Support mechanisms for improved group policy management user interface

• US 20040215627A1
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Tanner, Carey, Whalen, William J., Wetmore, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Provided are support mechanisms for a user interface mechanism that performs group policy management. The support mechanisms include a context menu map that provides a consistent and efficient way to generate interactive context menus for nodes using only straightforward declarations. The declarations are processed to invoke code with corresponding parameters that in turn generates a data structure corresponding to a context menu that is to be displayed. The data structure is processed into another data structure, from which data is extracted to meet the requirements of a hosting management application. An intermediary communications object is provided to separate the user interface into multiple components which each exchange data. A progress dialog is also provided to update the user as to the progress of lengthy operations performed on various managed objects, and to drive those operations. Refresh logic replicates changes made at one location in the user interface to other nodes.

Claims

1. In a computing environment, a method comprising:

providing a first data structure that includes context menu-related data including parameters corresponding to context menu items;

processing the first data structure into a second data structure, including converting at least one parameter that identifies text for a context menu item into a string of text for the context menu; and

accessing the second data structure to provide structured data in response to a request for structured data to build a context menu.

2. In a computing environment, a method comprising:

receiving a request to provide at least one context menu item corresponding to a node;

in response to the request, determining whether a data structure exists having context menu data structured to satisfy the request, and

if the data structure exists, accessing the data structure to provide structured context menu data in response to the request, and

if the data structure does not exist, constructing the data structure to provide structured context menu data in response to the request.