Method, system and program product for generating scenarios utilizing graphical objects representing hierarchically arranged elements of a modeled environment

• US 20030006999A1
• Filed: 06/12/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Gregory G., Davis, Heather, Zierath, Kevin Lee, Norvell, John Edmondson IV, Ramachandran, Vidhyaprakash, Vemulapalli, Chandra S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,318,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A data model of a modeled environment is maintained within a database. The data model includes data defining a plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space within the modeled environment and data defining a plurality of items populating the modeled environment. In response to a first user input selecting a plurality of features of the modeled environment, where each of the selected features is one of the subsets of space or one of the items, a plurality of graphical elements are displayed within a whiteboard window to represent the plurality of user selected features. A control for at least one function is also presented to the user in association with the whiteboard window. In response to a second user input selecting the control for the function, a logical connection between at least two of the plurality of features having corresponding graphical elements within whiteboard window are automatically generated by reference to a rule set. In addition, a graphical element representing the logical connection is displayed within the whiteboard window.

Claims

1. A method of data processing, comprising:

accessing a data model of a modeled environment from a database, said data model including data defining a plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space within the modeled environment and data defining a plurality of items populating the modeled environment;

displaying a whiteboard window within a display device;

in response to at least a first user input selecting a plurality of features of said modeled environment, wherein each of said plurality of features of said modeled environment is one of said plurality of subsets of space or one of said plurality of items, displaying within the whiteboard window a plurality of graphical elements that each represent a respective one of said plurality of user selected features;

in association with said whiteboard window, presenting to the user a control for at least one function; and

in response to a second user input selecting said control for said function, automatically generating a logical connection between at least two of said plurality of features having corresponding graphical elements within whiteboard window by reference to a rule set and displaying within said whiteboard window a graphical element representing said logical connection.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

displaying, within a display device of a data processing system, one or more second windows including a plurality of user-selectable graphical elements each representing one of said plurality of features; and

in response to a third user input, copying said plurality of graphical elements from said one or more second windows into said whiteboard window.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said copying comprises copying at least one of said plurality of graphical elements utilizing a drag-and-drop technique.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said one or more second windows includes a map window presenting a map of the modeled environment, wherein multiple of said plurality of user-selectable graphical elements are displayed within said map window at diverse locations corresponding to respective locations within said modeled environment of features of said modeled environment corresponding to said multiple graphical elements.

5. The method of claim 1, and further comprising in response to a third user input selecting one of said plurality of graphical elements within said whiteboard window, presenting data from said database associated with a feature of said modeled environment represented by said graphical element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically generating a logical connection comprises automatically generating a logical connection representing a communication link.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a control for at least one function comprises presenting said control in response to said at least a first user input selecting said plurality of features of said modeled environment.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said function comprises a first function and said whiteboard window supports a plurality of functions including the first function and a second function, wherein presenting a control comprises presenting said control for said first function and refraining from presenting a control for said second function in response to which features of said modeled environment are selected by said at least a first user input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of maintaining the data model comprises maintaining a data model of real time data, said method further comprising automatically updating said whiteboard window in response to a change in said data model.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically generating a logical connection comprises automatically generating a plurality of alternative logical connections and concurrently displaying within said whiteboard window a plurality of graphical elements representing said plurality of alternative logical connections.

11. The method of claim 10, and further comprising displaying factors employed in automatically generating said plurality of alternative logical connections.

13. The data processing system of claim 12, and further comprising:

means for displaying, within the display device, one or more second windows including a plurality of user-selectable graphical elements each representing one of said plurality of features; and

means, responsive to a third user input, for copying said plurality of graphical elements from said one or more second windows into said whiteboard window.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein said means for copying comprises means for copying at least one of said plurality of graphical elements utilizing a drag-and-drop technique.

15. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein said one or more second windows includes a map window presenting a map of the modeled environment, wherein multiple of said plurality of user-selectable graphical elements are displayed within said map window at diverse locations corresponding to respective locations within said modeled environment of features of said modeled environment corresponding to said multiple graphical elements.

16. The data processing system of claim 12, and further comprising means, responsive to a third user input selecting one of said plurality of graphical elements within said whiteboard window, for presenting data from said database associated with a feature of said modeled environment represented by said graphical element.

17. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein said means for automatically generating a logical connection comprises means for automatically generating a logical connection representing a communication link.

18. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein said means for presenting a control for at least one function comprises means for presenting said control in response to said at least a first user input selecting said plurality of features of said modeled environment.

19. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein said function comprises a first function and said whiteboard window supports a plurality of functions including the first function and a second function, wherein said means for presenting a control comprises means for presenting said control for said first function and refraining from presenting a control for said second function in response to which features of said modeled environment are selected by said at least a first user input.

20. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the data model comprises real time data, said data processing system further comprising means for automatically updating said whiteboard window in response to a change in said data model.

21. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein said means for automatically generating a logical connection comprises means for automatically generating a plurality of alternative logical connections and for concurrently displaying within said whiteboard window a plurality of graphical elements representing said plurality of alternative logical connections.

22. The data processing system of claim 21, and further comprising means for displaying factors employed in automatically generating said plurality of alternative logical connections.

24. The program product of claim 23, and further comprising:

means for displaying, within the display device, one or more second windows including a plurality of user-selectable graphical elements each representing one of said plurality of features; and

means, responsive to a third user input, for copying said plurality of graphical elements from said one or more second windows into said whiteboard window.

25. The program product of claim 24, wherein said means for copying comprises means for copying at least one of said plurality of graphical elements utilizing a drag-and-drop technique.

26. The program product of claim 24, wherein said one or more second windows includes a map window presenting a map of the modeled environment, wherein multiple of said plurality of user-selectable graphical elements are displayed within said map window at diverse locations corresponding to respective locations within said modeled environment of features of said modeled environment corresponding to said multiple graphical elements.

27. The program product of claim 23, and further comprising means, responsive to a third user input selecting one of said plurality of graphical elements within said whiteboard window, for presenting data from said database associated with a feature of said modeled environment represented by said graphical element.

28. The program product of claim 23, wherein said means for automatically generating a logical connection comprises means for automatically generating a logical connection representing a communication link.

29. The program product of claim 23, wherein said means for presenting a control for at least one function comprises means for presenting said control in response to said at least a first user input selecting said plurality of features of said modeled environment.

30. The program product of claim 29, wherein said function comprises a first function and said whiteboard window supports a plurality of functions including the first function and a second function, wherein said means for presenting a control comprises means for presenting said control for said first function and refraining from presenting a control for said second function in response to which features of said modeled environment are selected by said at least a first user input.

31. The program product of claim 23, wherein the data model comprises real time data, said program product further comprising means for automatically updating said whiteboard window in response to a change in said data model.

32. The program product of claim 23, wherein said means for automatically generating a logical connection comprises means for automatically generating a plurality of alternative logical connections and for concurrently displaying within said whiteboard window a plurality of graphical elements representing said plurality of alternative logical connections.

33. The program product of claim 32, and further comprising means for displaying factors employed in automatically generating said plurality of alternative logical connections.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein:

said time control includes a slider element; and

said method further comprises positioning said slider element at first and second locations, respectively, to select said first time and said second time.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said chronological information of an item includes one or more status dates that each define a time at which a status of the item changes, and wherein presenting one or more graphical elements comprises presenting a first graphical element representing a first item in response to user selection of said first time utilizing said time control and presenting said first graphical element in a visually distinct manner in response to user,selection of said second time utilizing said time control if said one or more status dates of said first item indicate a different status for said first item before and after said first time.

38. The data processing system of claim 37, wherein:

said time control includes a slider element; and

said data processing system further comprises means for positioning said slider element at first and second locations, respectively, to select said first time and said second time.

39. The data processing system of claim 37, wherein said chronological information of an item includes one or more status dates that each define a time at which a status of the item changes, and wherein said means for presenting one or more graphical elements comprises means for presenting a first graphical element representing a first item in response to user selection of said first time utilizing said time control and for presenting said first graphical element in a visually distinct manner in response to user selection of said second time utilizing said time control if said one or more status dates of said first item indicate a different status for said first item before and after said first time.

12. A data processing system, comprising:

a processing unit;

a display device coupled to the processing unit;

an input device coupled to the processing unit;

said processing unit including;

means for accessing a data model of a modeled environment from a database, said data model including data defining a plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space within the modeled environment and data defining a plurality of items populating the modeled environment;

means for displaying a whiteboard window within the display device;

means, responsive to at least a first user input selecting a plurality of features of said modeled environment, wherein each of said plurality of features of said modeled environment is one of said plurality of subsets of space or one of said plurality of items, for displaying within the whiteboard window a plurality of graphical elements that each represent a respective one of said plurality of user selected features;

means for presenting to the user, in association with said whiteboard window, a control for at least one function; and

means, responsive to a second user input selecting said control for said function, for automatically generating a logical connection between at least two of said plurality of features having corresponding graphical elements within whiteboard window by reference to a rule set and for displaying within said whiteboard window a graphical element representing said logical connection.

23. A program product, comprising:

a computer usable medium;

a software platform encoded within said computer usable medium, said software platform including;

means for accessing a data model of a modeled environment from a database, said data model including data defining a plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space within the modeled environment and data defining a plurality of items populating the modeled environment;

means for displaying a whiteboard window within the display device;

means, responsive to at least a first user input selecting a plurality of features of said modeled environment, wherein each of said plurality of features of said modeled environment is one of said plurality of subsets of space or one of said plurality of items, for displaying within the whiteboard window a plurality of graphical elements that each represent a respective one of said plurality of user selected features;

means for presenting to the user, in association with said whiteboard window, a control for at least one function; and

means, responsive to a second user input selecting said control for said function, for automatically generating a logical connection between at least two of said plurality of features having corresponding graphical elements within whiteboard window by reference to a rule set and for displaying within said whiteboard window a graphical element representing said logical connection.

34. A method of data processing, comprising:

accessing a data model of a modeled environment from a database, said data model including data defining a plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space within the modeled environment and data defining a plurality of items populating the modeled environment, wherein each of said plurality of items has associated chronological information stored within said database;

displaying a window within a display device;

displaying in association with said window a time control by which a user can select any of a plurality of times;

in response to a first user input selecting a first time among said plurality of times utilizing said time control, presenting within said window a first view of said modeled environment including at least a portion of a particular subset among said plurality of subsets of space, and presenting within said subset one or more graphical elements representing items among said plurality of items having associated chronological information corresponding to said first time; and

in response to a second user input selecting a second time among said plurality of times utilizing said time control, presenting within said window a different second view of said modeled environment by presenting within said subset one or more graphical elements representing items among said plurality of items having associated chronological information corresponding to said second time.

37. A data processing system, comprising:

a processing unit;

a display device coupled to the processing unit;

an input device coupled to the processing unit;

said processing unit including;

means for accessing a data model of a modeled environment from a database, said data model including data defining a plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space within the modeled environment and data defining a plurality of items populating the modeled environment, wherein each of said plurality of items has associated chronological information stored within said database;

means for displaying a window within the display device;

means for displaying in association with said window a time control by which a user can select any of a plurality of times utilizing the input device;

means, responsive to a first user input selecting a first time among said plurality of times utilizing said time control, for presenting within said window a first view of said modeled environment including at least a portion of a particular subset among said plurality of subsets of space, and presenting within said subset one or more graphical elements representing items among said plurality of items having associated chronological information corresponding to said first time; and

means, responsive to a second user input selecting a second time among said plurality of times utilizing said time control, for presenting within said window a different second view of said modeled environment by presenting within said subset one or more graphical elements representing items among said plurality of items having associated chronological information corresponding to said second time.

40. A program product, comprising:

a computer usable medium;

a software platform encoded within said computer usable medium, said software platform including;

means for accessing a data model of a modeled environment from a database, said data model including data defining a plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space within the modeled environment and data defining a plurality of items populating the modeled environment, wherein each of said plurality of items has associated chronological information stored within said database;

means for displaying a window within a display device of a data processing system;

means for displaying in association with said window a time control by which a user can select any of a plurality of times utilizing the input device;

means, responsive to a first user input selecting a first time among said plurality of times utilizing said time control, for presenting within said window a first view of said modeled environment including at least a portion of a particular subset among said plurality of subsets of space, and presenting within said subset one or more graphical elements representing items among said plurality of items having associated chronological information corresponding to said first time; and

means, responsive to a second user input selecting a second time among said plurality of times utilizing said time control, for presenting within said window a different second view of said modeled environment by presenting within said subset one or more graphical elements representing items among said plurality of items having associated chronological information corresponding to said second time.

41. The program product of claim 40, wherein:

said time control includes a slider element; and

said software platform further comprises means for positioning said slider element at first and second locations, respectively, to select said first time and said second time.

42. The program product of claim 40, wherein said chronological information of an item includes one or more status dates that each define a time at which a status of the item changes, and wherein said means for presenting one or more graphical elements comprises means for presenting a first graphical element representing a first item in response to user selection of said first time utilizing said time control and presenting said first graphical element in a visually distinct manner in response to user selection of said second time utilizing said time control if said one or more status dates of said first item indicate a different status for said first item before and after said first time.