US6154212A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for constructing network interfaces
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1997-11-06
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Granted: 2000-11-28
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Expires: 2017-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A network interface includes a network view portion developed using a low-level, high-performance programming language such as C++, and a user interface portion developed using a higher level scripted programming language such as Tcl/Tk. Variables in the C++ network view portion are linked to corresponding variables in the Tcl/Tk user interface portion. The network view and user interface portions are developed in accordance with a general framework, which in an illustrative embodiment includes: (1) a set of network structures stored in a database; (2) a C++ component including a network base class to generate functions common to multiple views, and a display class derived from the network base class to generate operations specific to a particular view; and (3) a Tcl/Tk component including a standard user interface corresponding to the network base class associated with a given view, and a special interface corresponding to the display class derived from that network base class. The network base classes support a range of viewing functions including identification, selection, zooming, panning, rotation, elision, collapse, expand, repositioning and transforming. The invention may be used to generate many different types of network views, including a hemisphere view based on a conformal warping of a two-dimensional network map onto a three-dimensional object, an arc map view, and a helix view illustrating network data hierarchies.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Gregory Eick
- 👤 Taosong He
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/02; H04L41/0233; G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F8/38; H04L41/22; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/965; Y10S715/969
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of providing a network interface comprising the steps of: generating a network view portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the first programming language including a network base class for managing view operations and interactions with a database, and a display class for managing display operations; and generating a user interface portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a second programming language at a higher level than the first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the second programming language including a standard interface corresponding to a given one of the network base classes, and a special interface associated with a particular type of network view.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of providing a network interface comprising the steps of: generating a network view portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the first programming language including a network base class for managing view operations and interactions with a database, and a display class for managing display operations; and generating a user interface portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a second programming language at a higher level than the first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the second programming language including a standard interface corresponding to a given one of the network base classes, and a special interface associated with a particular type of network view.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first programming language is C++.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second programming language is Tcl/Tk.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating the network view portion of the network interface further includes the steps of: retrieving one or more network data structures from the database; utilizing a given one of the network base classes to generate functions common to multiple views; and utilizing a given one of the display classes derived from the given network base class to generate operations specific to a particular view.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the given display class is inherited from the corresponding network base class by overloading at least one C++ function in the network base class.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the functions common to multiple views include at least one of the following operations: identification, selection, zooming, panning, rotation, elision, collapse, expand, repositioning and transforming.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the network base class maintains a list of items to be shown in the network view portion of the network interface, such that displayed nodes, links and other visual entities are each represented by an item in the list, wherein the list also includes visual coordinate information for each item in the list.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the list includes flags associated with each item for supporting identification, selection or elision operations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating the user interface portion of the network interface further includes the steps of: utilizing a given one of the standard user interfaces corresponding to a given one of the network base classes associated with a given view, wherein the given network base class provides network view functions common to multiple views; and generating a given one of the special interfaces corresponding to a given one of the display classes derived from the given network base class, wherein the given display class is used to generate operations specific to a particular view.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the network view portion of the network interface includes a view providing a conformal warping of a two-dimensional network map onto a three-dimensional object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the view providing a conformal warping of a two-dimensional network map onto a three-dimensional object is a hemisphere view.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the network view portion of the network interface includes a view in the form of an arc map.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the network view portion of the network interface includes a view in the form of a helix illustrating network data hierarchies.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
134 words
A network interface comprising: a network view portion generated using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the first programming language including a network base class for managing view operations and interactions with a database, and a display class for managing display operations; and a user interface portion generated using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a second programming language at a higher level than the first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the second programming language including a standard interface corresponding to a given one of the network base classes, and a special interface associated with a particular type of network view.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
134 words
A network interface comprising: a network view portion generated using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the first programming language including a network base class for managing view operations and interactions with a database, and a display class for managing display operations; and a user interface portion generated using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a second programming language at a higher level than the first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the second programming language including a standard interface corresponding to a given one of the network base classes, and a special interface associated with a particular type of network view.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The network interface of claim 14 wherein the first programming language is C++.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The network interface of claim 14 wherein the second programming language is Tcl/Tk.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
