Incremental plotting of network topologies and other graphs through use of markup language

• US 7,292,246 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goldschmidt, Cassio Brun
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung; Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOOD JOHNSON, MOTILEWA
• Application Number:
  US11/403,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20060181531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 715/513
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Plotting a graph using a markup language comprises receiving a request to generate a display of a graph of nodes connected by links and focused on a first entity; retrieving first graph information describing the first focus entity and first nodes and links to the first entity; creating a first markup language document with the first graph information, which when rendered in a display causes plotting the first entity and first nodes and links; receiving a request to change the display to focus on a second entity; retrieving second graph information describing only second nodes and links to the second entity; creating a second markup language document that contains only the second graph information and which when rendered causes plotting both the first focus entity and the second focus entity without repeated rendering of the first markup language document.

Claims

1. A method for plotting a graph using a markup language, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to generate a display of a graph comprising nodes connected by links, wherein the request identifies a first focus entity;

retrieving, from a data source, first graph information describing the first focus entity and first nodes and links that are connected to the first focus entity;

creating a first markup language document that contains the first graph information and which, when rendered in a display, causes plotting the first focus entity and first nodes and links that are connected to the first focus entity;

receiving a request to change the display to focus on a second focus entity;

retrieving second graph information describing only second nodes and links that are connected to the second focus entity, without repeating retrieving the first graph information;

creating a second markup language document that contains only the second graph information and which causes, when only the second markup language document is rendered in the display, plotting both the first focus entity and the second focus entity without repeated rendering of the first markup language document.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the rendering the first markup language document causes plotting the first focus entity in a first location in the display, and wherein rendering the second markup language document causes plotting the first focus entity in a different location of the display and plotting the second focus entity in the first location.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein creating the first markup language document comprises creating image information specifying a graphical image representing a focus entity for plotting in the first graphic display;

label information specifying a label associated with the graphical image for plotting in the first graphic display;

connection information specifying one or more connections between the graphical image and one or more secondary graphical images.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein creating the first markup language document further comprises creating one or more of tool tip information specifying information to display on the display device upon a first interaction with the graphical image;

click action information specifying an action to perform upon a second interaction with the graphical image;

menu information for specifying a menu to display on the display device upon a third interaction with the graphical image.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein creating the first markup language document further comprises creating menu information specifying a menu to display on the display device upon a first interaction with the one or more connections.

6. A method for displaying a network topology, comprising the steps of:

generating and sending a request to generate a display of a graph comprising nodes connected by links, wherein the request identifies a first focus entity;

receiving a first markup language document that contains first graph information based on a data source and describing first nodes and links that are connected to the first focus entity;

rendering the first markup language in a display device, resulting in plotting the first focus entity and the first nodes and links;

generating and sending a request to change the display device to focus on a second focus entity;

receiving a second markup language document that contains only second graph information based on the data source and describing second nodes and links associated with the second focus entity;

rendering only the second markup language document in the display device by processing the second graph information and merging the second graph information with the first graph information, resulting in plotting both the first focus entity and the second focus entity without repeating rendering of the first markup language document.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein rendering the first markup language document further comprises plotting one or more of tool tip information specifying information to display on the display device upon a first interaction with the graph;

click action information for specifying an action to perform upon a second interaction with the graph; and

menu information specifying a menu to display on the display device upon a third interaction with the graph.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein selecting a menu option in the menu causes displaying information about one or more links between the first focus entity and one or more of the nodes that are connected to the first focus entity.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein selecting a menu option in the menu causes displaying information about one or more routers associated with the first focus entity.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein selecting a menu option in the menu causes displaying information about one or more subnetworks associated with the first focus entity.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein plotting the first focus entity further comprises displaying connection label information specifying a label associated with a connection that includes a cost parameter that reflects bandwidth of the connection.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the connection label information comprises a menu that is displayed in response to a user interaction with the connection.

13. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for plotting a graph using a markup language, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform:

receiving a request to generate a display of a graph comprising nodes connected by links, wherein the request identifies a first focus entity;

retrieving, from a data source, first graph information describing the first focus entity and first nodes and links that are connected to the first focus entity;

creating a first markup language document that contains the first graph information and which, when rendered in a display, causes plotting the first focus entity and first nodes and links that are connected to the first focus entity;

receiving a request to change the display to focus on a second focus entity;

retrieving second graph information describing only second nodes and links that are connected to the second focus entity, without repeating retrieving the first graph information;

creating a second markup language document that contains only the second graph information and which causes, when only the second markup language document is rendered in the display, plotting both the first focus entity and the second focus entity without repeated rendering of the first markup language document.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the rendering the first markup language document causes plotting the first focus entity in a first location in the display, and wherein rendering the second markup language document causes plotting the first focus entity in a different location of the display and plotting the second focus entity in the first location.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein creating the first markup language document comprises creating image information specifying a graphical image representing a focus entity for plotting in the first graphic display;

label information specifying a label associated with the graphical image for plotting in the first graphic display;

connection information specifying one or more connections between the graphical image and one or more secondary graphical images.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein creating the first markup language document further comprises creating one or more of tool tip information specifying information to display on the display device upon a first interaction with the graphical image;

click action information specifying an action to perform upon a second interaction with the graphical image;

menu information for specifying a menu to display on the display device upon a third interaction with the graphical image.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein creating the first markup language document further comprises creating menu information specifying a menu to display on the display device upon a first interaction with the one or more connections.

