Navigation tool for accessing workspaces and modules in a graphical user interface

• US 20020149615A1
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nedungadi, Kishnan, Rohwer, Cary, Rajarajan, Vij, Johnston, James, Gallagher, Lauren, Hall, Annette B., Kiernan, Casey, MacMahon, Mel, Zimnicks, Audrius, Martino, Tom, Hodge, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 6,950,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/83 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 : Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 : Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/969 : Network layout and operation interface

Abstract

A method and system for displaying information related to a plurality of resources in a network environment. The system uses web technology to receive and store information related to back-end resources and to provide a framework by which client computer systems can manage the plurality of back-end resources in a uniform manner. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is employed in a computer system for selecting the visual arrangement of workspaces and modules in a network management console GUI. The console includes a first zone and a second zone. The method involves receiving a list of workspace names and, in response, displaying an explorer tool including the list of workspace names in the first zone. Upon indication from a user that a first workspace name from the list of workspace names has been selected, a first workspace associated with the first workspace name is displayed in the second zone.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system for selecting the visual arrangement of workspaces and modules in a network management console graphical user interface, the console having a first zone operable to display tools and a second zone operable to display workspaces and modules, the method comprising:

receiving a list of workspace names, each workspace name associated with a workspace;

displaying an explorer tool in the first zone, the explorer tool displaying the list of workspace names;

receiving from a user an indication that a first workspace name from the list of workspace names has been selected; and

displaying in the second zone a first workspace associated with the first workspace name.

2. A method, as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

displaying in the explorer tool a list of module names, each module name being associated with a module that is associated with the first workspace.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising:

receiving from the user an indication that a first module name from the list of module names has been selected and, in response thereto, displaying a first module associated with the first module name in the first workspace.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprises visually indicating within the explorer tool that the first workspace name has been selected.

5. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the list of module names is displayed as a drop-down menu extending from the selected first workspace name.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, further comprises visually indicating within the explorer tool that the first module name has been selected.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the explorer tool further includes a tool bar displaying an edit element, the edit element operable to display a list of explorer layout selection functions.

8. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the explorer tool further includes a tool bar and wherein the list of workspace names is displayed as an explorer drop-down menu extending from the tool bar.

10. A method as defined in claim 3, further comprising:

receiving from the user an indication that a second module name from the list of module names has been selected and, in response thereto, displaying the module associated with the second module name in the first workspace.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the workspace includes a visual element operable to control a position of the first and second modules within the workspace.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the visual element comprises a scroll bar.

13. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein an object pane and a task pane are displayed in the first module.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein a work pane is displayed in the first module.

15. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the object pane displays a list of objects.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the task pane displays a list of tasks associated with the list of objects.

18. A display device as defined in claim 17, wherein the explorer module further includes an explorer tool bar and wherein the list of workspace names is displayed in a drop down menu extending from the explorer tool bar.

19. A display device as defined in claim 18, wherein the list of module names is displayed in a drop down menu extending from the workspace name associated with the selected workspace.

20. A display device as defined in claim 19, wherein the explorer further includes a visual indicator indicating that the workspace associated with the selected workspace name is included in the second zone.

21. A display device as defined in claim 20, wherein the explorer further includes a visual indicator indicating that the module associated with the at least one module name is included in the selected workspace.

22. A display device as defined in claim 17, wherein the at least one module includes an object pane displaying a list of objects associated with the at least one module.

23. A display device as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one module includes an task pane displaying a list of tasks associated with the list of objects.

24. A display device as defined in claim 23, wherein the at least one module includes an indicator indicating that one of the objects in the list of objects has been selected.

25. A display device as defined in claim 24, wherein the at least one module includes an indicator indicating that one of the tasks in the list of tasks has been selected.

26. A display device as defined in claim 25, wherein the at least one module includes a work pane displaying information related to the selected task and the selected object.

27. A display device as defined in claim 26, wherein the information related to the selected task and the selected object displayed in the at least one module includes a property sheet.

28. A display device as defined in claim 27, wherein the information related to the selected task and the selected object displayed in the at least one module further includes a property page.

29. A display device as defined in claim 23, wherein the at least one module includes an indicator indicating that two of the objects in the list of objects have been selected.

30. A display device as defined in claim 29, wherein the at least one module includes an indicator indicating that one of the tasks of the list of tasks has been selected.

31. A display device as defmed in claim 30, wherein the at least one module includes a work pane displaying information related to the selected task and the selected objects.

32. A display device as defined in claim 30, wherein the information related to the selected task and the selected objects comprises a property page associated with a first of the two selected objects and a property page associated with a second of the two selected objects.

9. A method as defined in 8, wherein the tool bar includes a visual element that is operable to extend or contract the explorer drop-down menu.

17. A display device having rendered thereon a network management console for displaying and accessing objects from a plurality of network resources, comprising:

a second zone rendered in the console, the second zone including a selected workspace, the selected workspace including at least one module;

a first zone rendered in the console, the first zone including an explorer tool, the explorer tool displaying a list of workspace names and a list of module names, the list of workspace names including a workspace name associated with the selected workspace, the list of module names including a module name associated with the at least one module.