Method, system and program product for viewing and manipulating graphical objects representing hierarchically arranged elements of a modeled environment

• US 20030007000A1
• 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 7,143,100 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. A data processing system displays within a display device at least first and second windows. The first window displays a map of the modeled environment, where the map includes at least one user-selectable graphical element representing one of the plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space or one of the plurality of items. In response to a first user input, a graphical element is copied from the first window and displayed within the second window. In response to a second user input selecting the graphical element within the second window, data from the database associated with the subset of space or item represented by the graphical element is presented.

Claims

1. A method of data processing, comprising:

accessing a data model of a modeled environment within 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, within a display device of a data processing system, a first window displaying a map of the modeled environment, said map including at least one user-selectable graphical element representing one of said plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space or one of said plurality of items;

displaying within the display device a second window;

in response to a first user input, copying a graphical element from said first window and displaying said graphical element within the second window; and

in response to a second user input selecting said graphical element within said second window, presenting data from said database associated with said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said copying comprises copying said graphical element utilizing a drag-and-drop technique.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element has associated location data; and

said method further comprises panning said first window to a view of said map corresponding to said associated location information in response to the user placing said graphical element within said first window.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of presenting data comprises presenting a graphical representation of a next lower hierarchical level of said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element.

5. The method of claim 4, and further comprising in response to a third user input selecting said graphical element within said second window, presenting data associated with a current level of said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said graphical element represents one of said plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said graphical element represents one of said plurality of items.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data model comprises real time data, said method further comprising automatically updating said first window and said second window in response to a change in said data model.

9. The method of claim 1, and further comprising concurrently displaying within said second window a collection of multiple graphical elements that each represent a respective user-selected subset of space within the modeled environment, wherein each of the user-selected subsets is at a same hierarchical level of the modeled environment.

10. 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, within a display device of a data processing system, a first window including a plurality of user-selectable graphical elements that each represent a respective one of said plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space within the modeled environment;

displaying within the display device a second window; and

in response to a user input selecting a particular graphical element from said first window that represents a particular subset of space within said modeled environment, displaying within the second window one or more graphical representations of items populating said modeled environment that are all at a same hierarchical level and are all defined by said database as having a logical connection within said particular subset of space.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein displaying the first window comprises displaying a first window within which a map of the modeled environment is presented, wherein said plurality of user-selectable graphical elements are each displayed at a respective one of a plurality of locations within the map.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said user input selecting the particular graphical element comprises the user selecting said particular graphical element by dragging said particular graphical element from said first window and dropping said particular graphical element within said second window.

13. The method of claim 10, and further comprising:

in response to a user input selecting a graphical representation of a particular item displayed within said second window, said particular item having an associated multi-level item hierarchy defined within said database, displaying one or more items within a same lower level of the multilevel item hierarchy.

14. The method of claim 10, and further comprising within said second window, permitting group operations on said one or more items by the user.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the data model comprises real time data, said method further comprising automatically updating said first window and said second window in response to a change in said data model.

17. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein said means for copying comprises means for copying said graphical element utilizing a drag-and-drop technique.

18. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein:

said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element has associated location data; and

said data processing system further comprises means for panning said first window to a view of said map corresponding to said associated location information in response to the user placing said graphical element within said first window.

19. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein said means for presenting data comprises means for presenting a graphical representation of a next lower hierarchical level of said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element.

20. The data processing system of claim 19, and further comprising means, responsive to a third user input selecting said graphical element within said second window, for presenting data associated with a current level of said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element.

21. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein said graphical element represents one of said plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space.

22. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein said graphical element represents one of said plurality of items.

23. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein the data model comprises real time data, said data processing system further comprising means for automatically updating said first window and said second window in response to a change in said data model.

24. The data processing system of claim 16, and further comprising means for concurrently displaying within said second window a collection of multiple graphical elements that each represent a respective user-selected subset of space within the modeled environment, wherein each of the user-selected subsets is at a same hierarchical level of the modeled environment.

26. The data processing system of claim 25, wherein said means for displaying the first window comprises means for displaying a first window within which a map of the modeled environment is presented, wherein said plurality of user-selectable graphical elements are each displayed at a respective one of a plurality of locations within the map.

