Patent Document ID: 8903997
Application ID: 13579839
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of analyzing a network which has a plurality of interconnected network components, the method comprising: storing, in a data storage unit, data relating to a network model, such stored data including component configuration data for each of the network components and interconnection data for each connection between network components; retrieving stored data relating to at least one of a first network component or to a first network interconnection; selectively altering such retrieved component configuration data or interconnection data, and storing the altered data, thereby selectively altering a modeled state of the first network component or the first connection within the network model; retrieving stored data relating to other network components and interconnections; altering such retrieved data relating to other network components and interconnection so as to propagate an effect of alteration of such modeled state throughout the network model, the retrieved data being altered in dependence upon configuration and interconnection data relating to the first network component or first interconnection, and in dependence upon configuration and interconnection data relating to other connected network components; storing such altered data, thereby monitoring the effect of said propagation on other network components within the network model; storing data representing the effect retrieved of said propagation; and determining an effect of the altered first network component or first network interconnection by analyzing such stored data representing the effect retrieved of said propagation.