Hierarchical Status Icons for Wireless Network Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network management systems face challenges in efficiently monitoring and managing large-scale wireless networks, as they require frequent monitoring of vast amounts of status information to identify potential or actual problems, which is time-consuming and inefficient, especially when trying to view status information across different geographies within a wireless network environment.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface and hierarchical network model that allows network administrators to quickly view the overall status of a wireless network, identify problem areas, and drill down to specific regions, using status icons and a data model that facilitates network data management, configuration, and display tasks, enabling better visibility and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network administrators manually monitor status information in large-scale wireless networks, then comprehensive monitoring coverage is achieved, but time consumption and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless network into hierarchical levels (campus, building, floor, access point) and implements automated monitoring at each level. This segmentation allows comprehensive coverage through systematic traversal of all network elements while reducing manual intervention time by automating the collection and presentation of status information across the entire network hierarchy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network management system as an intermediary between network administrators and the wireless network infrastructure. This intermediary automatically collects status information from access points, processes the data, and presents it through graphical interfaces, eliminating the need for administrators to manually monitor each device while ensuring comprehensive coverage.
2Loss of information
If detailed status information is displayed for all network elements, then complete visibility is achieved, but information complexity and difficulty of identification worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments status information display by hierarchical levels (campus-level summary, building-level details, floor-level specifics, access point-level granularity). This segmentation allows administrators to view only the necessary level of detail for their current task, reducing information complexity while maintaining complete visibility when needed by drilling down through the hierarchy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to the information display structure. Instead of presenting all status information in a single flat view, the system organizes information across multiple hierarchical levels, allowing administrators to navigate from high-level summaries to detailed views as needed, thereby managing information complexity while preserving complete visibility.
3Reliability
If traditional network management interfaces are used, then basic monitoring functionality is provided, but ease of operation and quick identification of problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring interface into hierarchical levels with progressively more detailed controls and information. Campus-level views provide high-level status summaries for quick overview, while building and floor levels provide intermediate detail, and access point levels provide granular control. This segmentation makes the interface easier to operate by allowing administrators to work at the appropriate level of detail without being overwhelmed by unnecessary information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical navigation dimension to the user interface, allowing administrators to drill down from campus to building to floor to access point levels. This dimensional approach to interface design improves ease of operation by providing contextual relevance at each level and enabling quick navigation to problem areas without requiring administrators to sift through all network elements.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to, or facilitating, the graphical display of status information in wireless network management systems. In one implementation, the present invention provides a graphical user interface that allows a network administrator to readily ascertain the overall status of a wireless network, and quickly identify the network element(s) within the network that are associated with any potential problem or condition. In another implementation, the present invention provides a graphical user interface that provides status icons that efficiently convey status information for corresponding access points. In another implementation, the present invention provides a hierarchical network model that facilitates network data management, configuration and display tasks associated with wireless network management systems.