Customizable Logical Grouping for Network Entity Management

The patent segments network entities by introducing customizable attribute categories (such as geographic location, server type, IP address space) that divide the complex distributed network into manageable groups. Administrators can filter and view entities based on specific attribute combinations, effectively segmenting the overall management task into smaller, organized subsets that reduce cognitive and operational complexity.

The patent introduces a network management system as an intermediary between administrators and the distributed network entities. This system automatically collects, stores, and processes entity attributes, and provides filtering capabilities that simplify administrator interactions. The intermediary handles the complexity of data aggregation and presentation, allowing administrators to focus on high-level management decisions without being overwhelmed by raw data complexity.

The patent segments the filtering process by organizing attributes into hierarchical categories (such as geographic region, entity type, operational status). Administrators can apply filters in a structured sequence, starting with broad categories and progressively narrowing down to specific entities. This segmented approach to filtering maintains high identification speed while reducing the perceived complexity by presenting filters in an organized, manageable structure.

The patent creates a universal filtering mechanism that handles multiple attribute types through a single, consistent interface. The same filtering logic and user interaction pattern applies regardless of which attributes are selected, making the system easy to use even when combining multiple filters. This multi-functional filtering approach allows administrators to quickly identify entities by various attribute combinations without learning different procedures for each scenario.

The patent extracts only the essential attributes needed for network management from the complete entity data. By identifying and storing key attributes (such as location, type, status, IP address information) while excluding redundant or less critical data, the system maintains information completeness for management purposes while significantly reducing storage requirements. This selective extraction approach ensures administrators have access to all necessary information without the overhead of storing every possible data point.

Instead of storing all possible entity data and then filtering, the patent inverts the approach by storing only the essential attributes needed for management decisions. This inversion reduces storage requirements from the outset while still providing complete information for all filtering and identification needs. The system stores data in a optimized format that prioritizes management-relevant information, effectively reducing storage volume while maintaining information completeness.