EP1499982A1

EP1499982A1 - A system and method for creating a graphical view of a network from a node's perspective

Info

Publication number: EP1499982A1
Application number: EP03724269A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Keith Goldberg
Original assignee: MeshNetworks Inc
Current assignee: Arris Enterprises LLC
Priority date: 2002-04-29
Filing date: 2003-04-28
Publication date: 2005-01-26
Also published as: EP1499982A4; CA2482194A1; JP2005524368A; AU2003231139A1; KR20040102186A; WO2003098447A1

Abstract

A system and method for providing a display (124) of a communication network from a selected node's (120-2 to 120-4) perspective. The system and method selects a node which gathers network data from the selected nodes (120-2 to 120-4) unique perspective of the network. An illustrative display of network topology is then created from the collected data, presenting a display (124) of a communication network as perceived by the selected node. The display (124) is user configurable and is automatically updated as network topology changes.

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A GRAPHICAL VIEW OF A NETWORK FROM A NODES PERSPECTIVE

Field of the Invention:

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a graphical illustration of nodes and node links as perceived by a selectable root node within a network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for creating an illustrative graph of connected nodes and node links to display network topology, from a root node's perspective, on a computerized display device. The display is user configurable and is automatically updated as network topology changes.

Description of the Related Art:

[0002] The importance of network management has grown as networks have become larger and more complex. Status of the network at any given time should be made available in a simple format to network administrators, users and others who may be interested in network operations. However, the presentation of such data in detail may become a complicated task due to increasing network sizes, compositions and purposes. For example, a system may consist of a fixed network, including a core local access network (LAN), and a plurality of servers and gateway routers, to provide subscriber devices access to other networks. Each element may be linked in some fashion to other elements in the network, and each may be in various states of operation. Information of importance may include which links are active or what operation each element is currently executing.

[0003] It is practical to consider such a network as including a collection of nodes and links, where each node represents a subscriber device, wireless router or intelligent access point, and each link represents communication between nodes. Each node and link will have a significant amount of information regarding the type, use and current operation associated with it. Much of this information may be of importance to a network administrator, and may be presented in a number of ways, for instance, individual node data may be presented in table form accessed through a video display. For a complex network, this may include a large number of individual tables and accessing network information through such tables, may require the network administrator to page through numerous table displays to gather sufficient information about the network. As networks have grown, this method has become too slow and impractical.

[0004] Another solution to the difficulties of network data presentation has included the graphical display of information previously available in table form, wherein the network may be displayed as a collection of linked nodes on a computerized display device. For instance, Hewlett Packard provides several versions of a network management software package entitled 'Network Node Manager', which provides views of the network in a graphical format. As disclosed in "Network Node Manager 6.1 Product Brief, issued October 25, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference, the Network Node Manager discovers transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), internetwork packet exchange (IPX) and Level 2 devices on a network and creates a graphical display of linked devices. The display is configured to present a map illustrating what the network actually looks like. The Network Node Manager software is discussed in U.S. Patent No. 6,054,987 issued April 25, 2000, to David E. Richardson, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the Richardson Patent, an example of a group view of network devices is disclosed, in which tools such as menubars and toolbars are dynamically configured by the user. [0005] However, as pointed out in U.S. Patent No. 6,111,561 issued August 29, 2000, to Brandau et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, graphic displays such as the Network Node Manager by Hewlett Packard, have very low information densities relative to data tables. The information concerning a device in a graphic display is considerably less than the information provided in a table for a device. Attempts to expand data content in graphic displays may include adding additional features, such as graphic enhancements, to the illustrated nodes or links to indicate an operational state. For instance, as discussed in the Brandau Patent, bullets representing the connection status of nodes and links may be color coded within the display. [0006] However, previous graphic display applications, such as those described in the Brandau and Richardson Patents, have displayed network topology solely from the network administrator's perspective. That is, the view given each node and each node link is based upon network information perceived by the network administrator. The Hewlett Packard Network Node Manager software illustrates what the network ' tfually looks like", rather than how the network appears to a selected node. Each node in the network may actually perceive network topology differently, and respond accordingly. The view of the network, or some portion of the network, will vary from node to node. Therefore, if a node's perspective of the network is used to create a network display, the display will also vary. In past solutions, even though each node in the network may perceive the topology differently, the displayed information has not been tailored to the node's unique perspective of the network. The display has always represented what the network actually looks like.

[0007] Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method to create a network display, in which network nodes and links are presented from a node's perspective (i.e. as detected by the node), giving the observer, such as the user or network administrator, a more accurate estimation of how the node is functioning in the network topology. Such information allows advanced debugging of the network through the use of node network perspectives unavailable in known systems. Also, in peer-to-peer modes, a network display from a node's perspective may be used to show the presence and location of other nodes within a particular area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for determining network information as seen by a selectable root node in a network. [0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an illustrative display of network nodes and node links as determined by network information seen by a selected root node in a network.

[0010] Still another object of the present invention is to assign network information, as seen by a selected root node in a network, to displayed nodes and node links. [0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for automatically updating a display of network topology from a selected root node's perspective as the network topology changes.

[0012] These and other objects are substantially achieved by providing a system and method, which receives information about a network, and constructs a display of the network from a selectable root node's perspective. The system and method allows an observer to create a display of network nodes and links as perceived by a selected root node. In such a fashion, a display gives the observer a better understanding of how and where data from the selected node will travel through the network portion displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be more readily appreciated from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example of an ad-hoc wireless communications network including a plurality of nodes employing an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 is a block diagram of an example of a wireless node as shown in Figure 1 ;

[0016] Figure 3 is an example of a windowing graphic system illustrating a display of nodes and node links from a selected root node's perspective in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0017] Figure 4 is an example of a dialog box providing additional node information for use with the display shown in Figure 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0018] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an ad-hoc packet- switched wireless communications network 100 employing an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the network 100 includes a plurality of mobile wireless user terminals 102-1 through 102-n (referred to generally as nodes 102 or mobile nodes 102), and can, but is not required to, include a fixed network 104 having a plurality of access points 106-1, 106-2,..106-n (referred to generally as nodes 106 or access points 106), for providing nodes 102 with access to the fixed network 104. The fixed network 104 can include, for example, a core local access network (LAN), and a plurality of servers and gateway routers, to provide network nodes with access to other networks, such as other ad-hoc networks, the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the Internet. The network 100 further can include a plurality of fixed routers 107-1 through 107-n (referred to generally as nodes 107 or fixed routers 107) for routing data packets between other nodes 102, 106 or 107. It is noted that for purposes of this discussion, the nodes discussed above can be collectively referred to as'hodes 102, 106 and 107', or simply' odes".

[0019] As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the nodes 102, 106 and 107 are capable of communicating with each other directly, or via one or more other nodes 102, 106 or 107 operating as a router or routers for packets being sent between nodes, as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/897,790 entitled'Αd Hoc Peer- to-Peer Mobile Radio Access System Interfaced to the PSTN and Cellular Networks'', filed on June 29, 2001, and in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/815,157 entitled 'Time Division Protocol for an Ad-Hoc, Peer-to-Peer Radio Network Having Coordinating Channel Access to Shared Parallel Data Channels with Separate Reservation Channel', filed on March 22, 2001, the entire content of both applications being incorporated herein by reference. Each node 102, 106 and 107 shown in Figure 1, can communicate over plural data channels as well as a network reservation channel. These channels are not limited to any particular architecture or configuration, so long as each node has the ability to access the channels. Furthermore, these channels can exist over any communication medium, such as wire, optical fiber, or wireless (over-the-air), and may employ any suitable transmission protocol.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2, each node 102, 106 and 107 includes a transceiver 108 which is coupled to an antenna 110 and is capable of receiving and transmitting signals, such as packetized signals, to and from the node 102, 106 or 107, under the control of a controller 112. The packetized data signals can include, for example, voice, data or multimedia information, and packetized control signals, including node update information.

