Geographic management system

• US 7,469,247 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2004
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITHERS, MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US10/838,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20050004945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10
• 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 time series viewer encoded on a computer-readable medium:

the time series viewer executable by a processor and configured to generate video comprising a series of time sequenced maps within a selectable time period for display, each time sequenced map comprising;

at least one network element in relation to a geographic element; and

at least one performance element corresponding to the at least one network element;

wherein, a first one of the time sequenced maps comprises the performance element having a first performance characteristic for a performance attribute for a first point in time; and

wherein, a second one of the time sequenced maps comprises the performance element having a second performance characteristic for the performance attribute for a second point in time.

2. The time series viewer of claim 1 wherein each time sequenced map further comprises a plurality of network elements and a plurality of performance elements, each corresponding to at least one of the plurality of network elements, each of the plurality of performance elements having a corresponding performance characteristic for a corresponding performance attribute for a specific point in time.

3. The time series viewer of claim 2 wherein:

for the first one of the time sequenced maps, at least one of the plurality of performance elements has a first corresponding performance characteristic for a first corresponding performance attribute for the first point in time; and

for the second one of the time sequenced maps, the at least one of the plurality of performance elements has a second corresponding performance characteristic for the first corresponding performance attribute for the second point in time.

4. The time series viewer of claim 1 wherein the at least one performance element comprises at least one sectored performance element having a first sectored performance characteristic for a sectored performance attribute for the first point in time and a second sectored performance characteristic for the sectored performance attribute at the second point in time.

5. A time series viewer encoded on a computer-readable medium, the time series viewer operable using a processor, wherein:

the time series viewer is configured to generate video comprising a series of time sequenced maps for display to a user interface to depict a performance of a network over a selectable time period, each time sequenced map comprising;

a plurality of geographic elements;

a plurality of network elements in relation to the geographic elements; and

a plurality of performance elements, each corresponding to at least one network element and each having a performance characteristic for a corresponding performance attribute;

each time sequenced map corresponds to a specific point in time within the selectable time period; and

each performance characteristic of each performance element generated for the time sequenced map at the specific point in time corresponds to the corresponding performance attribute at the specific point in time.

6. The time series viewer of claim 5 wherein at least one performance element comprises a sectored performance element having a sectored performance characteristic for a corresponding sectored performance attribute.

7. The time series viewer of claim 5 wherein the series of time sequenced maps are generated over the selectable period of time to depict a change in the performance characteristics for the plurality of performance elements for the network.

8. The time series viewer of claim 5 wherein a first performance characteristic is generated for a specific performance element for a first time sequenced map and a second performance characteristic is generated for the specific performance element for a second time sequenced map.

9. The time series viewer of claim 5 wherein a first performance element is generated for a specific network element for a first time sequenced map and a second performance element is generated for the specific network element for a second time sequenced map.

10. The time series viewer of claim 5 wherein a first performance element is generated for a first time sequenced map and a second performance element is generated for a second time sequenced map.

11. The time series viewer of claim 5 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 time series viewer of claim 5 wherein a plurality of the plurality of performance elements correspond to at least one network element, each identifying a specific performance characteristic for a specific performance attribute associated with the at least one network element.

13. The time series viewer of claim 5 further comprising at least one control selected from a group consisting of a speed control slider configured to enable increasing and decreasing a speed at which the time sequenced maps are generated, a pause configured to enable pausing generation of the time sequenced maps, a stop configured to enable stopping generation of the time sequenced maps, a play configured to enable starting generation of the time sequenced maps, a forward configured to enable generation of the time sequenced maps at a forward point in time, a reverse configured to enable generation of the time sequenced maps at a reversed point in time, and another slider configured to enable generation of the time sequenced maps at a selected point in time.

14. The time series viewer of claim 5 further comprising a search criteria entry configured to receive a search criteria, wherein the time series viewer is configured to retrieve network data and geospatial data within a range of the search criteria and to generate each time sequenced map to depict the network data and the geospatial data in the range.

15. A method for viewing data over a time period using a processor comprising:

generating video comprising a series of time sequenced maps to depict a performance of a network over a selectable time period, each time sequenced map comprising;

a plurality of geographic elements;

a plurality of network elements in relation to the geographic elements; and

a plurality of performance elements, each corresponding to at least one network element and each having a performance characteristic for a corresponding performance attribute;

wherein each time sequenced map corresponds to a specific point in time within the selectable time period; and

wherein each performance characteristic of each performance element generated for the time sequenced map at the specific point in time corresponds to the corresponding performance attribute at the specific point in time.

