Network navigation and viewing system for network management system

• US 5,793,974 A
• Filed: 06/30/1995
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Messinger, Frederic P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Application Number:
  US08/497,545
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 395/161, 395/159, 395/181.1, 395/200.53, 395/200.54, 364/491
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A network navigation and viewing system is disclosed for use in managing a network. The network includes a plurality of digital devices interconnected by communication links in at least one domain, with each device having a device identifier and each domain having a domain identifier. The network navigation and viewing system facilitates generation of a graphical image depicting a logical organization of the network. The network navigation and viewing system in one aspect retrieving device identifier and domain identifier information for the devices connected in the network and uses them to generate a network organization graphical image for display to an operator, the image comprising a plurality of icons each representing a device, with the icons being aggregated in the network organization graphical image by domain thereby to depict the logical organization of the network. The system further enables the operator to use the network organization graphical image generate a further graphical image representing the three-dimensional physical layout of the computers in an office or other environment. In addition, the system will generate a network usage graphical image representing certain communications sessions between devices over the network.

Claims

1. A network navigation and viewing system for use in connection with a network, the network including a plurality of digital devices interconnected by communication links, at least one of the devices comprising a server device, the network navigation and viewing system facilitating the generation of an communication pattern image depicting a communications pattern in the network, the network navigation and viewing system comprising:

A. a server interrogation element for retrieving session information from said server device, said session information identifying ones of the devices having a processing session with said server device as a client device;

B. a communications pattern graphic image generation element for using the session information in generating a communications pattern image for display to an operator, the communications pattern image comprising a plurality of icons each representing a server device or a client device and providing a visible association associating ones of the client devices having a communications session with each server device; and

C. an operator control element responsive to the operator initiating a communications session image generation operation to enable the server interrogation element for retrieving, session information from said server device and the communications pattern graphic image generation element to use the session information in generating a communications pattern image.

2. A network navigation and viewing system for use in connection with a network, the network including a plurality of digital devices interconnected by communication links, at least one of the devices comprising a server device, the network navigation and viewing system facilitating the generation of an communication pattern image depicting a communications pattern in the network, the network navigation and viewing system comprising:

A. a computer; and

B. a control subsystem for controlling operations of the computer, the control subsystem comprising;

i. a server interrogation control element for enabling the computer to retrieve session information from said server device, said session information identifying ones of the devices having a processing session with said server device as a client device;

ii. a communications pattern graphic image generation control element for enabling the computer to use the session information in generating a communications pattern image for display to an operator, the communications pattern image comprising a plurality of icons each representing a server device or a client device and providing a visible association associating ones of the client devices having a communications session with each server device; and

iii. an operator control element for enabling the computer, in response to the operator initiating a communications session image generation operation, to enable the server interrogation control element to, in turn, enable the computer to retrieve session information from said server device, and the communications pattern graphic image generation control element to, in turn, enable the computer to use the session information in generating a communications pattern image.

3. A control subsystem for use connection with a computer connected in a network, the network including a plurality of digital devices interconnected by communication links, at least one of the devices comprising a server device, the control subsystem enabling the computer to generate an communication pattern image depicting a communications pattern in the network, the control subsystem comprising:

A. a server interrogation control element for enabling the computer to retrieve session information from said server device, said session information identifying ones of the devices having a processing session with said server device as a client device;

B. a communications pattern graphic image generation control element for enabling the computer to use the session information in generating a communications pattern image for display to an operator, the communications pattern image comprising a plurality of icons each representing a server device or a client device and providing a visible association associating ones of the client devices having a communications session with each server device; and

C. an operator control element for enabling the computer, in response to the operator initiating a communications session image generation operation, to enable the server interrogation control element to, in turn, enable the computer to retrieve session information from said server device, and the communications pattern graphic image generation control element to, in turn, enable the computer to use the session information in generating a communications pattern image.

4. A computer program product for use connection with a computer connected in a network, the network including a plurality of digital devices interconnected by communication links, at least one of the devices comprising a server device, the control subsystem enabling the computer to generate an communication pattern image depicting a communications pattern in the network, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium including:

A. server interrogation control element code devices for enabling the computer to retrieve session information from said server device, said session information identifying ones of the devices having a processing session with said server device as a client device;

B. communications pattern graphic image generation control element code devices for enabling the computer to use the session information in generating a communications pattern image for display to an operator, the communications pattern image comprising a plurality of icons each representing a server device or a client device and providing a visible association associating ones of the client devices having a communications session with each server device; and

C. operator control element code devices for enabling the computer, in response to the operator initiating a communications session image generation operation, to enable the server interrogation control element code devices to, in turn, enable the computer to retrieve session information from said server device, and the communications pattern graphic image generation control element code devices to, in turn, enable the computer to use the session information in generating a communications pattern image.

5. A method of controlling a computer connected in a network, the network including a plurality of digital devices interconnected by communication links, at least one of the devices comprising a server device, the control subsystem enabling the computer to generate an communication pattern image depicting a communications pattern in the network, the method comprising the steps of:

A. enabling the computer to retrieve session information from said server device, said session information identifying ones of the devices having a processing session with said server device as a client device; and

B. enabling the computer to use the session information in generating a communications pattern image for display to an operator, the communications pattern image comprising a plurality of icons each representing a server device or a client device and providing a visible association associating ones of the client devices having a communications session with each server device.