Configurable Network Device User Interface for Task-Specific Groupings
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of monitoring, configuring, and troubleshooting network devices increases significantly as network size grows, due to the need for users to navigate through numerous pre-arranged lists and tabs in user interfaces, making it inefficient to locate and manage network information.
Innovation Solution
A configurable network device user interface that allows users to select and group network information from pre-arranged lists into specific groupings, reducing the need to navigate through multiple tabs and menus by presenting user-selectable information in a organized manner, using computer executable instructions to define and save these groupings for specific tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If pre-arranged lists of network information are spread among multiple drop down menus and tabs, then comprehensive network information is provided, but user navigation complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive network information into task-specific groupings or categories (e.g., monitoring tasks, configuration tasks, troubleshooting tasks). Each grouping contains only the network information and controls relevant to that specific task, allowing users to access comprehensive information through organized, task-focused interfaces rather than navigating through all information at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new organizational dimension by grouping network information according to user tasks rather than traditional hierarchical menu structures. This task-based dimension allows users to access information based on what they want to accomplish, reducing the cognitive load of navigating through multiple tabs and menus while still providing access to comprehensive network information.
2Loss of information
If numerous tabs are present in the user interface, then all network information is accessible, but time to locate information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary organization of network information into task-specific groupings before the user needs to access it. By pre-organizing information according to common user tasks (monitoring, configuration, troubleshooting), the system eliminates the need for users to search through numerous tabs, significantly reducing the time to locate information while maintaining comprehensive accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the relevant network information needed for each specific task from the comprehensive set of all network information. By presenting only the extracted, task-relevant information in each grouping, users can quickly locate and access what they need without being overwhelmed by unrelated information, thus reducing access time while maintaining full information availability.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive network information is organized in traditional menus and tabs, then all network functions are covered, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating task-specific groupings where each grouping has a focused purpose and contains only the network information relevant to that specific task. This localized organization allows users to easily access and operate with the specific information they need for each task, improving ease of operation while maintaining comprehensive coverage through the collection of all task-specific groupings.
Data Source
AI summary
Network devices, systems and methods are described that configure a network device user interface. One method includes receiving input to define user-selectable information from among a list of pre-arranged network information presented on a network device display. The method includes configuring the user-selectable information into a particular grouping and presenting the user-selectable information according to the particular grouping.