claim 10 A system for visualizing a network that includes a plurality of nodes, comprising: means for collecting information from at least one of the nodes, the information describing network operation over a period of time wherein collecting includes obtaining forwarding tables from the nodes; means for reconstructing the network for the time period from the collected information wherein reconstructing includes creating forwarding tables from the collected information; means for comparing the forwarding tables obtained from the nodes to the created forwarding tables; means for measuring routing protocol convergence time based on the comparison; and means for replaying the reconstructed network operation over the time period for an operator. ### Claim 11 A system for visualizing a network that includes a plurality of nodes, comprising: a memory that stores instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions in the memory to collect information fro at least one of the nodes, the information describing network operation over a period of time, obtain forwarding tables from the nodes, created forwarding tables from the collected information, reconstruct the network operation for the time period from the collected information, and cause the network operation to be displayed, for an operator, as the network operation occurred during the time period using the reconstructed network operation; and wherein the processor is further configured to compare the forwarding tables obtained from the nodes to the created forwarding tables, and measure routing protocol convergence time based on the comparison. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein when collecting, the processor is configured to obtain at least one of node status change information, information regarding messages received and transmitted in the network, and link status change information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein when reconstructing, the processor is configured to combine information from at least two of the nodes, sort the combined information by time, and reconstruct the network operation using the sorted information. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein when causing the network operation to be displayed, the processor is configured to present the reconstructed network operation to the operator as an interactive network topology diagram. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein when presenting, the processor is configured to provide detailed information regarding the network operation in response to an instruction from the operator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) system of claim 15, wherein when providing, the processor is configured to display detailed information regarding one of a node, a link, and a message in the network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein when causing the network operation to be displayed, the processor is configured to permit the operator to manipulate the displaying of the network operation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein when causing the network operation to be displayed, the processor is configured to replay the network operation over the time period, and permit the operator to manipulate the replaying of the network operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein when permitting, the processor is configured to allow the operator to at least one of fast forward, reset and rewind the replaying of the network operation. ### Claim 20 A computer-readable medium that stores instructions for causing at least one processor to perform a method for visualizing a network that includes a plurality of nodes, comprising: instructions for collecting information from at least one of the nodes, the information describing network operation over a period of time; instructions for comparing forwarding tables obtained from the nodes with forwarding tables created from the information collected from the nodes; instructions for reconstructing the network operation for the time period from the collected information; and instructions for presenting, to an operator, the network operation as the network operation evolved over time during the time period using the reconstructed network operation. ### Claim 21 A method for visualizing a network having a plurality of nodes, comprising: collecting information from at least one of the nodes, the information describing network operation over a period of time, and wherein collecting information includes obtaining forwarding tables from the nodes; reconstructing the network operation for the time period from the collected information wherein reconstructing includes creating forwarding tables from the collected information; and replaying, for an operator, the network operation as the network operation occurred during the time period using the reconstructed network operation.