Patent ID: 8659996
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: providing, in a map-like format, via a web-based user interface to a display device of an access device, a graphical representation of a portion of a metropolitan area ethernet optical network, wherein the metropolitan area ethernet optical network includes a plurality of network elements, wherein the map-like format identifies a plurality of regions of a portion of the metropolitan area ethernet optical network, wherein a first region of the plurality of regions corresponds to a provider edge-customer location equipment region and is displayed as a first circular region in the graphical representation, wherein a second region of the plurality of regions corresponds to a provider edge-point of presence region and is displayed as a second circular region that is within the first circular region in the graphical representation, wherein a third region of the plurality of regions corresponds to a core region and is displayed as a third circular region that is within the second circular region in the graphical representation, wherein the first region, the second region, and the third region are concurrently displayed in a first window of the graphical representation, wherein a plurality of selectable elements related to the plurality of network elements are displayed in a second window of the graphical representation, wherein the plurality of selectable elements includes a capacity level element, a traffic utilization element a network element status element, a report generation element, and a threshold levels element; wherein each of the plurality of regions identifies a network element of the plurality of network elements, wherein each of the plurality of regions includes a particular network element that is ethernet over multiprotocol label switching capable, and wherein the particular network element that is ethernet over multiprotocol label switching capable comprises a label edge router coupled to an ethernet over multiprotocol label switching network; in response to an event, receiving, at the access device, a first selection of a first network element of the plurality of network elements, wherein the first network element is associated with a first vendor and is displayed within the first window; communicating from the access device an inquiry to access operational status information obtained from the first network element; in response to the first selection, updating the first window to display a first representation of the first network element, wherein the first representation includes an operational status of the first network element in a particular graphical format, and wherein the particular graphical format is determined based on a comparison of the operational status to an operational threshold; receiving, at the access device, a second selection of a selectable element of the plurality of selectable elements, the selectable element within the second window; communicating from the access device a second inquiry to access information associated with the selectable element from a server; and in response to the second selection, displaying the information associated with the selectable element in a third window of the graphical representation.