Map navigation with breadcrumb buttons
First Claim
1. A method of presenting network object hierarchy information in a network management tool, the network management tool for use in managing a communication network having a hierarchy of network objects, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying status information of a displayed network object on a terminal, the displayed network object having at least one higher-level network object within the hierarchy;
displaying an ordered series of a plurality of buttons on the terminal, each button corresponding to a network object within the hierarchy and being ordered according to a position within the hierarchy of the corresponding network object, the series including at least a displayed network object button corresponding to the displayed network object;
displaying on each button at least a portion of a label indicating the corresponding network object; and
designating a new displayed network object by selecting a network object displayed in the status information or by selecting a button.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method are provided for displaying network object hierarchy information within a network management tool. When displaying information about a network object, the network management tool also displays a row of buttons representing different layers within the network hierarchy. A button representing the root object, or entire network, is displayed at one end, and a button representing the network object currently being displayed is displayed at the other end. Arranged between these are intermediate buttons representing network objects within the hierarchy between the root object and the network object being displayed, the intermediate buttons being ordered in accordance with the position within the hierarchy of the corresponding network objects. The invention allows an operator to quickly see for which point in the network hierarchy he or she is currently seeing network information.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A method of presenting network object hierarchy information in a network management tool, the network management tool for use in managing a communication network having a hierarchy of network objects, the method comprising the steps of:
-
displaying status information of a displayed network object on a terminal, the displayed network object having at least one higher-level network object within the hierarchy;
displaying an ordered series of a plurality of buttons on the terminal, each button corresponding to a network object within the hierarchy and being ordered according to a position within the hierarchy of the corresponding network object, the series including at least a displayed network object button corresponding to the displayed network object;
displaying on each button at least a portion of a label indicating the corresponding network object; and
designating a new displayed network object by selecting a network object displayed in the status information or by selecting a button. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A computer-readable medium having instructions for presenting network object hierarchy information as part of a network management tool, the network management tool for use in managing a communication network having a hierarchy of network objects, the computer-readable medium comprising:
-
instructions for displaying status information of a displayed network object on a terminal, the displayed network object having at least one higher-level network object within the hierarchy;
instructions for displaying an ordered series of a plurality of buttons on the terminal, each button corresponding to a network object within the hierarchy and being ordered according to a position within the hierarchy of the corresponding network object, the series including at least a displayed network object button corresponding to the displayed network object;
instructions for displaying on each button at least a portion of a label indicating the corresponding network object; and
instructions for designating a new displayed network object upon selection of a network object displayed in the status information or upon selection of a button. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification