Patent ID: 6697087
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method in a computer system for maintaining the currency of a diagram of a dynamic model representing the state of a computer network, the dynamic model being comprised of network elements and being periodically updated to reflect changes in the state of the computer network, composing:generating a diagram portraying at least a subset of the network elements that comprise the model at a first time; analyzing the state of the model at a second time to identify network elements added to the model between the first and second times that are not reflected in the diagram; based upon the analyzing step, displaying a text list of added network elements; receiving instances of user input each selecting an added network element from the text list; in response to each instance of user input selecting an added network element from the text list, displaying one or more options for incorporating into the diagram the selected added network element; and if user input is received selecting a displayed option, incorporating into the diagram the selected added network element in accordance with the selected option.