Selection, type matching and manipulation of resource objects by a computer program
First Claim
1. A method for enabling a user to select and manipulate resource objects using a graphical user interface of a computer system, the method comprising:
- controlling a cursor control device of the computer system to drag a program icon corresponding to a program stored on the computer system onto a resource object icon corresponding to a parent resource object of the computer system, the program icon and the parent resource object icon being displayed by the graphical user interface of the computer system, wherein the parent resource object icon is part of a plurality or resource object icons arranged in a tree topology and each resource object icon corresponds to a resource object;
determining a type of the program;
determining a type of the parent resource object;
determining a type of a first child resource object corresponding to a first child resource object icon of the parent resource object icon;
determining a type of a second child resource object corresponding to a second child resource object icon of the parent resource object icon;
comparing the type of the program to the type of the parent, the first or the second child resource objects to determine whether the program can manipulate the parent, the first or the second child resource objects;
upon determining by said comparing that the program can manipulate the first or the second child resource objects, modifying a visual display of the parent, the first or the second child resource object icons to indicate to a user that the program can manipulate the first or the second child resource objects, wherein the modification of the visual display of the parent resource object icon is different from the modification of the visual display of the first or the second resource object icons; and
upon the user electing to manipulate the first or the second child resource objects via the program, executing the program on the first or the second child resource objects.
23 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for enabling a user to select and manipulate resource objects of a given type by selecting a program of a type compatible with the type of the resource objects via the graphical user interface of a computer system. This is achieved by first controlling a cursor control device of the computer system to drag a program icon onto a resource object icon. Then, a type of the program is compared to a type of the resource object to determine whether the program can manipulate the resource object. If the program can manipulate the resource object, a visual display of the resource object icon is modified to indicate to the user that the program can manipulate the resource object. In response to the visual display, the user has the option of either electing to manipulate the object using the program by dropping the program icon onto the resource object icon, or of terminating the operation by dragging the program icon away from the resource object icon. If the user elects to manipulate the resource object via the program, the program is executed by the computer system. A method is further provided for automatically comparing the type of the program to the type of a second resource object to determine whether the program can manipulate the second resource object, if the type of the program is not compatible with the type of the first resource object. A method is further provided for performing system management on a computer system. Finally, a method is provided for performing system management on a distributed system.
127 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for enabling a user to select and manipulate resource objects using a graphical user interface of a computer system, the method comprising:
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controlling a cursor control device of the computer system to drag a program icon corresponding to a program stored on the computer system onto a resource object icon corresponding to a parent resource object of the computer system, the program icon and the parent resource object icon being displayed by the graphical user interface of the computer system, wherein the parent resource object icon is part of a plurality or resource object icons arranged in a tree topology and each resource object icon corresponds to a resource object; determining a type of the program; determining a type of the parent resource object; determining a type of a first child resource object corresponding to a first child resource object icon of the parent resource object icon; determining a type of a second child resource object corresponding to a second child resource object icon of the parent resource object icon; comparing the type of the program to the type of the parent, the first or the second child resource objects to determine whether the program can manipulate the parent, the first or the second child resource objects; upon determining by said comparing that the program can manipulate the first or the second child resource objects, modifying a visual display of the parent, the first or the second child resource object icons to indicate to a user that the program can manipulate the first or the second child resource objects, wherein the modification of the visual display of the parent resource object icon is different from the modification of the visual display of the first or the second resource object icons; and upon the user electing to manipulate the first or the second child resource objects via the program, executing the program on the first or the second child resource objects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for enabling a user to select and manipulate resource objects using a graphical user interface of a computer system, the method comprising:
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controlling a cursor control device of the computer system to drag a program icon corresponding to a program stored on the computer system onto a resource object icon corresponding to a parent resource object of the computer system, the program icon and the parent resource object icon being displayed by the graphical user interface of the computer system, wherein the parent resource object icon is part of a plurality or resource object icons arranged in a tree topology and each resource object icon corresponds to a resource object; determining a type of the program; determining a type of the parent resource object; determining a type of a child resource object corresponding to a child resource object icon of the parent resource object icon; comparing the type of the program to the type of the parent and the child resource objects to determine whether the program can manipulate the parent and the child resource objects; upon determining by said comparing that the program can manipulate the child resource object, modifying a visual display of the parent resource object icon and the child resource object icon to indicate to a user that the program can manipulate the child resource object, wherein the modification of the visual display of the parent resource object icon is different from the modification of the visual display of the child resource object icon; and upon the user electing to manipulate the child resource object via the program, executing the program on the child resource object. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A computer-readable storage medium storing software executable by a computer system, the software including instructions for:
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controlling a cursor control device of the computer system to drag a program icon corresponding to a program stored on the computer system onto a resource object icon corresponding to a parent resource object of the computer system, the program icon and the parent resource object icon being displayed by the graphical user interface of the computer system, wherein the parent resource object icon is part of a plurality or resource object icons arranged in a tree topology and each resource object icon corresponds to a resource object; determining a type of the program; determining a type of the parent resource object; determining a type of a first child resource object corresponding to a first child resource object icon of the parent resource object icon; determining a type of a second child resource object corresponding to a second child resource object icon of the parent resource object icon; comparing the type of the program to the type of the parent, the first or the second child resource objects to determine whether the program can manipulate the parent, the first or the second child resource objects; upon determining by said comparing that the program can manipulate the first or the second child resource objects, modifying a visual display of the parent, the first or the second child resource object icons to indicate to a user that the program can manipulate the first or the second child resource objects, wherein the modification of the visual display of the parent resource object icon is different from the modification of the visual display of the first or the second resource object icons; and upon the user electing to manipulate the first or the second child resource objects via the program, executing the program on the first or the second child resource objects. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-readable storage medium storing software executable by a computer system, the software including instructions for:
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controlling a cursor control device of the computer system to drag a program icon corresponding to a program stored on the computer system onto a resource object icon corresponding to a parent resource object of the computer system, the program icon and the parent resource object icon being displayed by the graphical user interface of the computer system, wherein the parent resource object icon is part of a plurality or resource object icons arranged in a tree topology and each resource object icon corresponds to a resource object; determining a type of the program; determining a type of the parent resource object; determining a type of a child resource object corresponding to a child icon of the parent resource object icon; comparing the type of the program to the type of the parent and the child resource objects to determine whether the program can manipulate the parent and the child resource objects; upon determining by said comparing that the program can manipulate the child resource object, modifying a visual display of the parent resource object icon and the child resource object icon to indicate to a user that the program can manipulate the child resource object object, wherein the modification of the visual display of the parent resource object icon is different from the modification of the visual display of the child resource object icon; and upon the user electing to manipulate the child resource object via the program, executing the program on the child resource objects. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification