Patent Document ID: 9455993
Application ID: 14176461
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A processor-implemented method comprising: generating a first data structure via a processor, the first data structure being a virtual representation of a top level entity at a first layer of a network element hierarchy and being associated with attributes that are associated with the top level entity; retrieving a plurality of child data structures disposed at a second layer of the network element hierarchy from a database; inspecting each child data structure from the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer of the network element hierarchy; mapping the attributes to a first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer of the network element hierarchy based on results of inspecting the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer, such that the attributes associated with the first data structure are associated with each of the first portion of the plurality of child data structures, and such that the attributes associated with the first data structure are not associated with a second portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer; retrieving a plurality of child data structures disposed at a third layer of the network element hierarchy from the database; inspecting each child data structure from the plurality of child data structures disposed at the third layer of the network element hierarchy; mapping attributes associated with the portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer a first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the third layer of the network element hierarchy based on results of inspecting each of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the third layer of the network element hierarchy and such that inspection of the first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the third layer of the network element hierarchy reveals the attributes associated with the portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer, and such that the attributes associated with the portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer are not associated with a second portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the third layer; inspecting each of the first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer of the network element hierarchy; mapping attributes associated with the first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the third layer to a first subset of the first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer such that inspection of the at least one subset of the portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer reveals the attributes associated with the first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the third layer, and such that the attributes associated with the first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the third layer structure are not associated with a second subset of the first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer; and sending, after inspecting each of the first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer of the network element hierarchy, a signal to a device associated with an analyst such that the device associated with the analyst conducts a security threat mitigation analysis of a network element associated with a child data structure from the first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer of the network element hierarchy based on inspection of the first data structure and not inspection of the child data structure, the signal representing (1) the attributes associated with the top level entity, (2) the attributes associated with the remaining child data structures from the first portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer, and (3) the attributes associated with the first portion of the plurality of data structures disposed at the third layer, upon inspection of the first data structure, the portion of the plurality of child data structures disposed at the second layer and the attributes associated with the first portion of the plurality of data structures disposed at the third layer providing context to the attributes associated with the top level entity.