Importance

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Abstract

A computer implemented method for defining, organizing, and analyzing systems and the connections, or relationships, between the systems, in a flexible manner according to a user's focus, perspective, and desired level of detail. A set of systems is selected by a user. A set of attributes by which to distinguish the systems is selected by the user. The systems are grouped according to the values for the selected attributes, thereby forming a taxonomy tree. A user then selects one or more resources that are potentially produced by, i.e., flow from, or consumed by, i.e., flow to, one or more of the systems of interest. A hypercube data structure is created that defines between which systems the resources flow. Utilizing the taxonomy tree, the hypercube further summarizes resource flows between parent systems for which resource flows are defined between their corresponding child systems. A network diagram is then constructed utilizing the taxonomy tree and the hypercube, in which systems are depicted as nodes and the resources flowing between the systems are depicted as pipes or arrows connecting the nodes.

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First Claim