DISPLAY APPARATUS, DISPLAY METHOD, AND DISPLAY PROGRAM

• US 20130275876A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: OHNO, Takeo, SONODA, Kentaro
• Granted Patent: US 9,900,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity

Abstract

A display apparatus according to an exemplary aspect of the invention includes a display unit which displays information on a system, which includes a plurality of system resources and one or more than one networks connecting the system resources, on a screen of a display device, wherein the display unit displays system resource identifiers which identify the system resources respectively, and network identifiers which identify the networks respectively, and furthermore displays a state of connection between the system resource and the network at an area determined on the basis of the displayed system resource identifier and the displayed network identifier, on the screen.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a display unit which displays information on a system, which includes a plurality of system resources and one or more than one networks connecting said system resources, on a screen of a display device, wherein

said display unit displays system resource identifiers which identify said system resources respectively, and network identifiers which identify said networks respectively, and furthermore displays a state of connection between said system resource and said network at an area determined on the basis of said displayed system resource identifier and said displayed network identifier, on said screen.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a setting unit which acquires connection setting information and information specifying one of said areas on said screen, and specifies a selected system resource, which is one of said system resources corresponding to said specified area, and a selected network, which is one of said networks corresponding to said specified area, and sets said state of connection between said selected system resource and said selected network on the basis of said connection setting information.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

said display unit displays a two-dimensional matrix with said system resource identifiers in either one of a row and a column of said matrix, and said network identifiers in the other of said row and said column, and

said area is a cell, which is corresponding to said system resource identifier and said network identifier, of said matrix.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said display unit displays furthermore a network adding icon on said screen of said display device, and when detects that said network adding icon is handled, adds either of a new column and a new raw, corresponding to a new network to said matrix and displays said matrix, and

said setting unit generates said new network when said network adding icon is handled.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said display unit displays furthermore a network adding icon on said screen of said display device, and when detects that said network adding icon is handled, acquires said network identifier identifying a hidden network which is said network included in said system and not displayed on said screen, and adds either of a new column and a new row, which is corresponding to said hidden network to said matrix, and displays said matrix.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said system resource is a virtual computer,

said display unit displays furthermore a computer adding icon on said screen of said display device, and when detects that said computer adding icon is handled, adds either of a new row and a new column, which is corresponding to a new virtual computer to said matrix, and displays said matrix, and

said setting unit generates said new virtual computer when said computer adding icon is handled.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said system resource is a computer which is either of a real computer and a virtual computer,

said display unit displays furthermore a computer adding icon on said screen of said display device, and when detects that said computer adding icon is handled, acquires said system resource identifier identifying a hidden computer, which is said computer included in said system and not displayed on said screen, and adds either of a new row and a new column, which is corresponding to said new computer to said matrix, and displays said matrix.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said display unit acquires information regarding connection among said networks and system resources, selects two system resources, a first system resource and a second system resource, which are not connected to same one of said networks, arranges said network identifiers, along a first axis of a two-dimensional coordinate system defined on said screen, and said system resource identifiers, along a second axis of said two-dimensional coordinate system, while placing said system resource identifiers of said first system resource and said second resource at the same position on said second axis.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said system resource is a computer which is either of a real computer and a virtual computer, said network is a VLAN, said system includes one or more than one switches each of which has a plurality of ports and realizes said VLAN connecting designated said ports each other, each of said plural computers is connected with any one of said ports,

said connection setting information includes an instruction for connecting or disconnecting said selected computer and said selected network each other,

said setting unit, a) if said connection setting information includes said instruction for connection, issues an instruction to said switch to make said port, with which said selected computer is connected, included in said VLAN which is said selected network, b) if said connection setting information includes said instruction for disconnection, issues an instruction to said switch to make said port, with which said selected computer is connected, erased from said VLAN which is said selected network, and, c) when said network adding icon is handled, generates new definition information on said VLAN, and outputs said new definition information to said switch.

10. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said system resource is a computer which is either of a real computer and a virtual computer, and said system includes one or more than one open flow switches each of which realizes said network, and each of said plural computers is connected with any one of said open flow switches,

said apparatus includes furthermore an OF configuration storing unit which stores an OF control table indicating connection between said computers and said networks, and an open flow controller which sends flow table information to said open flow switches so as to enable communication between said computers which are connected with the same said network respectively on said OF control table,

said connection setting information includes an instruction for connecting or disconnecting said selected computer and said selected network each other,

said setting unit, a) if said connection setting information includes said instruction for connection, adds connection between said selected computer and said selected network to said OF control table, b) if said connection setting information includes said instruction for disconnection, erases connection between said selected computer and said selected network from said OF control table, and c) when said network adding icon is handled, registers said new network in said OF control table.

11. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said system resource is a virtual computer which is realized by a virtual computer monitor running on said apparatus, and said network is a virtual network which is realized by said virtual computer monitor,

said apparatus includes furthermore a virtual configuration storing unit storing a virtual configuration table indicating connection between said virtual computers and said virtual networks,

said virtual computer monitor makes said virtual computers, which are connected with the same said virtual network, communicate each other with reference to said virtual configuration table,

said connection setting information includes an instruction for connecting or disconnecting said selected computer and said selected network each other,

said setting unit, a) if said setting information includes said instruction for connection, writes information on connection between said selected computer and said selected network in said virtual configuration table, b) if said setting information includes said instruction for disconnection, erases information on connection between said selected computer and said selected network from said virtual configuration table, and c) when said network adding icon is handled, registers a new virtual network in said virtual configuration table.

12. A method of displaying information on a system, which includes a plurality of system resources and one or more than one networks connecting said system resources each other, on a screen of a display device, comprising:

displaying system resource identifiers which identify said system resources respectively, and network identifiers which identify said networks respectively; and

displaying a state of connection between said displayed system resource and said displayed network at an area determined on the basis of said displayed system resource identifier and said displayed network identifier, on said screen.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising:

acquiring connection setting information, and information which specifies one of said areas on said screen;

specifying a selected system resource, which is one of said system resources corresponding to said specified area, and a selected network, which is one of said networks corresponding to said specified area; and

setting said state of connection between said selected system resource and said selected network on the basis of said connection setting information.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising:

displaying a two-dimensional matrix with said system resource identifiers, in either one of a row and a column of said matrix; and

said network identifiers in the other of said row and said column, wherein

said area is a cell, which is corresponding to said system resource identifier and said network identifier, of said matrix.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising:

displaying furthermore a network adding icon on said screen of said display device; and

when detecting that said network adding icon is handled;

generating a new network,

adding either of a new column and a new raw, corresponding to said new network, to said matrix, and

displaying said matrix.

16. The method according to claim 14, comprising:

displaying furthermore a network adding icon on said screen of said display device; and

when detecting that said network adding icon is handled;

acquiring said network identifier identifying a hidden network which is said network included in said system and not displayed on said screen,

adding either of a new column and a new raw, which is corresponding to said hidden network to said matrix; and

displaying said matrix.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said system resource is a virtual computer, comprising:

displaying furthermore a computer adding icon on said screen of said display device, and

when detecting that said computer adding icon is handled;

generating a new virtual computer,

adding either of a new row and a new column, which is corresponding to said new virtual computer, to said matrix; and

displaying said matrix.

18. The management method according to claim 14, wherein

said system resource is a computer which is either of a real computer and a virtual computer, comprising:

displaying furthermore a computer adding icon on said screen of said display device;

when detecting that said computer adding icon is handled;

acquiring said system resource identifier identifying a hidden computer, which is said computer included in said system and not displayed on said screen,

adding either of a new row and a new column, which is corresponding to said new computer not displayed on said screen, to said matrix; and

displaying said matrix.

