Network management graphical user interface

• US 6,112,015 A
• Filed: 12/06/1996
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Talbott, Doug Edward, Planas, Miguel Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Asta, Frank J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIERCE, IVAN
• Application Number:
  US08/764,086
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.5, 395/200.53, 395/200.54, 395/683, 345/326, 345/329, 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2, 364/226.2, 701/1, 701/5, 701/6
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A method is provided for graphically depicting detailed state and status information for network objects, particularly network objects forming part of a telecommunications network. A graphical representation of a network is displayed in which a basic icon is displayed for each network object. More commonly occurring state and status combinations are conveyed by imparting attributes to the basic icons such as dashed, solid, or three dimensional outlines. Less commonly occurring state and status combinations are conveyed by attaching modifier icons to the basic icons. The method is particularly suited to providing a detailed visual representation of the states and statuses included in the OSI standard.

Claims

1. A processor implemented method for displaying information relating to a telecommunications network consisting of a plurality of network objects using a networks management terminal having a display, the information consisting of base state and/or base state and supplementary state(s) information for at least one of the network objects, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a unique attribute representative of each base state, the attribute being unique independent of colour;

defining a unique modifier icon representative of each supplementary state, the modifier icon being unique independent of colour;

displaying on the display for each network object a basic icon corresponding to that network object;

for each basic icon, imparting to the basic icon the attribute representative of the base state of the corresponding network object;

for each basic icon for which there is supplementary states(s) information superimposing partially upon the basic icon one or more modifier icons representative of the supplementary state(s) of the corresponding network object;

whereby the icon representing a given network object can continuously convey the base state of the network object and its supplementary state(s) if any.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein each network object can be in combinations of states and statuses as defined by a network management model and wherein each base state represents a predetermined state, status, or a combination of states and statuses selected from the network management model.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said attribute is selected from a predetermined set of attributes comprising a set of different icon borders.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of adding text to the modifier icons to provide details of the supplementary states.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein a different basic icon shape is used to represent each of three types of network objects, the three types being nodes, links and cards.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein nodes are represented by a basic icon consisting of a square icon.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein cards are represented by a basic icon consisting of a vertically oriented rectangular icon.

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein links are represented by a basic icon consisting of a link icon having thin rectangular segments.

9. The method according to claim 2 wherein more commonly occurring state, status or state/status combinations are mapped onto base states, and less commonly occurring state, status or state/status combinations are mapped onto supplementary states.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein symbols are used on each basic icon to identify the network object represented by that basic icon.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying at least one pictorial icon for a network object, the pictorial icon being devoid of any base state or supplementary state information.

12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting a group of said basic icons according to a predetermined criterion and displaying a single container icon representing the group of icons rather than displaying the group of icons individually.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the container icons are transparent or translucent and overlay a map displayed on the display.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the container icons each have a user definable shape.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the container icons are flexible and polygonal.

16. The method according to claim 12 wherein the container icons are imparted with icon attributes and modifier icons to reflect the base states and supplementary states of network objects represented by the container.

17. The method according to claim 12 wherein the container icons are expandable to display the icons in the group of icons represented by the container icon.

18. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving network management information;

converting the network management information into the base state for each said at least one network object.

19. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of expanding at least one basic icon to a larger size and displaying additional information on the icon.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the additional information is graphical.

21. The method according to claim 19 wherein the additional information is textual.

22. The method according to claim 2 wherein the states and statuses are a subset of those specified by the OSI standard.

23. The method according to claim 2 wherein the states and statuses are a subset of the primary states and the secondary states specified by the BellCore requirement.

28. The method according to claim 2 wherein said information further comprises alarm information, the method further comprising the steps of:

imparting to the display of each basic icon alarm modifiers which convey a summary of the alarm information.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein said alarm information consists of a respective number of alarms for each of a number of different severities, and said summary comprises the number of alarms of the highest severity indicated alphanumerically, and whether there are additional lower severity alarms indicated symbolically.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein said alarm information further comprises for each alarm an indication of whether the alarm is new, and wherein said summary further comprises a summary of new alarms.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein said summary of new alarms comprises the number of new alarms of the highest severity indicated numerically in an alarm modifier icon.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein said summary of new alarms is presented in a bubble shaped modifier icon.

33. The method according to claim 28 wherein said alarm information further includes an indication of whether there are one or more outstanding alarms, the method comprising the step of imparting an additional outline surrounding the basic icon, the additional border representing the highest severity of any outstanding alarm.

34. The method according to claim 33 further comprising the step of imparting a colour to the basic icon representing the highest severity of any outstanding or new alarm.

35. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of including a second basic icon displayed partially behind the basic icon for components which have both primary and secondary resources, and imparting attributes and modifier icons to the second basic icon as a function of the states of the secondary resource.

36. The method according to claim 1 wherein the state information is OSI state information and the attributes comprise:

a dashed border for the OSI state combination "disabled, idle";

a shaded border for the OSI state combination "enabled, idle"; and

a border with a three dimensional appearance for the OSI state combination "enabled, active".

