Method and application tool for dynamically navigating a user customizable representation of a network device configuration

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, a method and an application tool for dynamically representing configuration commands of a network device on a user interface are provided. According to the method, a data model is stored with the application tool. Thereafter, the configuration commands are rendered on to the data model and the rendered data model is represented on the user interface in real time.

1 . A method for dynamically representing the configuration of a network device on a user interface, the method comprising:
 storing a data model, wherein the data model represents the visual presentation of the configuration;   rendering the configuration based on the data model to provide a dynamically customized view of the configuration; and   visually representing the rendered configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising acquiring a configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising using the data model to allow dynamic navigation of the configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rendering comprises linking a source anchor to a destination anchor. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the linking further comprises:
 defining rules regarding contextual-linkage; and   parsing the rules to link the source anchor and the destination anchor.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the displaying further comprises:
 accepting at least one modification to the rules from the user interface; and   dynamically displaying the contextual-linkage based on the at least one modification to the rules.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the displaying further comprises:
 accepting modification to the configuration; and   dynamically designating portions of the modified configuration that matches one of the rules to indicate the contextual linkage.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the contextual-linkage rules are persistent. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 4  further comprising:
 displaying the source anchor; 
 detecting a selected source anchor; and 
 navigating to the destination anchor linked to the selected source anchor. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising:
 detecting a pointer positioned proximate to the contextual-linkage; and 
 displaying a snapshot of the destination anchor. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rendering comprises:
 identifying data hierarchy in the data model, the data hierarchy comprising a plurality of levels; and   displaying an expand-collapse check indicator at each level in the hierarchy, wherein the expand-collapse check indicator is used for controlling the representation of the data hierarchy; and   detecting a selection of the expand-collapse check indicator.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising using the expand-collapse check indicator and the data model to navigate the configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rendering further comprises:
 identifying a mismatch in a block of configuration commands, the block comprising a starting configuration command, an ending configuration command and one or more body configuration commands; and   indicating the mismatch.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  further comprising:
 accepting modifications in the block; and 
 indicating the mismatch for the modified block, wherein the mismatch is dynamically indicated when modifications are accepted. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the rendering further comprises:
 identifying a mismatch in a block of configuration commands, the block comprising a starting configuration command, an ending configuration command and one or more body configuration commands; and   indicating the mismatch.   
     
     
         16 . An application tool for dynamically representing the configuration of a network device, the application tool comprising:
 a data model that determines the visual representation of the configuration; and   means for rendering linked portions of the configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The application tool according to  claim 16 , wherein the linked portions of the configuration comprise a source anchor and a destination anchor. 
     
     
         18 . The application tool according to  claim 16 , further comprising rules for defining the linked portions of the configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The application tool according to  claim 16 , wherein the source anchor comprises a visually distinctive representation in a first display mode and a non-distinctive representation in a second display mode. 
     
     
         20 . The application tool according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a pointer for selecting the contextual-linkage in the first display mode.   means for displaying a snapshot of the destination anchor.   
     
     
         21 . The application tool according to  claim 16 , wherein the means for rendering identifies a data hierarchy in the data model. 
     
     
         22 . The application tool according to  claim 21 , wherein the means for rendering identifies a mismatch in a portion of the configuration. 
     
     
         23 . The application tool according to  claim 20  wherein the rules defining the linked portions of the configuration are persistent. 
     
     
         24 . A method for dynamically navigating a network device configuration comprising:
 generating a model for displaying a configuration;   navigating to a desired section;   viewing the desired section together with a linked portion of the configuration.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising:
 providing persistent, user customized, rules for dynamically changing the visual represenatation of the configuration when displayed. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising:
 editing the configuration; and 
 identifying incomplete and inconsistent sections while editing