19. The method according to claim 12, comprising:

acquiring information regarding connection among said networks and system resources,

selecting two system resources, a first system resource and a second system resource, which are not connected to same one of said networks, and

arranging said network identifiers, along a first axis of a two-dimensional coordinate system defined on said screen, and said system resource identifiers, along a second axis of said two-dimensional coordinate system, while placing said system resource identifiers of said first system resource and said second resource at the same position on said second axis.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein

said system resource is a computer which is either of a real computer and a virtual computer, said network is a VLAN, said system includes one or more than one switches each of which has a plurality of ports and realizes said VLAN connecting designated said ports each other, each of said plural computers is connected with any one of said ports, said connection setting information includes an instruction for connecting or disconnecting said selected computer and said selected network each other, said method carries out a step of:

issuing an instruction to said switch to make said port, with which said selected computer is connected, included in said VLAN, which is said selected network, if said connection setting information includes said instruction for connection;

issuing an instruction to said switch to make said port, with which said selected computer is connected, erased from said VLAN, which is said selected network, if said connection setting information includes said instruction for disconnection; and

generating new definition information on said VLAN when said network adding icon is handled, and outputting said new definition information to said switch.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein

said system resource is a computer which is either of a real computer and a virtual computer, said system includes one or more than one open flow switches each of which realizes said network, and each of said plural computers is connected with any one of said open flow switches, said connection setting information includes an instruction for connecting or disconnecting said selected computer and said selected network each other, and said method comprises:

storing an OF control table indicating connection between said computers and said networks;

sending flow table information to said open flow switches so as to enable communication between said computers which are connected with the same said network respectively on said OF control table;

adding connection between said selected computer and said selected networks to said OF control table if said setting information includes said instruction for connection;

erasing connecting between said selected computer and said selected network from said OF control table if said setting information includes said instruction for disconnection; and

registering said new network in said OF control table when said network adding icon is handled.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein

said system resource is a virtual computer which is realized by a virtual computer monitor running on a host computer, said network is a virtual network which is realized by said virtual computer monitor, said connection setting information includes an instruction for connecting or disconnecting said selected computer and said selected network each other, and said method comprises:

storing a virtual configuration table indicating connection between said virtual computers and said virtual networks,

carrying out communication between said virtual computers, which are connected with the same said virtual network respectively, with reference to said virtual configuration table;

writing information on connection between said selected computer and said selected network in said virtual configuration table if said setting information includes said instruction for connection;

erasing information on connection between said selected computer and said selected network from said virtual configuration table if said setting information includes said instruction for disconnection; and

registering said new virtual network in said virtual configuration table when said network adding icon is handled.

23. A computer readable non-transitory medium storing a program making a computer carry out a process of displaying information on a system, which includes a plurality of system resources and one or more than one networks connecting said system resources each other, on a screen of a display device, wherein

said program makes said computer carry out a process of:

displaying system resource identifiers which identify said system resources respectively, and network identifiers which identify said networks respectively; and

displaying a state of connection between said displayed system resource and said displayed network at an area determined on the basis of said displayed system resource identifier and said displayed network identifier, on said screen.

24. The computer readable non-transitory medium according to claim 23 wherein said program makes said computer carry out a process of:

acquiring connection setting information, and information which specifies one of said areas on said screen;

specifying a selected system resource, which is one of said system resources corresponding to said specified area, and a selected network, which is one of said networks corresponding to said specified area; and

setting said state of connection between said selected system resource and said selected network on the basis of said connection setting information.

25. The computer readable non-transitory medium according to claim 24 wherein said program makes said computer carry out a process of:

displaying a two-dimensional matrix with said system resource identifiers, in either one of a row and a column of said matrix; and

said network identifiers, in the other of said row and said column, wherein

said area is a cell, which is corresponding to said system resource identifier and said network identifier, on said matrix.

26. The computer readable non-transitory medium according to claim 25 wherein said program makes said computer carry out a process of:

displaying furthermore a network adding icon on said screen of said display device, and

when detecting that said network adding icon is handled,

generating a new network,

adding either of a new column and a new raw, corresponding to said new network to said matrix, and

displaying said matrix.

27. The computer readable non-transitory medium according to claim 25 wherein said program makes said computer carry out a process of:

displaying furthermore a network adding icon on said screen of said display device, and

when detecting that said network adding icon is handled,

acquiring said network identifier identifying a hidden network which is said network included in said system and not displayed on said screen,

adding either a new column and a new raw, which is corresponding to said hidden network to said matrix, and

displaying said matrix.