[0021] Each node 102, 106 and 107 further includes a memory 114, such as a random access memory (RAM), that is capable of storing, among other things, routing information pertaining to itself and other nodes in the network 100. The nodes 102, 106 and 107 exchange their respective routing information, referred to as routing advertisements or routing table information, with each other via a broadcasting mechanism periodically, for example, when a new node enters the network 100, or when existing nodes in the network 100 move.

[0022] As further shown in Figure 2, certain nodes, especially mobile nodes 102, can include a host 116 which may consist of any number of devices, such as a notebook computer terminal, mobile telephone unit, mobile data unit, or any other suitable device. The subscriber device host 108 can optionally include the appropriate hardware and software to perform transmission control protocol (TCP) and user datagram protocol (UDP). Furthermore, the subscriber device host 116 includes a driver to provide an interface between the subscriber device host 116 and the transceiver 108, in addition to a display device for providing a user display. [0023] Each node 102, 106 and 107 also includes the appropriate hardware and software to perform Internet Protocol (IP) and Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), the purposes of which can be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art. The appropriate hardware and software to perform transmission control protocol (TCP) and user datagram protocol (UDP) may also be included.

[0024] In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1, each node 102, 106 and 107 is capable of preparing an illustrative display of its neighboring nodes in network 100. To achieve this result, each node 102, 106 and 107 collects information regarding network nodes within the network based upon network perception by the collecting node by exchanging routing table information. The perceived network information for any single node may result from a number of different operations. For instance, during communication, nodes exchange their respective routing information, referred to as routing advertisements or routing table information, with one another via a broadcasting mechanism when a new node enters the network, or when existing nodes in the network move. A node will broadcast its routing table updates, and nearby nodes will only receive the broadcast routing table updates if within broadcast range (e.g., radio frequency (RF) range) of the broadcasting node. [0025] For example in Figure 1, assuming that nodes 102-1, 102-2 and 102-7 are within the RF broadcast range of node 102-5, when node 102-5 broadcasts its routing table information, that information is received by nodes 102-1, 102-2 and 102-7. However, if nodes 102-3, 102-4 and 102-6 are beyond broadcast range, none of those nodes will receive the broadcast routing table information from node 102-5. Therefore nodes 102-1, 102-2 and 102-7 will have a different perspective of network 100 than nodes 102-3, 102-4 and 102-6, as the former will have received current table information from node 102-5. This scenario may repeat as nodes move over time. At any given time, a single node may have only limited information regarding certain nodes and complete information regarding other nodes of the network. Therefore each of nodes 102, 106 and 107, can prepare a different display of network 100, depending upon the network information perceived by the node preparing the display. The selection of the node preparing the display then becomes a key tool in display preparation.

[0026] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a user of a mobile node 102, for example, can control the host associated with that node to display on its display screen a display representing the connectivity of the node 102 and its neighboring nodes 102, 106 and/or 107 from the perspective of the node 102. It should be also noted that a network administrator can select any of nodes 102, 106 or 107, as the node from which a network perspective is depicted, and any user of a node (e.g., a mobile node 102) can select any of the other nodes 102, 106 pr 107 as the node from which a network perspective is depicted. The node whose perspective of the network 100 is displayed acts as a 'toot node", and serves as the node from which the network topology is perceived and presented. That is, the network topology will be displayed based upon information about network 100 as perceived by the root node chosen. As the root node collects information regarding network nodes, each node and node link in the root node's neighborhood may be identified and labeled, for use in the display.

[0027] Once a user, for example, has chosen his or her node to act as a root node and network information uniquely perceived by the root node determined, the user selects a level of display for presenting the perceived network. The level of display refers to the first, second, third etc. levels of network nodes and node links, linked to the root node, which will be included in the display. A first level represents the perceived network nodes displayed which are directly connected to the root node. A second level represents perceived network nodes displayed which the root node can reach by routing through first level nodes, and so forth. The display may also be configured to illustrate a complete transmission path, from a source node to a destination node, as perceived by the root node.

