User based graphical computer network diagnostic tool

• US 6,031,528 A
• Filed: 11/25/1996
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Langfahl, J. Craig Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/753,243
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 345/334, 345/335, 345/339, 345/348, 345/349, 345/356, 345/326, 345/329, 345/969, 345/357, 395/200.33, 395/200.47, 395/200.48, 395/200.75, 395/200.8, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/245, 709/250, 709/220, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 715/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/969 Network layout and operation interface

Abstract

A computer network diagnostic tool allows a user of a computer coupled to a computer network to perform network diagnostics. The tool provides a graphical interface which displays the computer coupled to a plurality of computer network entities on the computer network. The interface is adapted to allow the user to select one of the computer network entities. The diagnostic tool then tests the connectivity from the computer to a selected network entity, and the status of the connectivity is graphically displayed.

Claims

1. A network map diagnostic tool operated by a user of a computer coupled to a computer network interface server, wherein said computer network interface server is coupled to a plurality of computer network entities on a computer network, said diagnostic tool comprising:

a configuration file generated at said computer network interface server, said configuration file comprising a network address for each of said computer network entities and graphical data for depicting and positioning said computer network entities and said computer on a display;

means for retrieving said configuration file from said computer network interface server;

a graphical interface which graphically displays the computer coupled to said plurality of computer network entities on the computer network from a perspective of said computer, wherein said graphical interface is generated at said computer based on said configuration file and includes a first graphical coupling that couples the computer directly to a first network entity and a second graphical coupling that couples the first network entity directly to a second network entity;

means for allowing the user to select said second network entity;

means for testing the connectivity from the computer to said second network entity; and

means for graphically displaying a status of said connectivity using the first graphical coupling to display the status of the connection between the computer and the first network entity and using the second graphical coupling to display the status of the connection between the first network entity and the second network entity,

wherein the information in said configuration file is limited to maintain network security.

2. The network map diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

means for determining the network address of said selected network entity.

3. The network map diagnostic tool of claim 2, wherein said means for graphically displaying comprises graphical links which vary in color.

4. The network map diagnostic tool of claim 3, wherein said status comprises:

untested;

testing;

test successful; and

test failed.

5. The network map diagnostic tool of claim 2, wherein said means for testing comprises a network diagnostic routine coupled to said graphical interface.

6. The network map diagnostic tool of claim 5, wherein said network is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol network and said network diagnostic routine is Ping.

7. The network map diagnostic tool of claim 2, further comprising:

means for embedding said graphical interface in a computer application program.

8. The network map diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein said computer network is an Internet, and said network address is an Internet Protocol address.

9. The network map diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein said means for graphically displaying comprises flashing graphical links while said connectivity is being tested.

10. A method of allowing a user of a computer coupled to a computer network to perform network diagnostics, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) retrieving from a computer network interface server coupled to the computer a configuration file generated at said computer network interface server, said configuration file comprising a network address for each of said computer network entities and graphical data for depicting and positioning said computer network entities and said computer on a display;

(b) providing a graphical interface based on said configuration file which displays the computer coupled to a plurality of computer network entities on the computer network, said interface adapted to allow the user to select one of said computer network entities, wherein said interface includes a first graphical coupling that couples the computer directly to a first network entity, and a second graphical coupling that couples the first network entity directly to a second network entity;

(c) testing the connectivity from the computer to the second network entity by selecting the second network entity; and

(d) graphically displaying a status of said connectivity using the first graphical coupling to display the status of said connection between the computer and the first network entity and using the second graphical coupling to display the status of the connection between the first network entity and the second network entity.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

(e) determining the network address of said selected network entity.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step (d) comprises the step of displaying graphical links which vary in color.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said status comprises:

untested;

testing;

test successful; and

test failed.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said step (c) comprises the step of running a network diagnostic routine coupled to said graphical interface.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said network is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol network and said network diagnostic routine is Ping.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

(f) embedding said graphical interface in a computer application program.

17. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for allowing a user of a computer coupled to a computer network interface server to perform network diagnostics, wherein said computer network interface server is coupled to a plurality of computer network entities, said computer program comprising:

a retrieving module for retrieving a configuration file generated at said computer network interface server, said configuration file comprising a network address for each of said computer network entities and graphical data for depicting and positioning said computer network entities and said computer on a display;

a display module that generates and displays based on said configuration module a graphical interface of the computer coupled to said plurality of computer network entities, from a perspective of the computer, on the computer network wherein said graphical interface includes a first graphical coupling that couples the computer directly to a first network entity and a second graphical coupling that couples the first network entity directly to a second network entity;

a selection module that enables the user to select said second network entity; and

a diagnostic routine interfaced with said selection module that determines a status of the connectivity from the computer to said second network entity, said diagnostic routine being further interfaced with said graphical interface so that said status is displayed on said graphical interface using the first graphical coupling to display the status of the connection between the computer and the first network entity and using the second graphical coupling to display the status of the connection between the first network entity and the second network entity,

wherein the information in said configuration file is limited to maintain network security.

18. The computer program of claim 17, wherein said selection module determines the network address of said selected network entity.

19. The computer program of claim 18, wherein said graphical interface displays said status by displaying graphical links.

20. The computer program of claim 19, wherein said status comprises untested, testing, test successful, and test failed, and said graphical links vary in color to display said status.

21. The computer program of claim 20, wherein said computer network is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol network and said diagnostic routine is Ping.

22. The computer program of claim 17, further comprising:

an embedding routine for embedding said graphical interface in a computer application program.

23. A computer coupled to a computer network for performing network diagnostics, said computer comprising:

a processor;

a storage device coupled to said processor; and

an input device coupled to said processor;

wherein said processor is programmed to;

(a) retrieving from a computer network interface server coupled to the computer a configuration file generated at said computer network interface server, said configuration file comprising a network address for each of said computer network entities and graphical data for depicting and positioning said computer network entities and said computer on a display device;

(b) graphically display on a display device based on said configuration file a graphical interface of the computer coupled to a plurality of computer network entities on the computer network from a perspective of the computer, wherein said interface includes a first graphical coupling that couples the computer directly to a first network entity, and a second graphical coupling that couples the first network entity directly to a second network entity;

(c) enable the second network entity to be selected with said input device;

(d) determine a status of the connectivity from the computer to the second network entity; and

(e) graphically display on the display device said status using the first graphical coupling to display the status of the connection between the computer and the first network entity and using the second graphical coupling to display the status of the connection between the first network entity and the second network entity.

24. The computer of claim 23, wherein said processor is programmed to determine the network address of said selected network entity.

25. The computer of claim 24, wherein said processor is programmed to display said status by displaying a graphical link between the computer and said selected network entity.

26. The computer of claim 25, wherein said status comprises untested, testing, test successful, and test failed, and said graphical links vary in color to display said status.

27. The computer of claim 26, wherein said computer network is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol network and said diagnostic routine is Ping.

28. The computer of claim 23, wherein said processor is programmed to embed said graphical display in a computer application program.