37. The method according to claim 1 wherein the state and status information is OSI state and status information and the modifier icons comprise:

an icon in the shape of a lock for the OSI administrative state "locked";

an icon in the shape of a box containing a bar graph symbol for the OSI availability status "in test";

an icon in the shape of a broken stick for the OSI availability status "failed";

an icon in the shape of a power plug for the OSI availability status "power off";

an icon in the shape of a clock for the OSI availability status "off duty";

an icon in the shape of a box containing a bar graph symbol for the OSI control status "subject to test";

an icon in the shape of a box containing a bar graph symbol with a lock on it for the OSI control status "reserved for test".

38. The method according to claim 37 wherein the modifier icons further comprise:

an icon in the shape of a hand with upward pointing arrowheads for the OSI procedural status "initialization required";

an icon in the shape of upward pointing arrowheads for the OSI procedural status "initializing";

an icon in the shape of downward pointing arrowheads for the OSI procedural status "terminating";

an icon in the shape of upward pointing arrowheads and a box containing a bar graph symbol for the OSI procedural status "reporting";

an icon in the shape of an inverse shaded exclamation point for the OSI availability status "degraded".

39. The method according to claim 36 wherein the state and status information is OSI state and status information and the modifier icons comprise:

an icon in the shape of a lock for the OSI administrative state "locked";

an icon in the shape of a box containing a bar graph symbol for the OSI availability status "in test";

an icon in the shape of a broken stick for the OSI availability status "failed";

an icon in the shape of a power plug for the OSI availability status "power off";

an icon in the shape of a clock for the OSI availability status "off duty";

an icon in the shape of a box containing a bar graph symbol for the OSI control status "subject to test";

an icon in the shape of a box containing a bar graph symbol with a lock on it for the OSI control status "reserved for test".

40. The method according to claim 39 wherein the modifier icons further comprise:

an icon in the shape of a hand with upward pointing arrowheads for the OSI procedural status "initialization required";

an icon in the shape of upward pointing arrowheads for the OSI procedural status "initializing";

an icon in the shape of downward pointing arrowheads for the OSI procedural status "terminating";

an icon in the shape of upward pointing arrowheads and a box containing a bar graph symbol for the OSI procedural status "reporting";

an icon in the shape of an inverse shaded exclamation point for the OSI availability status "degraded".

41. The method according to claim 40 wherein said information further comprises alarm information, the method further comprising the steps of:

imparting to the display of each basic icon alarm modifiers which convey a summary of the alarm information.

42. The method according to claim 41 wherein said alarm information consists of a number of alarms for each of a number of different severities, and said summary comprises the number of alarms of the highest severity indicated alphanumerically, and whether there are additional lower severity alarms indicated symbolically.

43. The method according to claim 42 wherein said alarm information further comprises for each alarm an indication of whether the alarm is new, and wherein said summary further comprises a summary of new alarms.

44. The method according to claim 43 wherein said summary of new alarms comprises the number of new alarms of the highest severity indicated numerically in an alarm modifier icon.

45. The method according to claim 44 wherein said summary of unacknowledged alarms is presented in a bubble shaped modifier icon.

46. The method according to claim 41 wherein said alarm information further includes an indication of whether there are one or more outstanding alarms, the method comprising the step of imparting an additional outline surrounding the basic icon, the additional border representing the highest severity of any outstanding alarm.

47. The method according to claim 45 further comprising the step of imparting a colour to the basic icon representing the highest severity of any outstanding or new alarm.

24. A method for displaying OSI state and status information relating to a telecommunications network consisting of a plurality of network objects using a network management terminal having a display and processing means, the method comprising the steps of:

the processing means converting the OSI state and status information into a base state and supplementary state(s) for each network object;

defining a unique attribute representative of each base state, the attribute being unique independent of colour;

defining a unique modifier icon representative of each supplementary state, the modifier icon being unique independent of colour;

the processing means displaying on the display for each network object a basic icon representative of that network object, the basic icon being a node icon for a node network object, a card icon for a card network object, and a link icon for a link network object;

imparting to the display of at least one basic icon the attribute representative of the base state of the network object represented by the basic icon;

adding to the display of each basic icon one modifier icon partially superimposed upon the respective basic icon representative of each supplementary state of the network object represented by the basic icon;

whereby the icon representing a given network object can continuously convey the base state of the network object and its supplementary state(s) if any.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the node icon is a square icon, the card icon is a vertically oriented rectangular icon, and the link icon is an icon having thin rectangular segments.

26. A system for monitoring a telecommunications network consisting of a plurality of network objects, the system consisting of:

a network management terminal having a display and processing means;

means for conveying network management information from the network to the network management terminal;

memory for storing a unique attribute representative of each of a plurality of base states, the attribute being unique independent of colour and for storing a unique modifier icon representative of each of a plurality of supplementary states, the modifier icon being unique independent of colour;

wherein the processing means displays on the display for each network object a basic icon representative of that network object;

wherein the processing means converts the network management information into a base state and/or a base state and supplementary states for each of at least one network object;

wherein the processing means imparts to each basic icon representative of said at least one network object the attribute representative of the network object'"'"'s base state;

wherein the processing means adds a modifier icon for each supplementary state partially superimposed over the respective basic icon.

27. The system according to claim 26 wherein the network management information consists of a state, status, or a combination of states and statuses for each said at least one network object.