Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-05-01
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S960000, C709S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225999
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to the management of computer networks, and more particularly to a graphical user interface that provides flexibility for network managers in monitoring the operation of computer networks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As the use of computers becomes more ubiquitous for a large variety of tasks, the need to exchange information between computers also increases. As a result, networks for interconnecting computers, to allow such exchange of information, continue to grow. This growth occurs not only in the number of networks, but also in their size, as evidenced by the expanding use of local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), enterprise-wide networks (which might include several WANs) and, ultimately, world-wide networks, such as the internet.
To ensure reliable communications between computers, the networks themselves must be regularly managed. In general, the management of a network involves continued monitoring of the operating state of components which form the network, controlling those components to provide optimal performance under varying conditions, and troubleshooting sources of problem on the network. To this end, various operating models have been proposed for network management. In the operation of these models, information pertaining to the performance of components in the network is obtained, for example by management agents running on those components, and provided to a management process via an established protocol. For example, the SNMP (simple network management protocol) was developed for networks which operate on the basis of the internet protocol (IP or TCP/IP). Similarly, OSI-based networks employ the common management information protocol (CMIP) to transfer information regarding the operation of the network. This information is reported to a management process running on a central station which could be, for example, the main server on a given network. In essence, the management process provides a network manager with a list of all of the components on the network, e.g., routers, bridges, repeaters and the like, along with information regarding their configuration, operational status, and the like.
To facilitate the network manager's understanding of information provided by a management process, various application programs have been developed which display at least some of the information gathered by the process in a graphical format. One particularly useful type of application provides a map of the network topology. In the operation of this type of application, the network manager can view a display which illustrates all of the nodes on the network, as well as their interconnections. With this type of display, when the network manager receives information that a particular node has gone down, i.e., become non-operational, or that its performance has somehow degraded, he is able to immediately visualize the portions of the network which are affected by the drop in performance, and take appropriate corrective action. Examples of such applications include CiscoWorks Blue Logical Maps by Cisco Systems, Inc., OpenView by Hewlett Packard and NetManager by Sun Microsystems.
For networks of any appreciable size, the utility of these graphical interface programs is inversely related to the size of the networks on which they are used. For example, in a local area network or a relatively small wide area network having a few routers, the number of network components to be managed is sufficiently limited that they can all be displayed on the screen of a computer monitor, along with their interconnections, in a readily comprehensible manner. However, as the number of network components grows with the increasing size of the network, the display of all of those components becomes more complex. This complexity is due to the fact that the monitor screen becomes increasingly crowded as more icons, or the like, are added to the map to illustrate the additional network components. Furthermore, the interconnections between these components can increase exponentially, and their illustration can result in such a “busy” appearance to the screen that the information contained therein becomes incomprehensible.
It is often the case that a network manager does not need to know about the existence and state of all components in an overall network, particularly in the case of large WANs and enterprise networks. Rather, the network manager may only be responsible for a small portion of the total network, such as a few key routers and the components directly connected thereto. In such a case, the information provided by a graphical network management tool which illustrates the topology of the entire network is of little value to the network manager. It is desirable, therefore, to provide a graphical user interface for network management which permits the network manager to customize the displayed information in a manner which limits it to that which is particularly useful to the manager, and yet which provides the flexibility to navigate to any given area of the network to obtain all information necessary to properly carry out management duties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a graphical user interface is provided which permits a network manager to select a limited number of network components for display in a topological map, along with pertinent information relating thereto, while removing the display of undesirable or unnecessary data. In operation, a network manager can select a few key routers in an overall network, and have only those routers, and their interconnections, displayed on the screen of the computer monitor. Other components connected to those routers, which have not been selected by the network manager, are not displayed. However, information is provided to inform the network manager that other connections to those routers may exist. In addition, information relating to the performance between the key routers and other components connected to the key routers is also displayed. For example, if all of the connections are properly operating, the key routers can be displayed with one color. If, however, a connection to a key router goes down, the color of its display is changed, to provide an immediate indication to the network manager.
As a second feature of the invention, the network manager is provided with the opportunity to navigate about the map of the network topology, to locate the source of a problem. If the color of an illustrated component changes, to illustrate the existence of a problem, the network manager can expand the information displayed on the screen, by requesting to view all of the components that are directly connected to the illustrated router associated with the problem. The network manager can continue to request the display of specific connections, until the component which is the source of the problem is itself displayed and identified. The network manager is then provided with an opportunity to take the appropriate corrective action.
The graphical user interface of the present invention, therefore, provides a network manager with the flexibility to view only those components of a network which are of current interest, and to dynamically control the illustrated information to navigate along any desired route. Consequently, the network manager can request as large, or as small, a view of the network as meets his particular needs.
Further features of the invention, as well as the advantages offered thereby, are described hereinafter with reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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Jain Sunil
Williams Robert
Bayerl Raymond J.
Cisco Technology Inc.
Hickman Palermo & Truong & Becker LLP
Palermo Christopher J.
Thai Cuong T.
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