Patent ID: 7739605
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for managing a computer network through a graphical representation of a multi-layer network, comprising: displaying the graphical representation of the multi-layer network, wherein the graphical representation comprises at least one panel display for each layer of the multi-layer network; representing a plurality of front end units of the front end layer as a plurality of front end graphical objects in the graphical representation; representing a plurality of back end units of the back end layer as a plurality of back end graphical objects in the graphical representation; displaying information through one or more layer unit information panels, wherein the information comprises status information, network associations, applicable protocols including applicable encryption, data transfer and protocols being executed; selecting a front end graphical object representing a selected front end unit in the graphical representation and selecting a plurality of back end graphical objects representing a plurality of selected back end units in the graphical representation to form a logical connection between the selected front end unit and the plurality of selected back end units; granting, through the graphical representation, the selected front end unit with firewall functionality access to the plurality of selected back end units in response to selecting the front end graphical object and the plurality of back end graphical objects in the graphical representation, wherein at least one back end graphical object of the plurality of back end graphical objects is a simulated network address; arbitrating shared bandwidth access between the plurality of front end units and the plurality of back end units through the graphical representation; interposing, between the selected front end unit and the plurality of selected back end units in the graphical representation, a plurality of second layer units that are configured to correspond to one or more portions of the plurality of selected back end units; and issuing, by the selected front end unit, a data access request directed to the plurality of second layer units, wherein the plurality of second layer units forward the data access request to selected portions of the plurality of selected back end units to perform the data access request upon the selected portions of the plurality of selected back end units.