3D Event Flow Visualization for Network Traffic Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional visualization tools struggle to effectively depict and analyze large volumes of Internet traffic data, making it difficult for users to discern significant patterns and anomalies, especially in complex networks like the Internet, due to clutter and overwhelming information.
Innovation Solution
A method using software agents to aggregate, correlate, and analyze data, presenting it in a simulated three-dimensional view with interactive tools for users to pan, zoom, and reorient, allowing for intuitive perception of event flows and patterns between source and destination surfaces, with features like event darts and attribute rings to highlight important characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional visualization tools are used to depict large volumes of Internet traffic data, then the data can be displayed, but the information becomes overwhelming and patterns are difficult to discern due to clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the visualization into multiple hierarchical levels (global view, regional views, and detailed views). The system divides the Internet traffic data into manageable portions displayed across multiple panes, allowing users to overview patterns at one level and drill down into specific areas without being overwhelmed by the entire dataset at once. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining data completeness while improving pattern discernibility through structured organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multiple spatial dimensions in the visualization interface, including vertical panes for different regions, horizontal scrolling for time periods, and nested drill-down levels. By adding these dimensional layers, the system transforms a two-dimensional flat display into a multi-dimensional space where users can navigate through data at different granularities simultaneously, resolving the clutter problem while preserving access to the full volume of data.
2Loss of information
If detailed information about each communication event is displayed, then complete data is provided, but the visualization becomes cluttered and unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested visualization structure where global traffic patterns are displayed in outer panes, and users can drill down into nested regional and detailed views within specific panes. Each level of nesting contains a subset of the data relevant to that level, with the ability to expand or collapse nested elements. This nesting approach preserves complete data access while maintaining visual simplicity at each hierarchical level, as users only see detailed information when explicitly drilling down into relevant areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The visualization system is dynamically adjustable, allowing users to interactively expand, collapse, and reconfigure the level of detail displayed in different panes. Users can dynamically modify which regions, time periods, or traffic types are displayed in detail versus summary form. This dynamic control enables the system to adapt the complexity level to user needs, preserving information completeness while managing visualization complexity through user-directed adjustment.
3Measurement precision
If users manually analyze large volumes of traffic data, then thorough analysis is possible, but it requires excessive time and resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated analysis of traffic data, pre-calculating and displaying aggregated statistics, anomaly scores, and pattern indicators in the visualization. Before users begin their analysis, the system has already processed the data to highlight potential issues, sort traffic by relevance, and prepare drill-down paths. This preliminary action reduces the time users need to spend on manual analysis while maintaining detection accuracy, as the heavy computational lifting is done in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces software agents as intermediaries between the raw traffic data and the user analysis. These agents automatically monitor traffic flows, detect anomalies, and generate alerts that are integrated into the visualization. The agents act as a intermediary layer that pre-processes and filters data, presenting only the most relevant patterns to users for final analysis. This intermediary approach maintains high detection accuracy by leveraging automated pattern recognition while significantly reducing the time users need to invest in manual scrutiny.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for visually depicting complex events. Software agents are preferably employed to assist the human operator by collecting, enriching, selecting, aggregating, and analyzing data so that patterns of interest can be visually flagged or otherwise emphasized in the visual display. Events are depicted as an “event flow” from a source surface to a destination surface. Intervening surfaces may also be defined. The point of origin on the source surface reveals some information about the event flow, as does the point of impact on the destination surface. The event flow may be mapped to one or more intervening surfaces in order to visually depict other characteristics of the event. The entire depiction is rendered in a simulated three-dimensional view. The user is preferably given the ability to pan, zoom, and reorient the vantage point from which the user “views” the depiction on the computer display.