| This thesis describes a 3D visualization system that is meant to assist engineers in analyzing ATM network traffic. The system optimizes the use of display space by allocating information around the inside surface of a ring in 3D space. In the case of multiple protocol layers, it stacks the layers one on top of the other in the vertical or horizontal direction. Through the use of transparency, objects become partially transparent so background objects are visible through foreground objects. With this 3D system, no matter how many protocol layers there are and how complex the underlying structure is, there is still enough space to adequately allocate information in a single display. An important contribution of our 3D visualization system is its ability to provide users with an intuitive presentation of a complex information space, thereby facilitating error detection and performance analysis of ATM networks. |