[0028] The embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 3 shows a display 124 of a network as perceived by a selected root node 118, which can be a mobile node 102 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Root node 118 collects network data from other nodes and links of the network, such as node type, node location, node usage node links and node link usage by exchanging routing information with its neighboring nodes in the manner described above. The collected network data is uniquely perceived by the root node 118, and presents a collective view of the network possessed only by root node 118. Other nodes in the network will have a different view of the network, as each node will perceive the network differently. [0029] The network data collected by root node 118 is used to identify nodes, node links and operations in the network. Based upon this collected data, a display is created showing the root node, network nodes, node links and operations perceived by the root node. In Figure 3, display 124 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which root node 118 is shown, in addition to nodes, node links and network operations as perceived by node 118. In Figure 3, the root node 118 has perceived the presence of nodes 120-1 through 120-5, nodes 122-1 through 122-14, which can be any of nodes 102, 106 or 107 as discussed above, and the links associated with each of those nodes. Additional nodes and node links may exist in the network, however, they are not shown because they are not neighbors of the root node 118 and hence, the root node 118 has not detected their presence when collecting network data. Also, additional nodes may be perceived by root node 118. However, restricting the display to two levels, as in Figure 3, limits the display of perceived nodes and node links to those shown. The selection of a different root node will reveal a different array of nodes and node links, as a different root node will have a different perspective of the network. Likewise, choosing to display additional levels will reveal any additional nodes and node links perceived by the root node 118.

[0030] Figure 3 shows root node 118 as being linked directly to nodes of the first level, including nodes 120-1, 120-2, 120-3, 120-4 and 120-5 (referred to generally as nodes 120). Root node 118 is shown indirectly linked to nodes of the second level, including nodes 122-1 through 122-14 (referred to generally as nodes 122). Although only two levels are shown in Figure 3, additional levels or configurations may be shown as required.

[0031] In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 3, the root node 118 and nodes 120 and 122 have been assigned icons depending upon the type of device represented by each node. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 3, icons 120-5, 122-1, 122-4 and 122-14 use a "globe" shaped icon which represents intelligent access points (i.e. 106 of Figure 1). Icons 120-1, 122-2, 122-3 and 122-5 through 122-13 use 'bidirectional arroW shaped icons which represent wireless routers (i.e. 107 of Figure 1). Standard protocols may be developed and applied for icon selection, or the user may configure icons that meet individual needs. [0032] Additionally, icons may be assigned a representation dynamically illustrating an operation. For instance, where an icon represents a person's mobile telephone, the icon may use a shape representing a mobile telephone. However, when a call originates from the node, the same icon may change from a figure representing a mobile telephone, to a figure displaying the calling person's likeness. Each icon may also be defined based on a specific node or grouping of nodes (i.e. a buddy list) and various node data may be attached to each icon, such as the number of hops or packets sent to and from the node for a given period. Such displayed data may come from a remote machine or from a log file.

[0033] Node links in the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 3 are drawn as solid lines between icons, and an indicator of link quality, such as line thickness or color, may be attached. Line thickness between icons, animation, or color may also be used to represent characteristics of a link or icon, such as link quality or active use of the connection by the root node.

[0034] Display 124 shown in Figure 3 gives the observer, such as the user of the root node 118, or a network administrator, a more accurate estimation of how node 118 is functioning in the network topology. Such information allows advanced debugging of the network through the use of node network perspectives. The display presents the network as perceived by the node 118, therefore the observer is capable of analyzing the performance of node 118 and the network as viewed by node 118. Additionally, in peer-to-peer modes, display 124 may be used to show the presence and location of other nodes and node links within a particular area as seen and recognized by the root node 118. The display presented is user configurable and is automatically updated as network topology changes. Such updates to display may include the revision of network data or the automatic update of information can be configured to use animation. For example, where animation is used, when the topology changes, the nodes of the display do not instantly display the new configuration. Rather, they appear to move across the display to their new assigned positions or operations. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to log the display updates to a file for later playback. The user can, for example, travel about the network and then at a later date review how the root node 118 perceived the network at various times, locations, or just playback the trace in real-time. [0035] As can further be appreciated from Figure 3, one form of network display may be a directed acyclic graph (DAG) as illustrated. A DAG is a set of nodes connected by directed links where no loops of links occur in the same direction. For example, if node A is connected to node B via a forward link, then node A is called a parent of node B, and node B is called a child of node A. Each node may have multiple parents and children. In Figure 3, the embodiment shown presents a display of the network as a directed acyclic graph, in which root node 118 is connected by direct links to nodes 120-1 through 120-5 (i.e. nodes 120). Nodes 120 therefore are the children of root node 118, and nodes 122-1 through 122-9 are the children of node 120-1. This may be repeated for each level of nodes as perceived by the root node 118. [0036] Additional detailed information about each node and node link may be provided by clicking on the node icon or link, and appears as an option dialog box as shown in Figure 4. The option dialog box 126 of Figure 4 can be configured to include information impractical to display within the DAC, such as media access control addresses (MAC) associated with the node represented by the icon. Additionally, a user definable action could be executed through manipulation of an icon. For instance, a phone call to a particular node could be made by double-clicking on the icon representing the node.

