Architecture and definition of an extensible, object-oriented graphical user interface framework for managing and administering heterogenous digital library datastores

• US 6,628,305 B1
• Filed: 04/13/1999
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vo, Mimi Phuong-Thao, Sugg, Mark Joseph, Mancuso, Michael Eric, Hong, Christine M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/290,848
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 345/734, 345/735, 345/736, 345/853, 345/854, 707/10, 707/102, 707/205, 709/230
• US Class Current: 715/734
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

An extensible, object-oriented graphical user interface (GUI) framework that provides a consistent “look and feel” for an application that interfaces to the GUI framework and that manages and administers a plurality of datastores. The GUI framework is extensible by means of a “plug-in” facility through which support for additional datastores can be added, so that a collection of heterogeneous datastores can be managed using one consistent user interface.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface for managing and administering a plurality of heterogeneous datastores, comprising an extensible, object-oriented graphical user interface (GUI) framework for providing a consistent look and feel for an application that interfaces to the GUI framework and manages and administers the plurality of heterogeneous datastores, and for providing a consistent look and feel for the plurality of heterogeneous datastores accessed by the applications, wherein the GUI framework is extensible by means of a plug-in facility in the GUI framework through which support for additional datastores can be added, so that the plurality of heterogeneous datastores can be aged using one consistent user interface and wherein the GUI framework includes a list of datastores accessible from the application and the datastore list provides a mechanism for the application to maintain a list of zero or more connected datastores.

2. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein die GUI framework further includes one or more components selected from a group comprising:

(1) a customizable menu bar,

(2) a customizable toolbar,

(3) a tree view,

(4) a container view,

(5) a status bar with optional progress bar, and

(6) find facilities for searching the containers.

3. The graphical user interface of claim 2, wherein the menu bar provides a mechanism for the application to modify a default menu bar of the GUI framework.

4. The graphical user interface of claim 2, wherein the toolbar provides a mechanism for the application to modify a default toolbar of the GUI framework.

5. The graphical user interface of claim 2, wherein the tree view provides a mechanism for the application to display a tree view of zero or more datastores, including any resources therein.

6. The graphical user interface of claim 5, wherein the tree view includes one or more functions selected from a group of functions comprising:

(1) expanding and collapsing a tree node,

(2) displaying the expanded and collapsed tree node,

(3) displaying a child node of a selected tree node,

(4) displaying a parent node of a selected tree node,

(5) displaying a root object of the tree view,

(6) displaying a selected node from the tree view,

(7) searching for a tree node from a given node or from a root node.

7. The graphical user interface of claim 2, wherein the container view provides a mechanism for the Application to display a container view of a selected node from the tree view.

8. The graphical user interface of claim 7, wherein the container view includes one or more functions selected from a group of functions comprising:

(1) expanding the container view,

(2) refreshing the container view,

(3) reloading the container view,

(4) searching the container view for an item,

(5) sorting the container view,

(6) setting the container view to a detail view,

(7) setting the container view to an iconic view, and

(8) selecting an item in the container view.

9. The graphical user interface of claim 7, wherein the container view is displayed adjacent a tree view and responds to operations performed therein, as well as operations performed within the container view.

10. The graphical user interface of claim 2, wherein the status bar provides a mechanism for the application to display a status of an operation being performed by the application.

11. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein each datastore is represented by a Common Server object.

12. The graphical user interface of claim 11, wherein each Common Server object has its own menu bat, toolbar, tree view, and container view.

13. The graphical user interface of claim 11, wherein each Common Server object is comprised of zero or more Common Objects that represent the various resources in the datastores.

14. The graphical user interface of claim 13, wherein each Common Object represents a resource within the Common Server.

15. The graphical user interface of claim 13, wherein each Common Object represents a display entity within both a tree view and a container view.

