Systems and methods for visualizing a communications network

• US 20050251568A1
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.), Raytheon BBN Technlogies Corp. (Rtx Corporation), Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technlogies Corp. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Zavgren, John Richard Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,995,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

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

1-31. -31. (canceled)

32. An interactive graphical user interface for visualizing a network having a plurality of nodes, comprising:

a network topology diagram configured to display at least some of the nodes, links connecting the nodes, and messages transmitted through the network; and

replay controls that permit an operator to control a replay sequence of the network as the network operates over a period of time.

33. The graphical user interface of claim 32, wherein the replay controls include controls for performing at least one of a fast forward, a rewind, a step forward, and a step backward of the replay sequence.

38. The graphical user interface of claim 32, said replay sequence having a beginning wherein said replay controls include a reset control configured to reset said replay sequence at said beginning.

34. A method for visualizing a network having a plurality of nodes, comprising:

recording network events by one or more of the nodes over a period of time;

collecting the recorded events from the nodes;

recreating operation of the network over the time period from the recorded events; and

displaying the recreated network operation.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of recording includes:

generating a time stamp for each of the recorded events.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of recreating includes:

combining the recorded events for the nodes; and

sorting the recorded events based on the generated time stamps.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing more detailed information about at least one of said nodes in response to an instruction from an operator.

39. An interactive graphical user interface for visualizing a network having a plurality of nodes, comprising a network topology diagram configured to display icons representative of at least some of the nodes wherein said display icons indicate the status of the nodes, a first display icon selectively indicating that one or more of the nodes is unavailable, a second display icon selectively indicating that one or more of the nodes is a cluster member, and a third display icon selectively indicating that one or more of the nodes is a cluster head.

40. The graphical user interface of claim 39, wherein the second display icon and the third display icon share a common geometric shape, but differ in relative size.