18. A computer-readable medium for displaying a network topology, the computer-readable medium encoded with one or more sequences of instructions, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

generating and sending a request to generate a display of a graph comprising nodes connected by links, wherein the request identifies a first focus entity;

receiving a first markup language document that contains first graph information based on a data source and describing first nodes and links that are connected to the first focus entity;

rendering the first markup language in a display device, resulting in plotting the first focus entity and the first nodes and links;

generating and sending a request to change the display device to focus on a second focus entity;

receiving a second markup language document that contains only second graph information based on the data source and describing second nodes and links associated with the second focus entity;

rendering only the second markup language document in the display device by processing the second graph information and merging the second graph information with the first graph information, resulting in plotting both the first focus entity and the second focus entity without repeating rendering of the first markup language document.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein rendering the first markup language document further comprises plotting one or more of tool tip information specifying information to display on the display device upon a first interaction with the graph;

click action information for specifying an action to perform upon a second interaction with the graph; and

menu information specifying a menu to display on the display device upon a third interaction with the graph.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein selecting a menu option in the menu causes displaying information about one or more links between the first focus entity and one or more of the nodes that are connected to the first focus entity.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein selecting a menu option in the menu causes displaying information about one or more routers associated with the first focus entity.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein selecting a menu option in the menu causes displaying information about one or more subnetworks associated with the first focus entity.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein plotting the first focus entity further comprises displaying connection label information specifying a label associated with a connection that includes a cost parameter that reflects bandwidth of the connection.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein the connection label information comprises a menu that is displayed in response to a user interaction with the connection.

25. A computer system, comprising:

a bus;

one or more storage media coupled to said bus and encoded with one or more sequences of instructions; and

one or more processors coupled to said bus and configured to execute said one or more sequences of instructions wherein, executing said one or more sequences of instructions causes said computer system to perform;

receiving a request to generate a display of a graph comprising nodes connected by links, wherein the request identifies a first focus entity;

retrieving, from a data source, first graph information describing the first focus entity and first nodes and links that are connected to the first focus entity;

creating a first markup language document that contains the first graph information and which, when rendered in a display, causes plotting the first focus entity and first nodes and links that are connected to the first focus entity;

receiving a request to change the display to focus on a second focus entity;

retrieving second graph information describing only second nodes and links that are connected to the second focus entity, without repeating retrieving the first graph information;

creating a second markup language document that contains only the second graph information and which causes, when only the second markup language document is rendered in the display, plotting both the first focus entity and the second focus entity without repeated rendering of the first markup language document.

26. The computer system as recited in claim 25 wherein the instructions that cause rendering the first markup language document comprise instructions that cause plotting the first focus entity in a first location in the display, and wherein the instructions that cause rendering the second markup language document comprise instructions that cause plotting the first focus entity in a different location of the display and plotting the second focus entity in the first location.

27. The computer system as recited in claim 25 wherein the instructions that cause creating the first markup language document comprise instructions that cause creating image information specifying a graphical image representing a focus entity for plotting in the first graphic display;

label information specifying a label associated with the graphical image for plotting in the first graphic display;

connection information specifying one or more connections between the graphical image and one or more secondary graphical images.

28. The computer system as recited in claim 27 wherein the instructions that cause creating the first markup language document further comprise instructions that cause creating one or more of tool tip information specifying information to display on the display device upon a first interaction with the graphical image;

click action information specifying an action to perform upon a second interaction with the graphical image;

menu information for specifying a menu to display on the display device upon a third interaction with the graphical image.

29. The computer system as recited in claim 25 wherein the instructions that cause creating the first markup language document further comprise instructions that cause creating menu information specifying a menu to display on the display device upon a first interaction with the one or more connections.

30. An apparatus for plotting a graph using a markup language, comprising:

means for receiving a request to generate a display of a graph comprising nodes connected by links, wherein the request identifies a first focus entity;

means for retrieving, from a data source, first graph information describing the first focus entity and first nodes and links that are connected to the first focus entity;

means for creating a first markup language document that contains the first graph information and which, when rendered in a display, causes plotting the first focus entity and first nodes and links that are connected to the first focus entity;

means for receiving a request to change the display to focus on a second focus entity;

means for retrieving second graph information describing only second nodes and links that are connected to the second focus entity, without repeating retrieving the first graph information; and

means for creating a second markup language document that contains only the second graph information and which causes, when only the second markup language document is rendered in the display, plotting both the first focus entity and the second focus entity without repeated rendering of the first markup language document.

31. The apparatus as recited in claim 30 wherein the means for rendering the first markup language document comprises means for plotting the first focus entity in a first location in the display, and wherein the means for rendering the second markup language document comprises means for plotting the first focus entity in a different location of the display and plotting the second focus entity in the first location.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 30 wherein the means for creating the first markup language document comprises means for creating image information specifying a graphical image representing a focus entity for plotting in the first graphic display;

label information specifying a label associated with the graphical image for plotting in the first graphic display;

connection information specifying one or more connections between the graphical image and one or more secondary graphical images.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 32 wherein the means for creating the first markup language document further comprises means for creating one or more of tool tip information specifying information to display on the display device upon a first interaction with the graphical image;

click action information specifying an action to perform upon a second interaction with the graphical image;

menu information for specifying a menu to display on the display device upon a third interaction with the graphical image.

34. The apparatus as recited in claim 30 wherein the means for creating the first markup language document further comprises means for creating menu information specifying a menu to display on the display device upon a first interaction with the one or more connections.