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Graphic display of network topology

  • US 5,276,789 A
  • Filed: 05/14/1990
  • Issued: 01/04/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented method for displaying, on a graphic output device connected to a computer system, a plurality of graphic objects, wherein each said graphic object has zero, one or a plurality of connecting lines that connect said graphic object to other graphic objects, said method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) programmatically placing said graphic objects into a graph and assigning each said graphic object to one of a plurality of vertices of said graph;

    (b) programmatically placing said connecting lines into said graph and assigning each said connecting line to one of a plurality of edges of said graph, whereby a vertex is said to have an edge if said vertex has one or more connecting lines to other vertices;

    (c) programmatically dividing said vertices into clusters comprising the steps of(c1) temporarily removing one of said edges,(c2) starting from each of said vertices, programmatically examining each of said edges to programmatically determine if all said vertices are connected through one or more of said edges,(c3) if one or more vertices is determined by step (c2) to not be connected, collecting said one or more not connected vertices into a separate cluster, and(c4) repeating steps (c1) through (c3) for said separate cluster;

    (d) programmatically arranging each of said vertices within each of said clusters on said graph;

    (e) programmatically arranging said clusters on said graph;

    (f) displaying said graph on said graphic output device; and

    (g) moving a selected one of said graphic objects in response to each move request entered through a graphical input device.

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