Patent ID: 7130278
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of diagramming a network having a plurality of devices, comprising the steps of: a) determining a plurality of hierarchical layers for said network, wherein said devices are arranged in said hierarchical layers; b) determining one or more groups in each hierarchical layer, wherein each group includes at least one device; c) determining a first linked group having a first group from a first hierarchical layer and a first associated group having at least one group from a second hierarchical layer; d) displaying via a display device a first cross-sectional representation corresponding to said first linked group, wherein said first cross-sectional representation has a first inner portion representing said first group and a first outer portion having one or more sections each section corresponding to a group from said first associated group; and e) displaying via said display device a plurality of initial reduced-size cross-sectional representations each located in each section of said first cross-sectional representation, wherein each initial reduced-size cross-sectional representation is similar to said first cross-sectional representation, wherein each group from said first associated group forms one of a plurality of second linked groups each second linked group having said group from said first associated group and a second associated group having at least one group from a third hierarchical layer, wherein each initial reduced-size cross-sectional representation has a reduced-size outer portion and a reduced-size inner portion, wherein each reduced-size inner portion represents said group which is from said first associated group and which is associated with said section in which said reduced-size inner portion is located, and wherein each reduced-size outer portion has one or more reduced-size sections each reduced-size section corresponding to a group from said second associated group of one of said second linked groups.