System for displaying a computer managed network layout with varying transience display of user selected attributes of a plurality of displayed network objects

摘要

A computer managed communication network with user interactive access via a plurality of display terminals and including a plurality of network objects, each respectfully associated with one of a plurality of linked network nodes. The network includes means such as databases for storing data representing attributes of network objects. There is graphically displayed on at least one of said display terminals, at least a portion of said linked network nodes and associated objects. In addition, there is a user interactive implementation for activating for each of a plurality of objects, a transient display of a selected attribute of said object proximate to said object during a period of common transience. The system further includes user interactive means for varying the period of transience of each of said transient displays whereby the attribute values of a variety of objects may be compared to each other without unduly cluttering the display interface.