Graphical visualization and management of networks

A method, comprising:

• displaying a graphical representation of a network map of a network, wherein:
• the graphical representation comprises a rectangular grid, wherein every IP address in a range of IP addresses being actively managed is represented as a rectangular space within the rectangular grid;
• and
• each rectangular space within the rectangular grid is represented by a pattern indicating a percentage of assigned subnet utilization;
• receiving a context indication based at least in part on a first human interface device (HID) pointer manipulation of the rectangular grid, wherein the context indication includes a user network information specification from a user, wherein the user network information specification describes a first network segment of the network displayed on the graphical representation, wherein the first network segment comprises a contiguous range of IP addresses within the range of IP addresses represented within the rectangular grid;
• displaying on the graphical representation a first information for the first network segment in response to the context indication;
• receiving an action indication based at least in part on a second HID pointer manipulation, wherein the action indication includes a network management specification for the first network segment based at least in part on an interaction with the graphical representation, wherein the network management specification comprises one or more of the following:
• a command to create a new network within the first network segment, a command to split a network within the first network segment, a command to resize a network within the first network segment, and a command to join a network within the first network segment to a second network;
• and
• using a processor to modify the first network segment based at least in part on the network management specification in response to the action indication.

A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

• displaying a graphical representation of a network map of a network, wherein:
• the graphical representation comprises a rectangular grid, wherein every IP address in a range of IP addresses being actively managed is represented as a rectangular space within the rectangular grid;
• and
• each rectangular space within the rectangular grid is represented by a pattern indicating a percentage of assigned subnet utilization;
• receiving a context indication based at least in part on a first human interface device (HID) pointer manipulation of the rectangular grid, wherein the context indication includes a user network information specification from a user, wherein the user network information specification describes a first network segment of the network displayed on the graphical representation, wherein the first network segment comprises a contiguous range of IP addresses within the range of IP addresses represented within the rectangular grid;
• displaying on the graphical representation a first information for the first network segment in response to the context indication;
• receiving an action indication based at least in part on a second HID pointer manipulation, wherein the action indication includes a network management specification for the first network segment based at least in part on an interaction with the graphical representation, wherein the network management specification comprises one or more of the following:
• a command to create a new network within the first network segment, a command to split a network within the first network segment, a command to resize a network within the first network segment, and a command to join a network within the first network segment to a second network;
• and
• modifying the first network segment based at least in part on the network management specification in response to the action indication.