Ordered List User Interface for Network Security Rule Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional network security device configuration user interfaces lack context when adding or editing rules, leading to potential misplacement and errors due to the separation of rule order editing from the overall security policy performance.
Innovation Solution
A user interface that allows administrators to add or edit rules using a drag-and-drop mechanism within the same screen, providing a details panel that overlays the rule list and includes a pointer to indicate the new or edited rule's position, thereby maintaining context and reducing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the administrator uses traditional policy table user interface to add or edit rules, then the rule can be added or edited, but the context of the overall security policy performance is lost and the administrator must pivot between multiple windows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rule editing interface with the policy list view into a single integrated display. The policy list shows all rules with their order positions, and when a user selects a rule to edit, the editing interface is displayed within the same window rather than requiring navigation to a separate page. This merging eliminates the need to pivot between windows and maintains continuous visibility of the policy context.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the interface by organizing content into different levels: the main policy list view and the nested rule editing view. The editing interface is presented as a panel or section within the main window, creating a multi-layered display structure that allows simultaneous access to both the overall policy context and the specific rule being edited.
2Ease of operation
If the rule order is edited in a stand-alone page or panel, then the rule details can be edited, but the ordering context and impact on other rules is not visible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback mechanisms that immediately display how rule ordering changes affect the overall policy structure. When a user drags a rule to a new position or modifies the order, the policy list updates dynamically to show the new sequence and indicates which rules are affected. This immediate feedback allows the user to verify the correctness of ordering changes before finalizing them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows users to preview the effects of ordering changes before they are finalized. The interface displays hypothetical or temporary ordering arrangements, showing how rules will be repositioned and which rules will be affected, giving the user an opportunity to review and adjust the ordering before committing to the changes.
3Measurement precision
If the administrator must cross check between policy table and edit rule page, then rule order can be verified, but time is lost and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the policy list display and rule editing functionality into a single integrated interface, the patent eliminates the need for cross-checking between separate windows. The policy list remains visible in the background while the editing panel is displayed in the foreground, allowing simultaneous verification of rule order and editing of rule details without switching contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous visibility of the policy list throughout the editing process, allowing the administrator to continuously monitor rule positions and ordering without interruption. The interface does not require closing or navigating away from the policy list to perform editing operations, enabling an unbroken workflow that maintains both verification and editing capabilities simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving input data from at least one input device, preparing a user interface including a list of ordered items, a details panel about a first ordered item, and a pointer pointing from the details panel to a first position in the list, interpreting the input data to include moving the first pointer to pointing at a second position in the list, updating the user interface, the updated user interface including the first pointer pointing from the details panel to the second position, interpreting the input data to include confirming placement of the first ordered item for placement in the list according to the second position, and updating the user interface to show the first ordered item placed in the list according to the second position.