16. The time series viewer of claim 15 further comprising a zoom selector configured to zoom into and out of the range.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein generating the plurality of performance elements each having a performance characteristic for a corresponding performance attribute comprises generating at least one sectored performance element having a sectored performance characteristic for a corresponding sectored performance attribute.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein generating the series of time sequenced maps further comprises depicting a change in the performance characteristics for the plurality of performance elements for the network.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating a first performance characteristic for a specific performance element for a first time sequenced map and generating a second performance characteristic for the specific performance element for a second time sequenced map.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating a first performance element for a specific network element for a first time sequenced map and generating a second performance element for the specific network element for a second time sequenced map.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating a first performance element for a first time sequenced map and generating a second performance element for a second time sequenced map.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating the series of time sequenced maps to depict the performance of 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 15 further comprising generating a plurality of the plurality of performance elements to correspond to at least one of the network elements, each identifying a specific performance characteristic for a specific performance attribute associated with the at least one of the network elements.

24. The method of claim 15 further comprising enabling at least one control selected from a group consisting of a speed control slider configured to enable increasing and decreasing a speed at which the time sequenced maps are generated, a pause configured to enable pausing generation of the time sequenced maps, a stop configured to enable stopping generation of the time sequenced maps, a play configured to enable starting generation of the time sequenced maps, a forward configured to enable generation of the time sequenced maps at a forward point in time, a reverse configured to enable generation of the time sequenced maps at a reversed point in time, and another slider configured to enable generation of the time sequenced maps at a selected point in time.

25. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

enabling a search criteria entry configured to receive a search criteria;

retrieving network data and geospatial data within a range of the search criteria; and

generating each time sequenced map to depict the network data and the geospatial data in the range.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising enabling a zoom selector configured to zoom into and out of the range.

27. A viewer operable using a at least one processor and configured to generate data for a period of time comprising:

a first component configured to manage data for a system; and

a second component configured to materialize a graphical interface and to generate for display for the graphical interface video comprising a series of time sequenced images for corresponding sequential points in time within a selectable period of time, each time sequenced image comprising at least one display element representative of the data for the system and at least one performance element for the display element, the at least one performance element having a performance characteristic for a performance attribute;

wherein the performance characteristic for each time sequenced image depicts a level of the performance attribute at the corresponding sequential point in time.

28. The viewer of claim 27 wherein the at least one performance element comprises at least one sectored performance element having a sectored performance characteristic for a corresponding sectored performance attribute.

29. The viewer of claim 27 wherein a first performance characteristic is generated for a specific performance element for a first time sequenced image and a second performance characteristic is generated for the specific performance element for a second time sequenced image.

30. The viewer of claim 27 wherein the system comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a communication system, an oil system, a gas system, a store system, a packaging system, and another business system.

31. The viewer of claim 27 further comprising at least one control selected from a group consisting of a speed control slider configured to enable increasing and decreasing a speed at which the time sequenced images are generated, a pause configured to enable pausing generation of the time sequenced images, a stop configured to enable stopping generation of the time sequenced images, a play configured to enable starting generation of the time sequenced images, a forward configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a forward point in time, a reverse configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a reversed point in time, and a slider configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a selected point in time.

32. A method for viewing data over a time period using a processor comprising:

materializing a graphical interface; and

sequentially generating for display for the graphical interface a series of time sequenced images as video, the series of time sequenced images corresponding to sequential points in time within a selectable period of time, each time sequenced image comprising at least one display element representative of data for a system and at least one performance element for the display element, the performance element having a performance characteristic for a performance attribute;

wherein the performance characteristic for each time sequenced image depicts a level of the performance attribute at the corresponding sequential point in time.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein generating the at least one performance element having the performance characteristic for the performance attribute comprises generating at least one sectored performance element having a sectored performance characteristic for a sectored performance attribute.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising generating a first performance characteristic for a specific performance element for a first time sequenced image and generating a second performance characteristic for the specific performance element for a second time sequenced image.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein generating the series of time sequenced images, each time sequenced image comprising the at least one display element representative of data for the system comprises generating the at least one display element representative of data for at least one member of a group consisting of a communication system, an oil system, a gas system, a store system, a packaging system, and another business system.

36. The method of claim 32 further comprising enabling at least one control selected from a group consisting of a speed control slider configured to enable increasing and decreasing a speed at which the time sequenced images are generated, a pause configured to enable pausing generation of the time sequenced images, a stop configured to enable stopping generation of the time sequenced images, a play configured to enable starting generation of the time sequenced images, a forward configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a forward point in time, a reverse configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a reversed point in time, and a slider configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a selected point in time.

37. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

enabling a search criteria entry configured to receive a search criteria;

retrieving system data and geospatial data within a range of the search criteria; and

generating each time sequenced image to depict the system data and the geospatial data in the range.

