Geographic management system

• US 20050004944A1
• Filed: 05/03/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CeleritasWorks, LLC (RGS Senior Management Group, LC)
• Original Assignee: CeleritasWorks, LLC (RGS Senior Management Group, LC)
• Inventors: Evans, Scott A., Cossins, Robert N.
• Granted Patent: US 10,187,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A geographic management system (GMS) comprises a web server, a database server, and a map server. A user browser connected to the GMS transmits a search criteria to the web server. The web server transmits the search criteria to the map server. The map server geocodes the search criteria, obtains network data and geospatial data from the database server corresponding to the geocode, and transmits the geocode, the network data, and the geospatial data to the web server. The web server transmits the geocode, the network data, and the geospatial data to the user browser. The network data and the geospatial data are displayed on the user browser as a map displaying network elements of a telecommunication network relative to other network elements, geographic elements, and customers. One or more of the network elements have associated performance elements or sectored performance elements that display performance characteristics or sectored performance characteristics that signify performance attributes associated with the network element. The user browser can navigate through other network data and geospatial data by selecting network elements on the map or by selecting navigation tools or navigation tabs displayed in conjunction with the map.

Claims

1. A graph viewer for depicting attributes for a network, the graph viewer operable using a processor and configured for:

enabling selection of a data granularity and a time period for which the attributes will be generated for display;

enabling selection of at least one performance element corresponding to a network element for the network, the at least one performance element having at least a first performance attribute and a second performance attribute;

generating first attribute data corresponding to first performance levels of the first performance attribute and second attribute data corresponding to second performance levels of the second performance attribute;

generating first graphical data corresponding to the first attribute data for the selected data granularity and time period to a graph, the first graphical data having a first scale identifying a first range for the first attribute data; and

generating second graphical data corresponding to the second attribute data for the selected data granularity and time period to the graph, the second graphical data having a second scale identifying a second range for the second attribute data.

2. The graph viewer of claim 1 wherein the at least one performance element comprises at least one sectored performance element having at least one sectored performance characteristic.

3. The graph viewer of claim 1 wherein the network comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a communication network, an oil network, a gas network, a store network, a packaging network, and another business network.

4. The graph viewer of claim 1 wherein the graph viewer further is configured for:

enabling selection and movement of the graph in a first direction and a second direction to change the time period; and

regenerating the first graphical data and the second graphical data to correspond to a changed time period;

wherein moving the graph in the first direction causes the time period to move backward and moving the graph in the second direction causes the time period to move forward.

5. The graph viewer of claim 4 wherein the changed time period is proportional to an amount of the movement.

6. The graph viewer of claim 1 further comprising a report tool wherein the first attribute data and the second attribute data are generated to the report tool in tabular form.

7. The graph viewer of claim 1 further comprising a granularity selector configured to enable changing the data granularity.

8. The graph viewer of claim 1 wherein the first graphical data and the second graphical data are generated for at least one graph type selected from a group consisting of a line graph, a bar graph, and a three-dimensional graph.

9. A viewer for generating graphical data for a network for viewing, the viewer using a processor and configured for:

enabling selection of a starting time and a stopping time for displaying the graphical data;

enabling selection of at least one attribute for at least one network element;

selecting attribute data corresponding to at least one performance level of the at least one network element for a selected starting time and a selected stopping time;

generating graphical data corresponding to the attribute data for display, the graphical data having at least one scale identifying a range for the attribute data;

enabling selection of displayed graphical data;

enabling movement of the displayed graphical data in a first direction and a second direction to change the starting time represented by the graphical data; and

regenerating the graphical data for display to correspond to a changed starting time;

wherein moving the graphical data in the first direction causes the starting time to move backward and moving the graphical data in the second direction causes the starting time period to move forward.

10. The graph viewer of claim 9 wherein the at least one performance element comprises at least one sectored performance element having at least one sectored performance characteristic.

11. The graph viewer of claim 9 wherein the network comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a communication network, an oil network, a gas network, a store network, a packaging network, and another business network.

12. The graph viewer of claim 9 wherein the changed time period is proportional to an amount of the movement.

13. The graph viewer of claim 9 further comprising a report tool wherein the first attribute data and the second attribute data are generated to the report tool in tabular form.

14. The graph viewer of claim 9 wherein the first graphical data and the second graphical data are generated for at least one graph type selected from a group consisting of a line graph, a bar graph, and a three-dimensional graph.

15. A viewer for generating graphical data for a network for viewing, the viewer using a processor and configured for:

enabling selection of a data granularity for which the graphical data will be generated for display;

enabling selection of a starting time and a stopping time for displaying the graphical data;

enabling selection of at least one attribute for at least one network element;

selecting attribute data corresponding to at least one performance level of the at least one network element for a selected data granularity, a selected starting time, and a selected stopping time;

generating graphical data corresponding to the attribute data for display, the graphical data having at least one scale identifying a range for the attribute data;

enabling selection of at least one time icon to change the data granularity by a time unit; and

regenerating the graphical data to correspond to the changed time unit.