The network interface of claim 14 wherein the network view portion of the network interface is generating using one or more network data structures retrieved from the database, a given one of the network base classes to generate functions common to multiple views, and a given one of the display classes derived from the given network base class to generate operations specific to a particular view.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The network interface of claim 17 wherein the given display class is inherited from the corresponding network base class by overloading at least one C++ function in the network base class.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The network interface of claim 17 wherein the functions common to multiple views include at least one of the following operations: identification, selection, zooming, panning, rotation, elision, collapse, expand, repositioning and transforming.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
The network interface of claim 17 wherein the network base class maintains a list of items to be shown in the network view portion of the network interface, such that displayed nodes, links and other visual entities are each represented by an item in the list, wherein the list also includes visual coordinate information for each item in the list.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The network interface of claim 20 wherein the list includes flags associated with each item for supporting identification, selection or elision operations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
96 words
The network interface of claim 14 wherein the user interface portion of the network interface is generated using: (i) a given one of the standard user interfaces corresponding to a given one of the network base classes associated with a given view, wherein the given network base class provides network view functions common to multiple views; and (ii) a given one of the special interfaces corresponding to a given one of the display classes derived from the given network base class, wherein the given display class is used to generate operations specific to a particular view.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The network interface of claim 14 wherein the network view portion of the network interface includes a view providing a conformal warping of a two-dimensional network map onto a three-dimensional object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The network interface of claim 23 wherein the view providing a conformal warping of a two-dimensional network map onto a three-dimensional object is a hemisphere view.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The network interface of claim 14 wherein the network view portion of the network interface includes a view in the form of an arc map.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network interface of claim 14 wherein the network view portion of the network interface includes a view in the form of a helix illustrating network data hierarchies.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for providing a network interface, comprising: means for generating a network view portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the first programming language including a network base class for managing view operations and interactions with a database, and a display class for managing display operations; and means for generating a user interface portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a second programming language at a higher level than the first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the second programming language including a standard interface corresponding to a given one of the network base classes, and a special interface associated with a particular type of network view.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for providing a network interface, comprising: means for generating a network view portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the first programming language including a network base class for managing view operations and interactions with a database, and a display class for managing display operations; and means for generating a user interface portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a second programming language at a higher level than the first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the second programming language including a standard interface corresponding to a given one of the network base classes, and a special interface associated with a particular type of network view.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
175 words
An apparatus for providing a network interface, comprising: a processor operative (i) to generate a network view portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the first programming language including a network base class for managing view operations and interactions with a database, and a display class for managing display operations, (ii) to generate a user interface portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a second programming language at a higher level than the first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the second programming language including a standard interface corresponding to a given one of the network base classes, and a special interface associated with a particular type of network view; and a display device coupled to the processor for displaying the network view portion and the user interface portion of the network interface.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
175 words
An apparatus for providing a network interface, comprising: a processor operative (i) to generate a network view portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the first programming language including a network base class for managing view operations and interactions with a database, and a display class for managing display operations, (ii) to generate a user interface portion of the network interface using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a second programming language at a higher level than the first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the second programming language including a standard interface corresponding to a given one of the network base classes, and a special interface associated with a particular type of network view; and a display device coupled to the processor for displaying the network view portion and the user interface portion of the network interface.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for providing a network interface, comprising: a processor operative (i) to implement a network view portion of the network interface, wherein the network view portion is generated using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the first programming language including a network base class for managing view operations and interactions with a database, and a display class for managing display operations, and (ii) to implement a user interface portion of the network interface, wherein the user interface portion is generated using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a second programming language at a higher level than the first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the second programming language including a standard interface corresponding to a given one of the network base classes, and a special interface associated with a particular type of network view; and a memory coupled to the processor for storing code used to implement the network view portion and the user interface portion.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for providing a network interface, comprising: a processor operative (i) to implement a network view portion of the network interface, wherein the network view portion is generated using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the first programming language including a network base class for managing view operations and interactions with a database, and a display class for managing display operations, and (ii) to implement a user interface portion of the network interface, wherein the user interface portion is generated using at least one of a plurality of software components programmed in a second programming language at a higher level than the first programming language, each of at least a subset of the components programmed in the second programming language including a standard interface corresponding to a given one of the network base classes, and a special interface associated with a particular type of network view; and a memory coupled to the processor for storing code used to implement the network view portion and the user interface portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-28 | 2004-05-29 | 2004-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-28 | 2008-05-29 | 2008-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-28 | 2012-05-29 | 2012-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |