Administering a communication network
DCFirst Claim
1. A method comprising:
- displaying, via a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display, a graphical representation of a plurality of nodes available in a network, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a first edge node and a second edge node, wherein the plurality of nodes further comprises a plurality of router nodes located between the first edge node and the second edge node;
displaying, via the GUI, a graphical representation of a plurality of paths available on the network between the first edge node and the second edge node on the network, wherein each of the plurality of paths passes through at least a subset of the plurality of router nodes, wherein the plurality of paths are displayed in a prioritized fashion in accordance with a difference in a number of nodes in each path of the plurality of paths through which traffic between the first edge node and the second edge node will pass if selected;
selecting a path from the plurality of paths in response to a first user input received via the GUI, wherein the selected path passes through two or more router nodes of the plurality of router nodes; and
initiating configuration of the two or more router nodes for communication between the first edge node and the second edge node in response to selecting the path.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for administering a communication network. In one embodiment, a first interface screen depicts nodes within a network. The nodes include a pair of media aggregation managers providing multiplexing/demultiplexing of media traffic associated with multiple application sessions between a pair of communities onto a preallocated reservation protocol session between the media aggregation managers. The media aggregation managers are visually distinguishable from other nodes. A second interface screen depicts potential paths through the network. Each potential path is capable of transferring media packets between the media aggregation managers. Via the second user interface screen, a network administrator is capable of initiating (1) path-level configuration of routers that are part of a selected potential path to cause the routers to route media packets exchanged between the pair of communities over the selected path, and (2) establishment of the preallocated reservation protocol session between the media aggregation managers.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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displaying, via a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display, a graphical representation of a plurality of nodes available in a network, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a first edge node and a second edge node, wherein the plurality of nodes further comprises a plurality of router nodes located between the first edge node and the second edge node; displaying, via the GUI, a graphical representation of a plurality of paths available on the network between the first edge node and the second edge node on the network, wherein each of the plurality of paths passes through at least a subset of the plurality of router nodes, wherein the plurality of paths are displayed in a prioritized fashion in accordance with a difference in a number of nodes in each path of the plurality of paths through which traffic between the first edge node and the second edge node will pass if selected; selecting a path from the plurality of paths in response to a first user input received via the GUI, wherein the selected path passes through two or more router nodes of the plurality of router nodes; and initiating configuration of the two or more router nodes for communication between the first edge node and the second edge node in response to selecting the path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A machine-readable medium that stores processor executable program instructions for configuring a network, the program instructions comprising:
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instructions to display, via a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display, a graphical representation of a plurality of nodes available in a network, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a first edge node and a second edge node, wherein the plurality of nodes further comprises a plurality of router nodes located between the first edge node and the second edge node; instructions to display, via the GUI, a graphical representation of a plurality of paths available on the network between the first edge node and the second edge node on the network, wherein each of the plurality of paths passes through at least a subset of the plurality of router nodes, wherein the plurality of paths are displayed in a prioritized fashion in accordance with a difference in a number of nodes in each path of the plurality of paths through which traffic between the first edge node and the second edge node will pass if selected; instructions to select a path from the plurality of paths displayed on the display in response to a first user input received via the GUI, wherein the selected path passes through two or more router nodes of the plurality of router nodes; and instructions to initiate configuration of the two or more router nodes for communication between the first edge node and the second edge node in response to the selecting the path. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for configuring a network, the system comprising:
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a display; a processor; a machine-readable medium coupled to the processor, wherein the machine-readable medium stores program instructions that are executable by the processor to; display, via a graphical user interface (GUI), a graphical representation of a plurality of nodes available in a network on the display, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a first edge node and a second edge node, wherein the plurality of nodes further comprises a plurality of router nodes located between the first edge node and the second edge node; display, via the GUI, a graphical representation of a plurality of paths available on the network between the first edge node and the second edge node on the network on the display, wherein each of the plurality of paths passes through at least a subset of the plurality of router nodes, wherein the plurality of paths are displayed in a prioritized fashion in accordance with a difference in a number of nodes in each path of the plurality of paths through which traffic between the first edge node and the second edge node will pass if selected; select a path from the plurality of paths in response to a first user input received via the GUI, wherein the selected path passes through two or more router nodes of the plurality of router nodes; and initiate configuration of the two or more router nodes for communication between the first edge node and the second edge node in response to selecting the path. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A system comprising:
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a first one or more hardware components including means for displaying, via a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display, a graphical representation of a plurality of nodes available in a network, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a first edge node and a second edge node, wherein the plurality of nodes further comprises a plurality of router nodes located between the first edge node and the second edge node; the first one or more hardware components further including means for displaying, via the GUI, a graphical representation of a plurality of paths available on the network between the first edge node and the second edge node on the network, wherein each of the plurality of paths passes through at least a subset of the plurality of router nodes, wherein the plurality of paths are displayed in a prioritized fashion in accordance with a difference in a number of nodes in each path of the plurality of paths through which traffic between the first edge node and the second edge node will pass if selected; means for selecting a path from the plurality of paths in response to a first user input received via the GUI, wherein the selected path passes through two or more router nodes of the plurality of router nodes; and means for initiating configuration of the two or more router nodes for communication between the first edge node and the second edge node in response to the selecting the path. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification