Method of providing on-screen notification of non-visible alarmed network elements

A method for providing on-screen notification of alarmed elements of a managed network system, wherein an alarm icon continuously displayed on a video display screen indicates when at least one network element not visible on the video display screen is alarmed. The video screen includes a view pane which displays the map containing icon representations of elements of the network system, the map being moveable within the view pane to permit all regions of the map to be selectively viewed, wherein at least one of the network element icons is not visible in the view pane at any given time.

FIELD OF INVENTION
 This invention relates to network element management systems, and
 particularly to an icon for a network management system which provides
 on-screen notification of alarmed network elements that are not visible to
 a network operator.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 Communications networks are used by businesses, governments and
 universities for many different purposes, including communications and
 data processing. Such networks often employ computer-based network
 management systems to access and obtain information from and about various
 elements of the network, such as its equipment and facilities. Network
 operators use this information to perform the requisite tasks needed to
 keep the network operating properly.
 Network information obtained by conventional network management systems is
 typically presented to a network operator on a video display screen in the
 form of a map of icons representing the different elements of a network.
 The operator can access information pertaining to a particular network
 element by clicking on the appropriate icon. When the operational state of
 a monitored network element comes into question, the network element
 generates an alarm represented by the corresponding icon which alerts the
 operator to the problem so that it can be cleared.
 Such conventional alarms suffer from a significant drawback. Specifically,
 they may not be continuously visible to network operator while other
 network management tasks are in progress because the map-like
 representations of network elements are often larger than the viewable
 area of the video display screen. Consequently, certain regions of the map
 will be outside the viewing area of the video display screen at any given
 time. Thus, when a network operator wants to view a region of the map
 outside the immediate viewing area of the video display screen, the
 operator must move the map around to view that region. If an alarmed icon
 is generated in a region of the map outside the immediate viewing area of
 the video display screen, it will not be noticed by the user. This in
 turn, can unnecessarily delay clearing a network problem.
 SUMMARY
 A method for providing on-screen notification of alarmed elements of a
 managed network system comprising a video display screen for displaying a
 map containing icon representations of elements of the network system,
 wherein the map is moveable on the video display screen to permit all
 regions of the map to be selectively viewed, and wherein an alarm icon
 continuously displayed on the video display screen indicates when at least
 one network element not visible on the video display screen is alarmed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 FIG. 1 shows a video display screen 10 generated by a network management
 system that displays an alarm directional button (ADB) icon 12 according
 to the present invention. The video display screen 10 conventionally
 displays a view pane 14 of a map containing icon representations of
 network elements 16 of a network managed by the network management system.
 Since the map is larger than the view pane 14 shown by the video display
 screen 10, the map is moveable to enable regions of the map not visible in
 the view pane 14 to be viewed. The ADB 12 provides an on-screen indicator
 of alarms on network elements in regions of the map not visible in the
 view pane 14 by a network operator, thereby ensuring real-time alarm
 notification to the operator.
 The ADB icon 12 comprises nine areas corresponding to a center area and to
 compass headings north, north east, east, south east, south, south west,
 west and north west. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the center area is
 represented by a central square 18 and the compass headings are
 represented by eight arrows 20, each pointing outwards away from the
 central square 18. The central square 18 corresponds to the region of the
 map visible in the view pane 14 of the video display screen 10. The arrows
 20 provide a directional indication of the regions of the map which are
 not visible in the view pane 14.
 The present invention operates as follows. When an alarm is received on a
 network element positioned in a region of the map not currently shown in
 the view pane 14 of the video display screen 10, the arrow 20
 corresponding to that region of the map "lights up" to indicate that an
 alarm has been received but is not currently visible. This permits the
 network operator to reposition the map in the view pane 14 of the video
 display screen 10 so that the alarmed network element icon can be viewed.
 This is accomplished by moving the map in the direction indicated by the
 lighted arrow 20.
 The center area of the ADB 12 represented by the central square 18 also
 operates in accordance with a filtering function which enables a network
 operator to select any network element icons on the map, including those
 not visible in the view pane 14, and make them invisible. When an alarm is
 received on such a filtered network element, the center square 18 of the
 ADB 12 lights up to alert the operator to the alarm.
 The ADB of the present invention is especially useful in SONET/SDH network
 element management systems. However, the ADB of the present invention can
 also be used in any network management system that includes fault
 management methods.
 It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely
 exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations
 and modifications to the embodiments utilizing functionally equivalent
 elements to those described herein. Any and all such variations or
 modifications as well as others which may become apparent to those skilled
 in the art, are intended to be included within the scope of the invention
 as defined by the appended claims.