28. The computer readable non-transitory medium according to claim 25 wherein

said system resource is a virtual computer, and

said program makes said computer carry out a process of:

displaying furthermore a computer adding icon on said screen of said display device; and

when detecting that said computer adding icon is handled,

generating a new virtual computer,

adding either of a new row and a new column, which is corresponding to a new virtual computer, to said matrix, and

displaying said matrix.

29. The computer readable non-transitory medium according to claim 25, wherein

said system resource is a computer which is either of a real computer and a virtual computer, and

said program makes said computer carry out a process of:

displaying furthermore a computer adding icon on said screen of said display device,

when detecting that said computer adding icon is handled;

acquiring said system resource identifier identifying a hidden computer, which is said computer included in said system and not displayed on said screen,

adding either of a new row and a new column, which is corresponding to said new computer to said matrix, and

displaying said matrix.

30. The computer readable non-transitory medium according to claim 23 wherein said program makes said computer carry out a process of:

acquiring information regarding connection among said networks and system resources,

selecting two system resources, a first system resource and a second system resource, which are not connected to same one of said networks, and

arranging said network identifiers, along a first axis of a two-dimensional coordinate system defined on said screen, and said system resource identifiers, along a second axis of said two-dimensional coordinate system, while placing said system resource identifiers of said first system resource and said second resource at the same position on said second axis.

31. The computer readable non-transitory medium according to claim 26 wherein

said system resource is a computer which is either of a real computer and a virtual computer, said network is a VLAN, said system includes one or more than one switches each of which has a plurality of ports and realizes said VLAN connecting designated said ports each other, each of said plural computers is connected with any one of said ports, said connection setting information includes an instruction for connecting or disconnecting said selected computer and said selected network each other, said program makes said computer carry out a process of:

issuing an instruction to said switch to make said port, with which said selected computer is connected, included in said VLAN, which is said selected network, if said connection setting information includes said instruction for connection;

issuing an instruction to said switch to make said port, with which said selected computer is connected, erased from said VLAN, which is said selected network, if said connection setting information includes said instruction for disconnection; and

generating new definition information on said VLAN when said network adding icon is handled, and outputting said new definition information to said switch.

32. The computer readable non-transitory medium according to claim 26 wherein

said system resource is a computer which is either of a real computer and a virtual computer, said system includes one or more than one open flow switches each of which realizes said network, and each of said plural computers is connected with any one of said open flow switches, said connection setting information includes an instruction for connecting or disconnecting said selected computer and said selected network each other, and said program makes said computer carry out a process of:

storing an OF control table indicating connection between said computers and said networks;

sending flow table information to said open flow switch so as to enable communication between said computers which are connected with the same said network respectively on said OF control table;

adding connection between said selected computer and said selected network to said OF control table if said setting information includes said instruction for connection;

erasing connection between said selected computer and said selected network from said OF control table if said setting information includes said instruction for disconnection; and

registering said new network in said OF control table when said network adding icon is handled.

33. The computer readable non-transitory medium according to claim 26 wherein

said system resource is a virtual computer realized by a virtual computer monitor running on said computer, said network is a virtual network realized by said virtual computer monitor, and said connection setting information includes an instruction for connecting or disconnecting said selected computer and said selected network each other, and said program makes said computer carry out a process of:

storing a virtual configuration table indicating connection between said virtual computers and said virtual networks;

carrying out communication between said virtual computers, which are connected with the same said virtual network respectively, with reference to said virtual configuration table;

writing information on connection between said selected computer and said selected network in said virtual configuration table if said setting information includes said instruction for connection;

erasing information on connection between said selected computer and said selected network from said virtual configuration table if said setting information includes said instruction for disconnection; and

registering said new virtual network in said virtual configuration table when said network adding icon is handled.

34. An apparatus, comprising:

a display means for displaying information on a system, which includes a plurality of system resources and one or more than one networks connecting said system resources, on a screen of a display device, wherein

said display means is for displaying system resource identifiers which identify said system resources respectively, and network identifiers which identify said networks respectively, and furthermore displaying a state of connection between said system resource and said network at an area determined on the basis of said displayed system resource identifier and said displayed network identifier, on said screen.