Patent ID: 7844419
Filing Date: 2010-11-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting potential topology problems in a representation of a network that includes a plurality of elements, comprising: receiving tolerance criteria that specify a proximity between certain types of elements, the tolerance criteria selected to identify potential topology problems; searching for potential topology problems by establishing a search set that initially contains all the plurality of elements, automatically removing differing elements from the search set based on the elements being within a certain proximity from other elements, and searching only the elements of the search set with the elements removed for elements of the search set with the elements removed whose proximity to any other elements of all the plurality of elements satisfies the tolerance criteria, the searching of only the search set with the elements removed to substantially prevent redundant identification of potential topology problems; based on the searching for potential topology problems, generating a list of potential topology problems, wherein a potential topology problem is an identified potential topological inaccuracy in the representation of the network that would cause the representation of the network to not accurately reflect behavior of a corresponding real system; displaying the list of potential topology problems in a user interface of a computing device; permitting selection by a user of a particular potential topology problem from the list; and providing a button in the user interface, that when engaged by the user, automatically navigates to an area of the representation of the network associated with the selected particular potential topology problem to permit visual inspection of the area.