16. The graph viewer of claim 15 wherein the at least one performance element comprises at least one sectored performance element having at least one sectored performance characteristic.

17. The graph viewer of claim 15 wherein the network comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a communication network, an oil network, a gas network, a store network, a packaging network, and another business network.

18. The graph viewer of claim 15 further comprising a report tool wherein the first attribute data and the second attribute data are generated to the report tool in tabular

19. The graph viewer of claim 15 wherein the first graphical data and the second graphical data are generated for at least one graph type selected from a group consisting of a line graph, a bar graph, and a three-dimensional graph.

20. A method for generating graphical data for a network for viewing, the method using a processor and comprising:

enabling selection of a data granularity and a time period for which the attributes will be generated for display;

enabling selection of at least one performance element corresponding to a network element for the network, the at least one performance element having at least a first performance attribute and a second performance attribute;

generating first attribute data corresponding to first performance levels of the first performance attribute and second attribute data corresponding to second performance levels of the second performance attribute;

generating first graphical data corresponding to the first attribute data for the selected data granularity and time period to a graph, the first graphical data having a first scale identifying a first range for the first attribute data; and

generating second graphical data corresponding to the second attribute data for the selected data granularity and time period to the graph, the second graphical data having a second scale identifying a second range for the second attribute data.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the enabling selection of the at least one performance element step comprises enabling selection of at least one sectored performance element having at least one sectored performance characteristic.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising enabling selection of the at least one performance element corresponding to the network element for the network wherein the network comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a communication network, an oil network, a gas network, a store network, a packaging network, and another business network.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

enabling selection and movement of the graph in a first direction and a second direction to change the time period; and

regenerating the first graphical data and the second graphical data to correspond to a changed time period;

wherein moving the graph in the first direction causes the time period to move backward and moving the graph in the second direction causes the time period to move forward.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein changing the time period is proportional to an amount of the movement.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising generating the first attribute data and the second attribute data to a report tool in tabular form.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising enabling a granularity selector configured to enable changing the data granularity.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising generating the first graphical data and the second graphical data for at least one graph type selected from a group consisting of a line graph, a bar graph, and a three-dimensional graph.

28. A method for generating graphical data for a network for viewing, the method using a processor and comprising:

enabling selection of a starting time and a stopping time for displaying the graphical data;

enabling selection of at least one attribute for at least one network element;

selecting attribute data corresponding to at least one performance level of the at least one network element for a selected starting time and a selected stopping time;

generating graphical data corresponding to the attribute data for display, the graphical data having at least one scale identifying a range for the attribute data;

enabling selection of displayed graphical data;

enabling movement of the displayed graphical data in a first direction and a second direction to change the starting time represented by the graphical data; and

regenerating the graphical data for display to correspond to a changed starting time;

wherein moving the graphical data in the first direction causes the starting time to move backward and moving the graphical data in the second direction causes the starting time period to move forward.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the enabling selection of the at least one performance element step comprises enabling selection of at least one sectored performance element having at least one sectored performance characteristic.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising enabling selection of the at least one performance element corresponding to the network element for the network wherein the network comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a communication network, an oil network, a gas network, a store network, a packaging network, and another business network.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein changing the time period is proportional to an amount of the movement.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising generating the first attribute data and the second attribute data to a report tool in tabular form.

33. The method of claim 28 further comprising generating the first graphical data and the second graphical data for at least one graph type selected from a group consisting of a line graph, a bar graph, and a three-dimensional graph.

34. A method for generating graphical data for a network for viewing, the method using a processor and comprising:

enabling selection of a data granularity for which the graphical data will be generated for display;

enabling selection of a starting time and a stopping time for displaying the graphical data;

enabling selection of at least one attribute for at least one network element;

selecting attribute data corresponding to at least one performance level of the at least one network element for a selected data granularity, a selected starting time, and a selected stopping time;

generating graphical data corresponding to the attribute data for display, the graphical data having at least one scale identifying a range for the attribute data;

enabling selection of at least one time icon to change the data granularity by a time unit; and

regenerating the graphical data to correspond to the changed time unit.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the enabling selection of the at least one performance element step comprises enabling selection of at least one sectored performance element having at least one sectored performance characteristic.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising enabling selection of the at least one performance element corresponding to the network element for the network wherein the network comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a communication network, an oil network, a gas network, a store network, a packaging network, and another business network.

37. The method of claim 34 further comprising generating the first attribute data and the second attribute data to a report tool in tabular form.

38. The method of claim 34 further comprising generating the first graphical data and the second graphical data for at least one graph type selected from a group consisting of a line graph, a bar graph, and a three-dimensional graph.