Multilayer Interactive Interface for Network Plan Visualization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large network planning and design systems generate complex network plans that are difficult to visualize and understand, leading to potential sub-optimal implementations and wastage of computing and networking resources.

Innovation Solution

A controller platform provides multilayer and interactive user interfaces that display multiple potential network plans, including graphical representations of IP and optical layers, allowing for clear understanding and selection of optimized plans, thereby preventing sub-optimal implementations and conserving resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If network planning and design systems generate comprehensive network plans, then the completeness and detail of network design is improved, but the complexity of visualization and understanding deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork plan completenessVSAvoidvisualization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network plan into multiple hierarchical layers (e.g., topological layer, logical layer, physical layer). Each layer can be viewed independently, allowing users to focus on specific aspects without being overwhelmed by the entire network complexity. This segmentation enables comprehensive network design while maintaining manageable visualization through layer-by-layer exploration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces multiple viewing dimensions including different layers, perspectives, and levels of abstraction. Users can navigate through these dimensions to examine network plans from various angles, transforming a single complex view into multiple manageable perspectives. This dimensional approach allows complete network information to be presented without overwhelming visual complexity.

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

2Loss of information

If network plans are displayed in detail, then the information completeness is improved, but the ease of understanding and selection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidunderstanding ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic visualization that adapts to user interactions. The system can dynamically adjust the level of detail displayed, switch between different views, and highlight relevant information based on user selections. This dynamic approach maintains information completeness while improving understanding ease by presenting information in context-relevant formats.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing detailed information only where relevant to the current view or user interest. Different parts of the network plan can display different levels of detail simultaneously, with focused areas showing comprehensive information and other areas showing summarized views. This selective detail presentation maintains overall information completeness while enhancing local understandability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If multiple network plans are analyzed, then the optimization quality is improved, but the time and computational resources required deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptimization qualityVSAvoidanalysis time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analysis and pre-processing of network plans before full evaluation. Key features and metrics are pre-computed and stored, allowing rapid comparison of multiple plans without repeating entire analysis processes. This preliminary action maintains high optimization quality by ensuring thorough analysis while reducing overall time requirements through efficient reuse of intermediate results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3716508B1Multilayer and interactive user interfaces for displaying features of an optimized network plan
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC
  • EP3716508B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3716508B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3716508B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A device receives network data associated with a network that includes network devices interconnected by links at an Internet protocol (IP) layer and an optical layer of the network. The device receives constraints associated with determining a network plan for the network, and determines multiple potential network plans for the network based on the constraints and the network data. The device generates a multilayer and interactive user interface associated with the multiple potential network plans, and provides the multilayer and interactive user interface to a client device. The device receives, from the client device, information indicating an interaction with the multilayer and interactive user interface, and modifies the multilayer and interactive user interface, based on the information indicating the interaction, to generate a modified multilayer and interactive user interface. The device provides, to the client device, the modified multilayer and interactive user interface.