Graphical representation of computer network topology and activity
First Claim
1. In a computer display system connected to a computer network, said computer display system having a processor, a display device coupled to said processor, and a network interface coupled to said processor, said network interface coupling said computer display system to said computer network, said computer network connecting a plurality of host computers in a particular topology, a process for displaying on said display device a graphical representation of said network and information transfer activity occurring between said host computers of said network, said process comprising the steps of:
- generating a geometric shape substantially resembling a circular shape, said geometric shape representing said network of host computers, each of said host computers being associated with a unique position on said geometric shape;
arranging said unique positions associated with said host computers in a substantially circular arrangement on or near the perimeter of said geometric shape;
displaying said arrangement on said display device;
receiving one of one or more information packets transmitted on said network by one of said host computers;
decoding information contained in said received information packet;
compiling a database containing database entries which include said information contained in said received information packet and traffic data indicating the amount of data being transferred between said host computers; and
displaying said information transfer activity with said arrangement on said display device by displaying an indicia on said arrangement indicating data being transferred between said host computers when data is transferred between said host computers, wherein the appearance of said indicia is related to said traffic data contained in said database entries.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A means and method is disclosed for displaying an image on a display screen graphically representing the topology and information transfer activity occurring on a computer network. One host computer on the network denoted a network monitor gathers information about the topology and traffic on the network. A display image is generated depicting a substantially circular arrangement of host computers and/or sub-networks of host computers comprising the network. Color-coded, dashed, various width, or shaded line segments are added to the display image representing traffic (information transfer activity) occurring on the network between source and destination host computers. Line segments between communicating hosts are coded depending upon the volume of information being transferred. Line segments are removed when information flow between a pair of hosts ceases. Controls are provided to configure the display of the network and to move or zoom in on a portion of the display image.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. In a computer display system connected to a computer network, said computer display system having a processor, a display device coupled to said processor, and a network interface coupled to said processor, said network interface coupling said computer display system to said computer network, said computer network connecting a plurality of host computers in a particular topology, a process for displaying on said display device a graphical representation of said network and information transfer activity occurring between said host computers of said network, said process comprising the steps of:
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generating a geometric shape substantially resembling a circular shape, said geometric shape representing said network of host computers, each of said host computers being associated with a unique position on said geometric shape; arranging said unique positions associated with said host computers in a substantially circular arrangement on or near the perimeter of said geometric shape; displaying said arrangement on said display device; receiving one of one or more information packets transmitted on said network by one of said host computers; decoding information contained in said received information packet; compiling a database containing database entries which include said information contained in said received information packet and traffic data indicating the amount of data being transferred between said host computers; and displaying said information transfer activity with said arrangement on said display device by displaying an indicia on said arrangement indicating data being transferred between said host computers when data is transferred between said host computers, wherein the appearance of said indicia is related to said traffic data contained in said database entries. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a computer display system connected to a computer network, said computer display system having a processor, a display device coupled to said processor, and a network interface coupled to said processor, said network interface coupling said computer display system to said computer network, said computer network connecting a plurality of host computers in a particular topology, a process for displaying on said display device a graphical representation of said network and information transfer activity occurring between said host computers of said network, said process comprising the steps of:
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generating one or more geometric shapes each substantially resembling a circular shape, each of said one or more geometric shapes representing a sub-network of said network of host computers, each of said host computers that are members of a particular sub-network being associated with a unique position on or near the perimeter of the geometric shape representing said particular sub-network; arranging said one or more geometric shapes in a substantially circular arrangement; displaying said arrangement on said display device; receiving one of one or more information packets transmitted on said network by one of said host computers; decoding information contained in said received information packet; compiling a database containing database entries which include said information contained in said received information packet and traffic data indicating the amount of data being transferred between said host computers; and displaying said information transfer activity with said arrangement on said display device by displaying an indicia on said arrangement indicating data being transferred between said host computers when data is transferred between said host computers, wherein the appearance of said indicia is related to said traffic data contained in said database entries. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. In a computer display system connected to a computer network, said computer display system having a processor, a display device coupled to said processor, and a network interface coupled to said processor, said network interface coupling said computer display system to said computer network, said computer network connecting a plurality of host computers in a particular topology, a computing device for displaying on said display device a graphical representation of said network and information transfer activity occurring between said host computers of said network, said computing device comprising:
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means for generating a geometric shape substantially resembling a circular shape, said geometric shape representing said network of host computers, each of said host computers being associated with a unique position on said geometric shape; means for arranging said unique positions associated with said host computers in a substantially circular arrangement on or near the perimeter of said geometric shape; means for displaying said arrangement on said display device; means for receiving one of one or more information packets transmitted on said network by one of said host computers; means for decoding information contained in said received information packet; means for compiling a database containing database entries which include said information contained in said received information packet and traffic data indicating the amount of data being transferred between said host computers; and means for displaying said information transfer activity with said arrangement on said display device by displaying an indicia on said arrangement indicating data being transferred between said host computers when data is transferred between said host computers, wherein the appearance of said indicia is related to said traffic data contained in said database entries. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. In a computer display system connected to a computer network, said computer display system having a processor, a display device coupled to said processor, and a network interface coupled to said processor, said network interface coupling said computer display system to said computer network, said computer network connecting a plurality of host computers in a particular topology, a computing device for displaying on said display device a graphical representation of said network and information transfer activity occurring between said host computers of said network, said computing device comprising:
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means for generating one or more geometric shapes each substantially resembling a circular shape, each of said one or more geometric shapes representing a sub-network of said network of host computers, each of said host computers that are members of a particular sub-network being associated with a unique position on or near the perimeter of the geometric shape representing said particular sub-network; means for arranging said one or more geometric shapes in a substantially circular arrangement; means for displaying said arrangement on said display device; means for receiving one of one or more information packets transmitted on said network by one of said host computers; means for decoding information contained in said received information packet; means for compiling a database containing database entries which include said information contained in said received information packet and traffic data indicating the amount of data being transferred between said host computers; and means for displaying said information transfer activity with said arrangement on said display device by displaying an indicia on said arrangement indicating data being transferred between said host computers when data is transferred between said host computers, wherein the appearance of said indicia is related to said traffic data contained in said database entries. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. In a computer display system connected to a computer network, said computer display system having a processor, a display device coupled to said processor, and a network interface coupled to said processor, said network interface coupling said computer display system to said computer network, said computer network connecting a plurality of host computers in a particular topology, a process for displaying on said display device a graphical representation of said network and information transfer activity occurring between said host computers of said network, said process comprising the steps of:
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generating a geometric shape substantially resembling a circular shape, said geometric shape representing said network of host computers, each of said host computers being associated with a unique position on said geometric shape; arranging said unique positions associated with said host computers in a substantially circular arrangement on or near the perimeter of said geometric shape; displaying said arrangement on said display device; receiving one of one or more information packets transmitted on said network by one of said host computers; decoding information contained in said received information packet; and displaying said information transfer activity with said arrangement on said display device by displaying an indicia on said arrangement indicating data being transferred between said host computers when data is transferred between said host computers.
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Specification