Method and apparatus for displaying information in a communication system
First Claim
1. A method of displaying communication system performance parameters comprising the steps of:
- selecting a first group of system elements;
selecting a second group of system elements;
displaying each element of the first group of system elements as a shape having a plurality of defining parameters, the defining parameters associated with performance characteristics of the first group of system elements;
displaying each element of the second group of system elements as a shape having a plurality of defining parameters while displaying each element of the first group, the defining parameters associated with performance characteristics of the second group of system elements; and
modifying the shape representing the first group of system elements by altering the plurality of defining parameters as performance parameter data changes with time during system operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for understanding information relating to communication system performance, including the dynamic nature of the system is provided. Elements of the system are represented (102, 110) as various shapes (30, 32, 40) defined by an number of different parameters on a display device (24). The shapes are characterized by a number of defining parameters and these defining parameters have an association with performance characteristics or performance parameters of the system element. As performance parameter data changes with time, e.g., during system operation, the defining parameters are altered such that the shape representing the system element is modified (106, 114). In this manner a large number of system elements and associated performance characteristics and the time varying nature thereof can be readily displayed to aid the system operator.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of displaying communication system performance parameters comprising the steps of:
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selecting a first group of system elements; selecting a second group of system elements; displaying each element of the first group of system elements as a shape having a plurality of defining parameters, the defining parameters associated with performance characteristics of the first group of system elements; displaying each element of the second group of system elements as a shape having a plurality of defining parameters while displaying each element of the first group, the defining parameters associated with performance characteristics of the second group of system elements; and modifying the shape representing the first group of system elements by altering the plurality of defining parameters as performance parameter data changes with time during system operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for displaying performance characteristics of a communication system comprising:
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a database containing a plurality of information related to the communication system; a processor coupled to access the database and further coupled to an interface terminal including a graphic display device; means for retrieving from the database information relating to a first element of the communication system; means for generating on the interface terminal a first shape representative of the first element, the first shape having a plurality of defining parameters; means for retrieving from the database information relating to a second element of the communication system; means for generating on the interface terminal a second shape representative of the second element, the second shape having a plurality of defining parameters; means for retrieving from the database information relating to time varying performance characteristics of the first and second elements; and means for modifying the defining parameters of the first and second shapes in response to the information relating to the time varying performance characteristics of the first and second elements, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A communication system operation and maintenance center comprising:
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an operations and maintenance processor for accessing a plurality of elements of the communication system for retrieving performance information and for storing the performance information in a database; a man-machine interface processor coupled to access the database and further coupled to an interface terminal having a graphical display device, the man-machine interface being operable for representing on the interface terminal the elements of the communication system as a plurality of shapes and for varying the configuration of the shapes in response to the time varying performance information. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification