Method and apparatus for displaying 3-D state indicators

• US 20020138602A1
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anders Vinberg
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vinberg, Anders
• Granted Patent: US 7,342,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

A method for presenting a user selected status of an object in a three dimensional graphic display is disclosed. The method includes the step of receiving a request to select a property of an object for display. The method further includes the step of displaying at least one property which may be displayed for the object. A selection of a property is received and the value of the selected property for the object is determined. The method further includes the step of generating a status indicator based on the value of the selected property. The status indicator is then displayed relative to the object. In a preferred embodiment, the form of the status indicator is automatically determined by the system. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a status of an object in a three dimensional graphic display, comprising:

determining a value of a property associated with an object;

determining a status indicator associated with the property;

generating a status indicator representing the property associated with the object; and

displaying the status indicator relative to the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the status indicator has a translucent quality.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the status indicator has a reflective quality.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the status indicator is depicted as a bar.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one dimension of the bar represents the value of the property.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the status indicator is depicted as a quantitative indicator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the quantitative indicator is a gauge.

8. A method for presenting a user selected status of an object in a three dimensional graphic display, comprising:

receiving a request to select a property of an object for display;

displaying at least one property which may be displayed for the object;

receiving a selection of a property;

determining the value of the selected property for the object;

generating a status indicator based on the value of the selected property; and

displaying the status indicator relative to the object.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating includes automatically determining the form of the status indicator.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a selection from the user determining the form of the status indicator.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the form of the status indicator is a bar graph.

12. An apparatus for presenting a status of an object in a three dimensional graphic display, comprising:

a processor;

a memory connected to said processor storing a program to control the operation of said processor;

the processor operative with the program in the memory to;

determine a value of a property associated with an object;

determine a status indicator associated with the property;

generate a status indicator representing the property associated with the object; and

display the status indicator relative to the object.

13. An apparatus for presenting a user selected status of an object in a three dimensional graphic display, comprising:

a processor;

a memory connected to said processor storing a program to control the operation of said processor;

the processor operative with the program in the memory to;

receive a request to select a property of an object for display;

display at least one property which may be displayed for the object;

receive a selection of a property;

determine the value of the selected property for the object;

generate a status indicator based on the value of the selected property; and

display the status indicator relative to the object.

14. An apparatus for presenting a status of an object in a three dimensional graphic display, comprising:

means for determining a value of a property associated with an object;

means for determining a status indicator associated with the property;

means for generating a status indicator representing the property associated with the object; and

means for displaying the status indicator relative to the object.

15. An apparatus for presenting a user selected status of an object in a three dimensional graphic display, comprising:

means for receiving a request to select a property of an object for display;

means for displaying at least one property which may be displayed for the object;

means for receiving a selection of a property;

means for determining the value of the selected property for the object;

means for generating a status indicator based on the value of the selected property; and

means for displaying the status indicator relative to the object.

16. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for presenting a status of an object in a three dimensional graphic display, the processing instructions for directing a computer to perform the steps of:

determining a value of a property associated with an object;

determining a status indicator associated with the property;

generating a status indicator representing the property associated with the object; and

displaying the status indicator relative to the object.

17. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for presenting a user selected status of an object in a three dimensional graphic display, the processing instructions for directing a computer to perform the steps of:

receiving a request to select a property of an object for display;

displaying at least one property which may be displayed for the object;

receiving a selection of a property;

determining the value of the selected property for the object;

generating a status indicator based on the value of the selected property; and

displaying the status indicator relative to the object.