Computer aided network engineering system, apparatus, and method

• US 8,386,593 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netbrain Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Netbrain Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Gao, Lingping, Liao, Guangdong
• Primary Examiner(s): Bilgrami, Asghar
• Application Number:
  US12/505,432
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 710/8, 710/15, 715/761
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/085 Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route

Abstract

A computer aided network engineering (CANE) system provides an integrated network management platform that not only decodes a user'"'"'s network but also provides an interactive environment, based on data-driven maps, to allow users to define and automate network tasks. Among other things, the CANE system allows users to drive automation via self-contained interactive model-driven maps (referred to as Q-maps). Some of the tasks that can be automated include, without limitation: a) network diagramming and documentation; b) performance troubleshooting; and c) design analysis.

Claims

1. A computerized method of modeling a communication network having a plurality of network devices, the method comprising:

in a first computer process, generating an interactive map file specifying a plurality of network elements associated with the plurality of network devices and including configuration information obtained from each of the plurality of network devices via a network interface, the configuration information logically divided into a plurality of data layers;

in a second computer process, mapping each data layer to one of a plurality of display resolutions, wherein the mapping specifies a minimum display resolution for each of the data layers;

in a third computer process, receiving, via a graphical user interface, first user input specifying a first display resolution;

in a fourth computer process, selecting, based on the first display resolution and the mapping, a first set of network elements and a first set of configuration information from the interactive network map file, wherein the first set of configuration information includes only configuration information associated with one or more data layers having a minimum display resolution less than or equal to the first display resolution; and

in a fifth computer process, providing, via the graphical user interface, a first screen including the first set of network elements and the first set of configuration information for display on a user terminal.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining the configuration information from the plurality of network devices by transmitting command line interface (CLI) commands to the network devices.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating the interactive map file comprises:

specifying at least one network element for each network device; and

specifying at least one network element for a physical or logical interconnection between network devices.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein mapping each data layer to one of a plurality of display resolutions comprises:

configuring a display resolution for each data layer.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mapping is included in the interactive map file.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mapping is maintained by the user terminal.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the graphical user interface, second user input specifying a second display resolution;

selecting, based on the second display resolution and the mapping, a second set of network elements and a second set of configuration information from the interactive network map file, wherein the second set of configuration information includes only configuration information associated with one or more data layers having a minimum display resolution less than or equal to the second display resolution; and

providing, via the graphical user interface, a second screen including the second set of network elements and the second set of configuration information for display on the user terminal.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the second user input includes a zoom selection.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the zoom selection includes one of:

manipulation of a tracking device, optionally while a predetermined key is pressed;

dragging of a slide bar control;

selection of a zoom up or down control;

a zoom value selected from a menu of zoom selections; and

a zoom value entered into a zoom field.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the first screen includes a zoom control and wherein the second user input is made using the zoom control.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the mapping; and

selecting, based on the first display resolution and the modified mapping, a second set of network elements and a second set of configuration information from the interactive network map file; and

providing, via the graphical user interface, a second screen including the second set of network elements and the second set of configuration information for display on the user terminal.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the interactive network map file is a layer 3 interactive network map file.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the interactive network map file is a layer 2 interactive network map file.

14. A method of displaying an interactive network map, the method comprising:

receiving an interactive map file specifying a plurality of network elements and including associated configuration information, the configuration information logically divided into a plurality of data layers;

maintaining, in a storage device, a mapping that associates each data layer with one of a plurality of display resolutions, wherein the mapping specifies a minimum display resolution for each of the data layers;

receiving, via a graphical user interface, first user input specifying a first display resolution;

selecting, based on the first display resolution and the mapping, a first set of network elements and a first set of configuration information from the interactive network map file, wherein the first set of configuration information includes only configuration information associated with one or more data layers having a minimum display resolution less than or equal to the first display resolution; and

providing, via the graphical user interface, the first set of network elements and the first set of configuration information for display on a display device.

15. A computer aided network engineering system that displays interactive network maps using network device configuration information obtained from a plurality of network devices, wherein in the network device configuration information is logically divided into a plurality of data layers, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface; and

a network manager configured to present, via the graphical user interface, interactive network maps at user-selectable display resolutions, wherein at each user-selectable display resolution, the network manager presents network device configuration information for selected devices based on a mapping that specifies a minimum display resolution for each of the data layers, wherein the presented network device configuration information includes only configuration information associated with one or more data layers having a minimum display resolution less than or equal to a user-selected display resolution.