METHOD AND APPARATUS OF PROVIDING AN INTERFACE FOR MANAGING NETWORK SWITCHES

• US 20090158415A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: DILLON, Jimmy D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,270,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/11
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

An approach is provided for presenting, via a graphical user interface, a plurality of selectable areas corresponding to a plurality of categories of switches and a plurality of options. One of the options includes a search function for finding a desired one of the switches. A communication session is automatically established with one of the switches as specified by a user through one of the selectable areas or the search function. Information from the one switch is received over the communication session, wherein the information is used for analyzing the one switch.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting, via a graphical user interface, a plurality of selectable areas corresponding to a plurality of categories of switches and a plurality of options, wherein one of the options includes a search function for finding a desired one of the switches;

automatically establishing a communication session with one of the switches as specified by a user through one of the selectable areas or the search function; and

receiving information from the one switch over the communication session, wherein the information is used for analyzing the one switch.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the selectable areas are arranged as a plurality of tabs.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein another one of the options includes a list of communication sessions corresponding to corresponding ones of the switches.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing the information as part of a session profile for the user.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the information is stored in a network drive, the method further comprising:

providing a firewall to selectively permit access to the stored information.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information includes configuration information, troubleshooting information, or a combination thereof.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication session is established according to a Telnet protocol or a Secure Shell protocol.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the categories include switch type, switch location, or a combination thereof.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a graphical user interface configured to present a plurality of selectable areas corresponding to a plurality of categories of switches and a plurality of options, wherein one of the options includes a search function for finding a desired one of the switches;

a switch connection module configured to automatically establish a communication session with one of the switches as specified by a user through one of the selectable areas or the search function; and

an application configured to receive information from the one switch over the communication session, wherein the information is used for analyzing the one switch.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the selectable areas are arranged as a plurality of tabs.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein another one of the options includes a list of communication sessions corresponding to corresponding ones of the switches.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a database configured to store the information as part of a session profile for the user.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a firewall configured to selectively permit access to the stored information.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information includes configuration information, troubleshooting information, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the communication session is established according to a Telnet protocol or a Secure Shell protocol.

16. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the categories include switch type, switch location, or a combination thereof.

17. A user interface comprising:

a plurality of tabs corresponding to a plurality of categories of switches and a plurality of options,

wherein one of the options includes a search function for finding a desired one of the switches,

wherein a communication session is automatically established with one of the switches based on input by a user through one of the tabs or the search function, the communication session transporting information from the one switch.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a clear button configured to clear input values corresponding to the search function.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a launch button configured to initiate the automatic establishment of the communication session with one of the switches resulting from the search function.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein another one of the options includes a list of communication sessions corresponding to corresponding ones of the switches.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the information includes configuration information, troubleshooting information, or a combination thereof.

22. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the communication session is established according to a Telnet protocol or a Secure Shell protocol.

23. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the categories include switch type, switch location, or a combination thereof.