Displaying specified resource usage

• US 20030142141A1
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Lawrence, Kelvin Roderick, Hately, Andrew Douglas
• Application Number:
  US10/059,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142141A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/805
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A method, system and program for displaying specified resource usage are provided. A usage status is determined for resources utilized by a computer system. Responsive to detecting a window displayed within a user interface in association with a particular system element (e.g. software, hardware, network) from among multiple system elements, adjusting a shading of a preexisting window element within the window to indicate the usage status of at least one of the resources as utilized by the particular system element, such that a display area for specifying the usage of at least one of the resources avoids consuming additional screen real estate for a status indicator.

Claims

1. A method for displaying specified resource usage according to a system element, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a usage status for at least one resource utilized by a computer system; and

responsive to detecting a window displayed within a user interface in association with a particular system element from among a plurality of system elements, adjusting a shading of a preexisting window element within said window to indicate said usage status of said at least one resource as utilized by said particular system element, such that a display area for specifying said usage of said at least one resource avoids utilizing additional screen real estate for creating a status indicator.

2. The method for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 1, said step of determining a usage status, further comprising the step of:

determining said usage status for said at least one resource comprising at least one from among a software element, a hardware element, and a network element.

3. The method for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting said window displayed within said user interface in association with a particular system element from among a plurality of system elements, wherein said plurality of system elements comprise at least one from among a software element, a hardware element, and a network element.

4. The method for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting said window displayed within said user interface in association with a particular system element from among a plurality of system elements, wherein said window is open within said user interface.

5. The method for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting said window displayed within said user interface in association with a particular system element from among a plurality of system elements, wherein said window is minimized within said user interface.

6. The method for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 1, said step of adjusting a shading further comprising the step of:

adjusting a transparent image overlay within said window element to indicate usage status.

7. The method for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 1, said step of adjusting a shading further comprising the step of:

adjusting a transparent image overlay in a gradient increasing in a particular direction to indicate usage status.

8. The method for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 1, said step of adjusting a shading further comprising the step of:

adjusting a shading of a preexisting window element, wherein said preexisting window element comprises at least one from among a title bar, a scroll bar, a frame handle, and a minimized window icon.

9. A system for displaying specified resource usage comprising:

a graphical user interface;

means for determining a usage status for at least one resource utilized by a computer system; and

means responsive to detecting a window displayed within a said graphical user interface in association with a particular system element from among a plurality of system elements, adjusting a shading of a preexisting window element within said window to indicate said usage status of said at least one resource as utilized by said particular system element.

10. The system for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 9, said means for determining a usage status further comprising:

means for determining said usage status for said at least one resource comprising at least one from among a software element, a hardware element, and a network element.

11. The system for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 9, said system further comprising:

means for detecting said window displayed within said graphical user interface in association with a particular system element from among a plurality of system elements, wherein said plurality of system elements comprise at least one from among a software element, a hardware element, and a network element.

12. The system for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 9, said system further comprising:

means for detecting said window displayed within said graphical user interface in association with a particular system element from among a plurality of system elements, wherein said window is open within said user interface.

13. The system for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 9, said system further comprising:

means for detecting said window displayed within said graphical user interface in association with a particular system element from among a plurality of system elements, wherein said window is minimized within said user interface.

14. The system for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 9, said means for adjusting a shading further comprising:

means for adjusting a transparent image overlay within said window element to indicate usage status.

15. The system for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 9, said means for adjusting a shading further comprising:

means for adjusting a transparent image overlay in a gradient increasing in a particular direction to indicate usage status.

16. The system for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 9, said means for adjusting a shading further comprising:

means for adjusting a shading of a preexisting window element, wherein said preexisting window element comprises at least one from among a title bar, a scroll bar, a frame handle, and a minimized window icon.

17. A program for displaying specified resource usage, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for determining a usage status for at least one resource utilized by a computer system; and

means for controlling adjustment of a shading of a preexisting window element within a window within a graphical user interface to indicate said usage status of said at least one resource as utilized by a particular system element associated with said window from among a plurality of system elements.

18. The program for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for determining said usage status for said at least one resource comprising at least one from among a software element, a hardware element, and a network element.

19. The program for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for detecting said window displayed within said graphical user interface in association with a particular system element from among a plurality of system elements, wherein said plurality of system elements comprise at least one from among a software element, a hardware element, and a network element.

20. The program for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for detecting said window displayed within said graphical user interface in association with a particular system element from among a plurality of system elements, wherein said window is open within said user interface.

21. The program for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for detecting said window displayed within said graphical user interface in association with a particular system element from among a plurality of system elements, wherein said window is minimized within said user interface.

22. The program for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for controlling adjustment of a transparent image overlay within said window element to indicate usage status.

23. The program for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for controlling adjustment of a transparent image overlay in a gradient increasing in a particular direction to indicate usage status.

24. The program for displaying specified resource usage according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for controlling adjustment of a shading of a preexisting window element, wherein said preexisting window element comprises at least one from among a title bar, a scroll bar, a frame handle, and a minimized window icon.