Group Icons for Node Management GUI Clutter Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional graphical user interface (GUI) tools struggle to effectively manage and monitor large numbers of nodes due to clutter and limited information display, making it difficult for users to identify and view meaningful information about specific nodes, especially as the number of nodes increases.
Innovation Solution
A grouping technique is employed to display group icons in a GUI window, where nodes are grouped based on characteristics such as metrics, types of software applications, or roles, allowing for easier identification of differences and anomalies, with each group icon representing aggregated metrics and membership count, and enabling users to expand for detailed information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If icons representing individual nodes are displayed in a GUI window, then information about each node can be presented, but as the number of nodes increases, clutter occurs and meaningful information cannot be easily identified
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual node icons are merged into a single group icon that represents the entire group. The group icon consolidates information from multiple nodes, displaying aggregated metrics and a count of member nodes, thereby reducing visual clutter while preserving essential information about all nodes in the group.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the display structure. Instead of displaying all nodes at the same level, it creates a two-level hierarchy: group icons at the higher level representing collections of nodes, and individual nodes accessible through expansion at the lower level. This dimensional change allows efficient overview while maintaining access to detailed information.
2Quantity of substance
If small icons are used to fit more nodes in the GUI window, then more nodes can be displayed, but the amount of information associated with each icon is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines information from multiple nodes into a single group icon, aggregating metrics such as CPU utilization, memory usage, and storage capacity across all member nodes. This consolidation maintains comprehensive information representation while using a single icon space, effectively solving the trade-off between quantity displayed and information density.
3Loss of information
If scrolling is provided to display larger icons, then more information can be viewed per icon, but the user cannot view the entire arrangement of icons simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a hierarchical display structure with group icons representing collections of nodes at the primary viewing level. Users can see the complete arrangement of group icons without scrolling, providing an overall view. Detailed information is accessed through expansion of individual group icons, utilizing a second dimension of interaction rather than requiring scrolling through a single flattened view.
4Loss of information
If each node is represented as a separate icon, then individual node information can be displayed, but managing large numbers of nodes becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large set of nodes into smaller, manageable groups based on shared characteristics such as node type, role, or operational parameters. Each segment is represented by a group icon, making the overall system manageable. Users can work with groups as manageable units while still accessing individual node information when needed through expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
Nodes with similar characteristics are merged into groups represented by single icons. This consolidation simplifies management operations by allowing users to manage multiple nodes through a single group interface, reducing the complexity of managing large numbers of individual node icons while preserving access to individual node details.
Data Source
AI summary
Information is displayed regarding an arrangement of nodes coupled by a communications network. The nodes are associated with corresponding characteristics. Plural groups of the nodes are defined based on the characteristics associated with the nodes. Group icons representing the respective groups of nodes are displayed.