System for active reports with drill down capability using memory mapping of HTML files with embedded data

• US 20020174140A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veritas Technologies, LLC (Whitehouse Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: W Quinn Incorporated
• Inventors: Peake, William Jr., Narayanan, Sripriya
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing

Abstract

A system and method for obtaining information on a large number of files, and to view and take action on those files. The present invention compiles a report on a file system in HTML format that is displayed by a browser. The report allows users to manage their files, or portions of their files, directly from the report, relieving system administrators of this burden. The method comprises: requesting Active Reports to be run; generating a CSV formatted copy of the files in the storage mechanism; converting the CSV formatted copy of the files to an HTML formatted copy of the files; reading the HTML formatted copy of the files so that the user can view the files; loading the file data by mapping the HTML formatted copy of the files to memory into a spreadsheet-like grid; and managing the display of the report and user report requests.

Claims

1. A method of reporting storage mechanism usage to a user, comprising:

generating an intermediate format copy of files in a storage mechanism;

converting the intermediate format copy of the files to a user-readable format copy of the files;

mapping the user-readable format copy of the files to memory into a report; and

managing the report by using the mapping to load only the files that are requested.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein managing the report comprises:

completing user report requests.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein completing user report requests further comprises:

choosing a drill down function;

repeating the managing step to load only the files that are requested.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein completing user report requests comprises taking action on a file.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein taking action on the file is one of the group consisting of:

deleting, copying, editing, moving, opening, exploring, running, selecting, clearing, finding, or closing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the report comprises a grid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the report comprises a graph.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reporting application is Web-based.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the reporting application is self-contained.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the reports are automatically generated.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the reports are in HTML format and can be displayed by a browser on any machine.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the user can directly navigate the report from a summary to supporting detail.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein users directly manage their files, thus relieving system administration of this burden.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the report is displayed and manipulated from a browser.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein managing the report comprises:

completing user report requests.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein completing user report requests further comprises:

choosing a drill down function;

repeating the managing step to load only the files that are requested.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein completing user report requests comprises taking action on a file.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein taking action on the file is one of the group consisting of:

deleting, copying, editing, moving, opening, exploring, running, selecting, clearing, finding, or closing.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the report comprises a grid.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the report comprises a graph.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the reporting application is Web-based.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the reporting application is self-contained.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the reports are automatically generated.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the reports are in HTML format and can be displayed by a browser on any machine.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the user can directly navigate the report from a summary to supporting detail.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein users directly manage their files, thus relieving system administration of this burden.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the report is displayed and manipulated from a browser.

15. A system of reporting storage mechanism usage to a user, comprising:

a distributed computer network connecting at least one workstation, at least one browser, a storage mechanism, a scan application, and a reporting application;

wherein the at least one workstation uses the at least one browser to display information to the user;

wherein the storage mechanism stores data;

wherein the reporting application accesses the scan application and the storage mechanism;

wherein the scan application scans the storage mechanism and generates an intermediate format copy of the files in a storage mechanism;

wherein the scan application converts the intermediate format copy of the files to an HTML format copy of the files;

wherein the browser reads the HTML format copy of the files so that the user can view the files;

wherein the reporting application maps the HTML format copy of the files to memory into a report; and

wherein the reporting application manages the report by using the mapping to load only the files that are requested.