Multi-Service Network Views for Dependency-Based Issue Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network monitoring solutions struggle with visualizing complex network architectures due to the vast amount of data collected across disparate systems, tools, and layers, making it difficult to connect the chain of events and cause and effect, especially in environments with intricate internal and external dependencies.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of multi-service views for network monitoring visualization, which aggregates data from multiple services, user groups, and application tiers into a single visualization, enabling faster insight and problem isolation by correlating service dependencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is collected across many layers of the network to improve monitoring comprehensiveness, then the amount of data collected increases, but visualization becomes increasingly difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring comprehensivenessVSAvoidvisualization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex network monitoring data into multiple independent service views, each representing a specific service or application tier. Instead of attempting to visualize all network data in a single view, the system divides the monitoring scope into manageable segments that can be independently analyzed and correlated when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of service-level abstraction above the traditional network layer monitoring. By adding this service view dimension, the system can correlate network performance data with application performance data, enabling comprehensive monitoring without the complexity of visualizing all raw network data at once.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If monitoring data is aggregated from multiple services and layers to provide holistic view, then insight quality improves, but time to process and analyze data increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsight qualityVSAvoidanalysis time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary aggregation and correlation of monitoring data at the service level, preparing summarized service views in advance before they are needed for analysis. This preliminary action reduces the amount of raw data that needs to be processed when issues arise, enabling faster analysis while maintaining comprehensive insight quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If traditional network monitoring tools are used to monitor disparate systems, then individual system monitoring is achievable, but connecting the chain of events and cause and effect becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual system monitoring accuracyVSAvoidcause and effect connectivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges previously separate monitoring capabilities into a unified service view framework that correlates data across multiple services and network layers. By combining network performance data, application performance data, and service dependency information into integrated service views, the system enables tracing of cause and effect relationships across the entire stack while maintaining the precision of individual system monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4378137B1Multi-service views for network monitoring visualization
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP4378137B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4378137B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4378137B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method comprises: obtaining a plurality of results for a corresponding plurality of independent tests performed on a corresponding plurality of services in a computer network, the plurality of results comprising one or more determined pathways through the computer network; determining a specified subset selection regarding the plurality of results, the specified subset selection corresponding to at least two independent service-related tests; combining a portion of the plurality of results into an aggregated results subset according to the specified subset selection; generating a graphical representation visualization of the aggregated results subset, the graphical representation visualization illustrating a plurality of specific pathways through the computer network corresponding to the aggregated results subset; and providing, to a graphical user interface, the graphical representation visualization of the aggregated results subset, the graphical user interface providing for further specification of the specified subset selection regarding the plurality of results.