User-configurable network performance monitors
View Patent ↗A network analysis system provides for a user-definable display of information related to messages communicated on the network. The network analysis system includes one or more display formats that provide a display of message exchanges between nodes of a network, and a display augmenter that provides additional information on the display based on a user-defined visualization. The user defined visualization includes augmenting the display based on user-defined coloring characteristics and/or augmenting the display with user-defined labels. To further facilitate user control of the augmentation of the display, the system accepts user-defined programs for discriminating among messages, for controlling the labeling of messages, and for controlling the coloring of messages and labels. Commonly used user-defined characteristics and labels are stored in a library, for use via a selection from among the library entries.
1. A network analysis system comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by the processor, wherein the instructions provide:
a network tool program that processes message data to determine values of each of a plurality of pre-defined message characteristics;
an auxiliary program that:
receives an identification of one or more other message characteristics from a second program that is not included in the network tool program, the other message characteristics being different from the pre-define message characteristics;
provides access to the values of the plurality of pre-defined message characteristics to the second program; and
receives values of the one or more other message characteristics from the second program, based on one or more values of the pre-defined message characteristics; and
a graphic user interface that provides a visualization of select message characteristics, including at least one of the other message characteristics.
2. The network analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary program includes an interpreter that receives calls from the network tool program, and executes interpreted code based on a corresponding portion of the second program to provide the values of the one or more other message characteristics.
3. The network analysis system of claim 2 , wherein the interpreter is a PYTHON interpreter.
4. The network analysis system of claim 1 , including a compiler that is configured to compile the second program to provide executable code that, when executed, provides the values of the one or more other message characteristics.
5. The network analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the graphic user interface receives user-input and modifies the visualization based on the user-input.
6. The network analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary program receives an identification of one or more data structures from the second program.
7. The network analysis system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more data structures correspond to a structure that facilitates the visualization and defines at least one of: a color array; a line-type array; a label with one or more attributes; and a table.
8. The network analysis system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more attributes include at least one of: a URL associated with the message data; and an indication of content of the message data.
9. The network analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more other message characteristics includes at least one of: a relationship between messages; a quantization of a value of a pre-defined characteristic; and an indication of content of the message data.
10. The network analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary program provides access to executable code in the network tool program.
11. A non-transitory computer readable medium that includes a program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:
execute a network tool program that processes message data to determine values of each of a plurality of pre-defined message characteristics;
receive an identification of one or more other message characteristics from a second program that is not included in the network tool program, the other message characteristics being different from the pre-define message characteristics;
provide access to the values of the plurality of pre-defined message characteristics to the second program;
receive values of the one or more other message characteristics from the second program, based on one or more values of the pre-defined message characteristics; and
provide a visualization of select message characteristics, including at least one of the other message characteristics.
12. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the program causes the processor to execute an interpreter that receives calls from the network tool program, and executes interpreted code based on a corresponding portion of the second program to provide the values of the one or more other message characteristics.
13. The medium of claim 12 , wherein the interpreter is a PYTHON interpreter.
14. The medium of claim 11 , including the program causes the processor to execute a compiler that is configured to compile the second program to provide executable code that, when executed, provides the values of the one or more other message characteristics.
15. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the program causes the processor to receive user-input and modify the visualization based on the user-input.
16. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the program causes the processor to receive an identification of one or more data structures from the second program.
17. The medium of claim 16 , wherein the one or more data structures correspond to a structure that facilitates the visualization and defines at least one of: a color array; a line-type array; a label with one or more attributes; and a table.
18. The medium of claim 17 , wherein the one or more attributes include at least one of: a URL associated with the message data; and an indication of content of the message data.
19. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the one or more other message characteristics includes at least one of: a relationship between messages; a quantization of a value of a pre-defined characteristic; and an indication of content of the message data.
20. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the program causes the processor to provide access to executable code in the network tool program.
21. A method comprising:
executing a network tool program that processes message data to determine values of each of a plurality of pre-defined message characteristics;
executing an auxiliary program that:
receives an identification of one or more other message characteristics from a second program that is not included in the network tool program, the other message characteristics being different from the pre-define message characteristics;
provides access to the values of the plurality of pre-defined message characteristics to the second program; and
receives values of the one or more other message characteristics from the second program, based on one or more values of the pre-defined message characteristics; and
providing a visualization of select message characteristics, including at least one of the other message characteristics.
22. The method of claim 21 , including receiving input from a user, and modifying the visualization based on the input from the user.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the auxiliary program receives an identification of one or more data structures from the second program.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the one or more data structures correspond to a structure that facilitates the visualization and defines at least one of: a color array; a line-type array; a label with one or more attributes; and a table.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the one or more attributes include at least one of: a URL associated with the message data; and an indication of content of the message data.
26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the one or more other message characteristics includes at least one of: a relationship between messages; a quantization of a value of a pre-defined characteristic; and an indication of content of the message data.