[0037] The network display created by the embodiment of the present invention may be configured to meet the needs of the user, and consist of a number of forms. Displays may be shown with connected nodes radiating out from the root node in a number of different configurations, such as in a star or burst configuration, or displayed in connection with a tabular form or a hierarchical data list. The present invention may be used to display entire networks, or partial networks in a similar fashion, as perceived by a selected node. The network administrator has the option of selecting a display mode in which a number of levels are displayed or, selecting a display mode in which an entire path between an originating node and destination node is shown. When displaying a transmission path, the administrator may select the display of the fastest or most efficient transmission path, based on power consumption or pipeline delays. Still other display configurations may be implemented as required. [0038] Although only a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for creating at least one display of a portion of a communication network including a plurality of nodes, the method comprising: identifying a first node of said plurality and collecting data at said first node from said plurality of nodes; and creating at least one display showing at least one relationship between said first node and said plurality of nodes based on said data collected at said first node.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said creating includes controlling a host device associated with said first node to display said at least one display.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said data collected comprises information representing node type, node location, node usage, node links and node link usage information perceived by said first node.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display creating comprises representing each of said plurality of nodes by a respective symbol.

5. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display creating further comprises displaying text information pertaining to at least one of said nodes.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display creating further comprises selecting a display level indicating that said display includes those of said plurality of nodes which are a desired amount of hops away from said first node.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display creating further comprises identifying links between said first node and said plurality of nodes from said data collected at said first node, said identified links each assigned a link icon and link information.

8. A method as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising: collecting updated data at said first node; and using said updated data to update said display.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display is constructed to show a complete transmission route of nodes and node links for a transmission from said first node to a destination node.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display is constructed as a hierarchical list of nodes and node links.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display is constructed in tabular form of nodes and node links.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display includes a directed acyclic graph of nodes and node links.

13. An apparatus for creating at least one display of a portion of a communication network including a plurality of nodes, the apparatus comprising: a device, adapted to identify a first node of said plurality and collect data at said first node from said plurality of nodes; and a display device, adapted to create, under control of said device, at least one display showing at least one relationship between said first node and said plurality of nodes from said data collected at said first node.

14. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said data collected comprises information pertaining to node type, node location, node usage, node links and node link usage information perceived by said first node.

15. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein: said device is further adapted to identify nodes of said plurality from said data collected at said first node, and assign data representing a node icon and node information to each identified node.

16. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein: said device is further adapted to select a display level indicating that said display includes those of said plurality of nodes which are a desired amount of hops away from said first node.

17. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein: said device is further adapted to identify links between said first node and said plurality of nodes from said data collected at said first node, and assign a link icon and link information to each identified link.

18. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein: said device is further adapted to collect updated data at said first node; and said display device is further adapted to update said display based on said updated data.

19. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said display is constructed to show a complete transmission route of nodes and node links for a transmission from said first node to a destination node.

20. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said display is constructed as a hierarchical list of nodes and node links.

21. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said display is constructed in tabular form of nodes and node links.

22. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said display is a directed acyclic graph of nodes and node links.