38. A system for managing a network using a processor comprising:

a database component configured to manage network data;

a geocoding component configured to receive a search criteria, to geocode the search criteria, and to obtain from the database component network data within a range of the geocode; and

a communication component configured to receive the search criteria, to communicate search criteria data with the geocoding component, to receive the network data from the geocoding component, and to generate the network data for display to depict video comprising a series of time sequenced images, each time sequenced image corresponding to a point in time and comprising at least one network element and at least one performance element corresponding to the at least one network element, each time sequenced image depicting a performance characteristic for the at least one performance element, the performance characteristic representative of a level of a performance attribute associated with the network element at the corresponding point in time.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the at least one performance element comprises at least one sectored performance element having a sectored performance characteristic for a corresponding sectored performance attribute.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein a first performance characteristic is generated for a specific performance element for a first time sequenced image and a second performance characteristic is generated for the specific performance element for a second time sequenced image.

41. The system of claim 38 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.

42. The system of claim 38 further comprising at least one control selected from a group consisting of a speed control slider configured to enable increasing and decreasing a speed at which the time sequenced images are generated, a pause configured to enable pausing generation of the time sequenced images, a stop configured to enable stopping generation of the time sequenced images, a play configured to enable starting generation of the time sequenced images, a forward configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a forward point in time, a reverse configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a reversed point in time, and another slider configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a selected point in time.

43. A method for viewing data over a time period using a processor comprising:

receiving a search criteria;

determining a geocode for the search criteria;

obtaining network data within a range of the geocode for a plurality of points in time within a selectable period of time;

generating the network data for display as video to depict a series of time sequenced images, each time sequenced image corresponding to a point in time and comprising at least one network element and at least one performance element corresponding to the at least one network element, each time sequenced image depicting a performance characteristic for the at least one performance element, the performance characteristic representative of a level of a performance attribute associated with the network element at the corresponding point in time.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein generating the at least one performance element comprises generating at least one sectored performance element having a sectored performance characteristic for a corresponding sectored performance attribute.

45. The method of claim 43 further comprising generating a first performance characteristic for a specific performance element for a first time sequenced image and generating a second performance characteristic for the specific performance element for a second time sequenced image.

46. The method of claim 43 further generating the network data for display to depict the series of time sequenced images 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.

47. The method of claim 43 further comprising enabling at least one control selected from a group consisting of a speed control slider configured to enable increasing and decreasing a speed at which the time sequenced images are generated, a pause configured to enable pausing generation of the time sequenced images, a stop configured to enable stopping generation of the time sequenced images, a play configured to enable starting generation of the time sequenced images, a forward configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a forward point in time, a reverse configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a reversed point in time, and a slider configured to enable generation of the time sequenced images at a selected point in time.

48. A system for viewing data over a time period, the system comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising a time series viewer executable by a processor to generate video comprising a series of time sequenced images for display, each time sequenced image corresponding to a point in time within the time period, each time sequenced image comprising;

at least one display element representative of business data; and

at least one performance element corresponding to the at least one display element and having a performance characteristic for a performance attribute;

wherein the performance characteristic of the at least one performance element is generated for a specific time sequenced image for a specific point in time and corresponds to a level of the performance attribute at the specific point in time.

49. A method for viewing data over a time period using a processor comprising:

generating a first image for video, the first image sequenced for a first point in time within a selected time period, the first image comprising;

at least one display element representative of business data; and

at least one performance element corresponding to the at least one display element and having a first performance characteristic for a performance attribute, the first performance characteristic corresponding to the performance attribute at the first point in time; and

generating a second image for the video, the second image sequenced for a second point in time within the selected time period, the second image comprising;

the at least one display element; and

the at least one performance element corresponding to the at least one display element and having a second performance characteristic for the performance attribute, the second performance characteristic corresponding to the performance attribute at the second point in time.

50. A time series viewer:

the time series viewer operable using a processor and configured to generate video for display, the video comprising a plurality of time sequenced maps within a selectable time period, each time sequenced map comprising;

at least one geographic element;

at least one network element in relation to the geographic element; and

at least one performance element corresponding to the at least one network element;

wherein, a first one of the time sequenced maps comprises the performance element having a first performance characteristic for a performance attribute for a first point in time; and

wherein, a second one of the time sequenced maps comprises the performance element having a second performance characteristic for the performance attribute for a second point in time.

51. A time series viewer operable using a processor, wherein:

the time series viewer is configured to generate video comprising a plurality of time sequenced maps for display to a user interface to depict a performance of a network over a selectable time period, each time sequenced map comprising;

a plurality of geographic elements;

a plurality of network elements in relation to the geographic elements; and

a plurality of performance elements, each corresponding to at least one network element and each having a performance characteristic for a corresponding performance attribute;

each time sequenced map corresponds to a specific point in time within the selectable time period; and

each performance characteristic of each performance element generated for the time sequenced map at the specific point in time corresponds to the corresponding performance attribute at the specific point in time.