27. The data processing system of claim 25, and further comprising means for permitting the user to select said particular graphical element by dragging said particular graphical element from said first window and dropping said particular graphical element within said second window.

28. The data processing system of claim 25, and further comprising:

means, responsive to a user input selecting a graphical representation of a particular item displayed within said second window, said particular item having an associated multi-level item hierarchy defined within said database, for displaying one or more items within a same lower level of the multi-level item hierarchy.

29. The data processing system of claim 25, and further comprising means for permitting the user to perform group operations on said one or more items within said second window.

30. The data processing system of claim 25, wherein said data model comprises real time data, said data processing system further comprising means for automatically updating said first window and said second window in response to a change in said data model.

16. 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, within the display device a first window displaying a map of the modeled environment, said map including at least one user-selectable graphical element representing one of said plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space or one of said plurality of items;

means for displaying within the display device a second window;

means, responsive to a first user input, for copying a graphical element from said first window and for displaying said graphical element within the second window; and

means, responsive to a second user input selecting said graphical element within said second window, for presenting data from said database associated with said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element.

25. 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 within the display device a first window including a plurality of user-selectable graphical elements that each represent a respective one of said plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space within the modeled environment;

means for displaying within the display device a second window; and

means, responsive to a user input selecting a particular graphical element from said first window that represents a particular subset of space within said modeled environment, for displaying within the second window one or more graphical representations of items populating said modeled environment that are all at a same hierarchical level and are all defined by said database as having a logical connection within said particular subset of space.

31. A program product, comprising:

a computer usable medium;

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

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, within a display device a first window presenting a map of the modeled environment, said map including at least one user-selectable graphical element representing one of said plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space or one of said plurality of items;

means for displaying within the display device a second window;

means, responsive to a first user input, for copying a graphical element from said first window and for displaying said graphical element within the second window; and

means, responsive to a second user input selecting said graphical element within said second window, for presenting data from said database associated with said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element.

32. The program product of claim 31, wherein said means for copying comprises means for copying said graphical element utilizing a drag-and-drop technique.

33. The program product of claim 31, wherein:

said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element has associated location data; and

said program product further comprises means for panning said first window to a view of said map corresponding to said associated location information in response to the user placing said graphical element within said first window.

34. The program product of claim 31, wherein said means for presenting data comprises means for presenting a graphical representation of a next lower hierarchical level of said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element.

35. The program product of claim 34, and further comprising means, responsive to a third user input selecting said graphical element within said second window, for presenting data associated with a current level of said subset of space or item represented by said graphical element.

36. The program product of claim 31, wherein said graphical element represents one of said plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space.

37. The program product of claim 31, wherein said graphical element represents one of said plurality of items.

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

39. The program product of claim 31, and further comprising means for concurrently displaying within said second window a collection of multiple graphical elements that each represent a respective user-selected subset of space within the modeled environment, wherein each of the user-selected subsets is at a same hierarchical level of the modeled environment.

40. A program product, 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 within the display device a first window including a plurality of user-selectable graphical elements that each represent a respective one of said plurality of hierarchically arranged subsets of space within the modeled environment;

means for displaying within the display device a second window; and

means, responsive to a user input selecting a particular graphical element from said first window that represents a particular subset of space within said modeled environment, for displaying within the second window one or more graphical representations of items populating said modeled environment that are all at a same hierarchical level and are all defined by said database as having a logical connection within said particular subset of space.

41. The program product of claim 40, wherein said means for displaying the first window comprises means for displaying a first window within which a map of the modeled environment is presented, wherein said plurality of user-selectable graphical elements are each displayed at a respective one of a plurality of locations within the map.

42. The program product of claim 40, and further comprising means for permitting the user to select said particular graphical element by dragging said particular graphical element from said first window and dropping said particular graphical element within said second window.

43. The program product of claim 40, and further comprising:

means, responsive to a user input selecting a graphical representation of a particular item displayed within said second window, said particular item having an associated multi-level item hierarchy defined within said database, for displaying one or more items within a same lower level of the multi-level item hierarchy.

44. The program product of claim 40, and further comprising means for permitting the user to perform group operations on said one or more items within said second window.

45. The program product of claim 40, wherein said data model comprises real time data, said program product further comprising means for automatically updating said first window and said second window in response to a change in said data model.