Network Map Carousel for Small Display Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management and discovery systems face challenges in visually representing electronic devices on small displays, such as those of mobile devices, making it difficult for users to understand and manage complex home networks, especially with the need for high user interaction and complex configuration settings.
Innovation Solution
A method is provided to display a network map using rotatable carousels on a display screen, where terminal and infrastructure devices are presented in distinct carousels, allowing users to scroll through information associated with each device, improving visibility and navigation, especially on small displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a logical network map is displayed as a tree or graph, then network topology information is comprehensively represented, but it becomes difficult to view on small displays and requires panning and zooming
Solution Approach 1:
The network map is segmented into multiple paginated views, with each page displaying a subset of devices. Users can navigate between pages to view different portions of the network, eliminating the need for panning and zooming while maintaining comprehensive information representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The network map transitions from a two-dimensional tree/graph structure to a multi-dimensional carousel interface with pagination. This adds a temporal/navigation dimension, allowing users to access different parts of the network topology through page navigation rather than spatial zooming.
2Loss of information
If detailed information about each network device is displayed, then complete device parameters are provided, but information overload occurs on small displays
Solution Approach 1:
Device information is extracted and organized into distinct content items within the carousel. Each content item represents a specific device or aspect, separating detailed parameters from the overall network view. Users can access detailed parameters by navigating to specific device content items.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the interface have different information densities. The main carousel provides a high-level overview of network devices, while individual device content items within the carousel provide detailed parameters. This local variation in information quality prevents overall information overload while maintaining access to complete device data.
3Loss of information
If multiple network devices are displayed simultaneously, then comprehensive network overview is achieved, but navigation and understanding become daunting
Solution Approach 1:
The carousel provides dynamic navigation through network devices, allowing users to scroll and rotate through content items in a controlled sequence. This dynamic presentation replaces static comprehensive displays with an interactive exploration model, reducing perceived complexity while maintaining access to all devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The carousel implements periodic presentation of device content items, with each item appearing in sequence as the user scrolls. This periodic disclosure of information allows users to process one device at a time while knowing that other devices are available for viewing, reducing cognitive load compared to displaying all devices simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for displaying a network map retrieves state information for a plurality of network devices in communication with a network. The network devices include infrastructure devices and terminal devices. A topology map is generated based on the retrieved state information. A visual image of the topology map is caused to be displayed on a display screen. The visual image includes a first plurality of distinct content items arranged as a first rotatable carousel presented in a perspective view. The first rotatable carousel is configured to be scrolled in response to user input. At least some of the distinct content items are each associated with one of the terminal devices and present information describing the terminal device with which it is associated. The visual image also includes a second plurality of distinct content items which are each associated with one of the infrastructure devices.