Hierarchical Topological Navigation for Network Traffic Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional network monitoring solutions fail to effectively navigate and display network traffic data across nodes that simultaneously act as both clients and servers, leading to cluttered displays and difficulty in pinpointing relevant information in large networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for topological navigation of hierarchical data groups, utilizing an extractor and topology tool to retrieve and display relevant network traffic information, filtering out redundant data and allowing users to drill down for detailed connection information, organized by logical groupings and containers within a hierarchical structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network monitoring solutions group network traffic according to client or server roles, then useful metrics such as total throughput can be aggregated, but the display becomes cluttered and harder to navigate in large networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network traffic data into hierarchical levels (e.g., data center level, host level) and allows users to navigate through these segments using a tree view interface. This segmentation enables aggregated metrics at higher levels while maintaining access to detailed individual node information at lower levels, resolving the contradiction between aggregation efficiency and display usability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to network traffic visualization, organizing data from coarse-grained aggregations at the top level to fine-grained individual connections at lower levels. This dimensional structure allows users to navigate through multiple levels of detail, making the system both efficient for aggregation and easy to operate for detailed analysis.
2Measurement precision
If individual node level information is displayed in large networks, then detailed connection information is available, but the display area is cluttered and users cannot pinpoint relevant information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display into hierarchical levels, allowing users to view aggregated data at higher levels and drill down to detailed individual node information only when necessary. This segmentation preserves measurement precision for detailed connections while optimizing display area utilization by showing only relevant details at the appropriate level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where detailed individual node information is contained within hierarchical groups. Users can navigate from coarse-grained views to fine-grained details through nested levels, maintaining both detailed measurement precision and efficient display area utilization by nesting information only when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If network nodes are monitored with multiple roles (client and server), then comprehensive network traffic data is captured, but the complexity of navigation and data organization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal hierarchical monitoring framework that handles multiple node roles (client, server, both) through a single consistent structure. The same tree view interface and navigation mechanisms work for all node types, providing adaptability for multi-role monitoring while reducing organizational complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments network traffic by hierarchical levels, separating complex multi-role node data into organized layers. This segmentation allows comprehensive monitoring of multi-role nodes while reducing navigation complexity by structuring data in a predictable hierarchical manner that can be systematically explored.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method to visually navigate hierarchical data groups are provided. If a user wishes to graphically view network traffic for a particular business group of network nodes, a network topology navigation tool may be provided to display to the user such information that is relevant to the selected business group and the corresponding hierarchy level. The user may also be permitted to access more detailed connection information through appropriate drill-downs.