Method and system for visualizing network performance characteristics

Abstract

Techniques for visualizing and monitoring the quality of service for a computer network. Herein, a method and system monitor network transactions and behaviors for the computing network, which computing network includes one or more client subnets accessing one or more servers, the monitoring may be independent of client site monitors. Statistical data is gathered for relating to at least the network, the server, and the applications for generating a plurality of measurements. The measurements assess at least one quality of service indicator associated with the performance of the computer network. The method and system graphically display the plurality of measurements of the quality of service indicator according to the date and time of gathering the statistical data and further display graphically the degree by which each of the measurements of the quality of service indicator varies from a predetermined threshold quality of service level for the computing network. Also, dynamic quality of service indicators are monitored against average quality of service indicators.

1 . A method for visualizing and monitoring quality of service of a computing network, the method comprising: 
 monitoring application network transactions and behaviors for the computing network, the computing network including one or more client subnets accessing one or more servers, the monitoring capable of being independent of client site monitors;    gathering statistical data relating to at least network, server, and application for generating a plurality of measurements of at least one quality of service indicator associated with the performance of said computer network;    graphically displaying said plurality of measurements of said at least one quality of service indicator according to the date and time of gathering said statistical data; and    further displaying graphically the degree by which each of said plurality of measurements of said quality of service indicator varies from a predetermined threshold quality of service level for the computing network.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of identifying a subset of said plurality of measurements of said at least one quality of service indicator according to the week day on which said subset of plurality of measurement occurs.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of identifying a subset of said plurality of measurements of said at least one quality of service indicator according to the hour during a day in which said subset of plurality of measurement occurs.  
   
   
       4 . A system for visualizing and monitoring quality of service of a computing network, the system comprising: 
 network monitoring circuitry for monitoring application network transactions and behaviors for the computing network, the computing network including one or more client subnets accessing one or more servers, the monitoring capable of being independent of client site monitors;    statistical data gathering circuitry for gathering statistical data relating to at least network, server, and application for generating a plurality of measurements of at least one quality of service indicator associated with the performance of said computer network;    a display for graphically displaying said plurality of measurements of said at least one quality of service indicator according to the date and time of gathering said statistical data; and    said display further comprising graphical display circuitry for further displaying graphically the degree by which each of said plurality of measurements of said quality of service indicator varies from a predetermined threshold quality of service level for the computing network.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising instructions for associating said predetermined threshold quality of service level with a service level agreement associated with the computing network.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising instructions for grouping said plurality of measurements of said at least one quality of service indicator according to the degree by which each of said measurements violates said service level agreement.  
   
   
       7 . A method for visualizing and monitoring the performance of a computer network, comprising the steps of: 
 displaying graphically a plurality of averaged network quality of service indicators, said averaged network quality of service indicators associated on a radial plot and visually interlinked to form an nominal performance polygon, said nominal performance polygon comprising a plurality of corners, each of said corners corresponding to a separate one of said plurality averaged quality of service indicators;    dynamically measuring a plurality of network quality of service indicators, each of said plurality of network quality of service indicators corresponding to one of said plurality of averaged network quality of service indicators;    displaying graphically said dynamically measured plurality of network quality of service indicators as a radial plot point on said radial plot;    visually interlinking said radial plot points for forming a dynamic performance polygon, said dynamic performance polygon relating to the dynamic performance of said computer network; and    monitoring the dynamic performance of the computer network by dynamically comparing variations in said dynamic performance polygon with said nominal performance polygon.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of graphically displaying said plurality of measurements of said at least one quality of service indicator from the group consisting essentially of network round trip time, percent (%) byte loss, volume (to) traffic, volume (from) traffic, number of total sessions, number of retransmission, and number of users.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of determining a plurality of network quality of service problems as a result of monitoring the dynamic performance of the computer network using said dynamic performance polygon and said nominal performance polygon.