Interacting with Transit-Stub Network Visualizations

Real-world data networks are large, making them difficult to analyze. Thus, analysts often generate network models of a more tractable scale to perform simulations and analyses, but even these models need to be fairly large. Because these networks do not directly correspond to any particular network, it is often difficult for the user to construct a mental model of the network. We present a network model visualization system developed with networking researchers to help improve the design and analysis of these topologies. In particular, this system supports manipulation of the network layout based on hierarchical information; a novel display technique to reduce clutter around transit routers; and the mixture of manual and automatic interaction in the layout phase. CR Categories: H.5.2 [Information Systems]: Information Interfaces and Presentation—User Interfaces