16. A method for managing and administering a plurality of heterogeneous datastores, comprising:

interfacing an extensible, object-oriented graphical user interface (GUI) framework with an application, wherein the GUI framework provides a consistent look and feel for the application and the application manages and administers the plurality of heterogeneous datastores, and the GUI framework provides a consistent look and feel for the heterogeneous datastores accessed by the application; and

extending the GUI framework by means of a plug-in facility in the GUI framework through which support for additional datastores can be added, so that the plurality of heterogeneous datastores can be managed by the application using one consistent user interface, wherein the GUI framework includes a list of datastores accessible from the application and the datastore list provides a mechanism for the application to maintain a list of zero or more connected datastores.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the GUI framework further, includes one or more components selected from a group comprising:

(1) a customizable menu bar,

(2) a customizable toolbar,

(3) a tree view,

(4) a container view,

(5) a status bar with optional progress bar, and

(6) find facilities for searching the concert.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the menu bar provides a mechanism for the application to modify a default menu bar of the GUI framework.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the toolbar provides a mechanism for the application to modify a default toolbar of the GUI framework.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the tree view provides a mechanism for the application to display a tree view of zero or more datastores, including any resources therein.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the tree view includes one or more functions selected from a group of functions comparing:

(1) expanding and collapsing a tree node,

(2) displaying the expanded and collapsed tree node,

(3) displaying a child node of a selected tree node,

(4) displaying a parent node of a selected tree node,

(5) displaying a root object of the tree view,

(6) displaying a selected node from the tree view,

(7) searching for a tree node from a given node or from a root node.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the container view provides a mechanism for the Application to display a container view of a selected node from the tree view.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the container view includes one or more functions selected from a group of functions comprising:

(1) expanding the container view,

(2) refreshing the container view,

(3) reloading the container view,

(4) searching the container view for an item,

(5) sorting the container view,

(6) setting the container view to a detail view,

(7) setting the container view to an iconic views and

(8) selecting an item in the container view.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the container view is displayed adjacent a tree view and responds to operations performed therein, as well as operations performed within the container view.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the status bar provides a mechanism for the application to display a status of an operation being performed by the application.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein each datastore is represented by a Common Server object.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein each Common Server object has its own menu bar, toolbar, tree view, and container view.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein each Common Server object is comprised of zero or more Common Objects that represent the various resources in the datastores.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein each Common Object represents a resource within the Common Server.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein each Common Object represents a display entity within both a tree view and a container view.

31. An article of manufacture embodying logic for a method for managing and administering a plurality of heterogeneous datastores, the method comprising

interfacing an extensible, object-oriented graphical user interface (GUI) framework with an application, wherein the GUI framework provides a consistent look and feel for the application and the application manages and administers the plurality of heterogeneous datastores, and the GUI framework provides a consistent look and feel for the heterogeneous datastores accessed by the application;

and

extending the GUI framework by means of a plug-in fact in the GUI framework through which support for additional datastores can be added, so that the plurality of heterogeneous datastores can be managed by the application using one consistent user interface, wherein the GUI framework includes a list of datastores accessible from the application and the datastore list provides a mechanism for the application to maintain a list of zero or more connected datastores.

32. The graphical user interface of claim 31, wherein the GUI framework further includes one or more components selected from a group comprising:

(1) a customizable menu bar,

(2) a customizable toolbar,

(3) a tree view,

(4) a container view,

(5) a status bar with optional progress bar, and

(6) find facilities for searching the container.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the menu bar provides a mechanism for the application to modify a default menu bar of the GUI framework.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the toolbar provides a mechanism for the application to modify a default toolbar of the GUI framework.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the tree view provides a mechanism for the application to display a tree view of zero or more datastores, including any resources therein.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the tree view includes one or more functions selected from a group of functions comprising:

(1) expanding and collapsing a tree node,

(2) displaying the expanded and collapsed tree node,

(3) displaying a child node of a selected tree node,

(4) displaying a parent node of a selected tree node,

(5) displaying a root object of the tree view,

(6) displaying a selected node from the tree view,

(7) searching for a tree node from a given node or from a root node.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the container view provides a mechanism for the Application to display a container view of a selected node from the tree view.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the contain view includes one or mote functions selected from a group of functions comprising:

(1) expanding the container view,

(2) refreshing the container view,

(3) reloading the container view,

(4) searching the container view for an item,

(5) sorting the container view,

(6) setting the container view to a detail view,

(7) setting the container view to an iconic view, and

(8) selecting an item in the container view.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the container view is displayed adjacent a tree view and responds to operations performed therein, as well as operations performed within the container view.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the status bar provides a mechanism for the application to display a status of an operation being performed by the application.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein each datastore is represented by a Common Server object.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein each Common Server object has its own menu bar, toolbar, tree view, and container view.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein each Common Server object is comprised of zero or more Common Objects that represent the various resources in the datastores.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein each Common Object represents a resource within the Common Server.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein each Common Object represents a display entity within both a tree view and a container view.