Navigation tool for accessing workspaces and modules in a graphical user interface

• US 6,950,990 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Rohwer, Cary, Rajarajan, Vij, Johnston, James, Gallagher, Lauren, Nedungadi, Kishnan, Hall, Annette B., Kiernan, Casey, MacMahon, Mel, Martino, Tom, Hodge, Kevin, Zimnickas, Audrius
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US10/015,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715/733, 715/736, 715/738, 715/744, 715/762, 715/764, 715/765, 715/781, 715/786, 715/788, 715/804, 715/805, 715/810, 715/843, 715/853, 715/513, 715/517, 709/217, 709/223
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/83 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 : Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 : Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/969 : Network layout and operation interface

Abstract

A method and system for displaying information related to a plurality of resources in a network environment. The system uses web technology to receive and store information related to back-end resources and to provide a framework by which client computer systems can manage the plurality of back-end resources in a uniform manner. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is employed in a computer system for selecting the visual arrangement of workspaces and modules in a network management console GUI. The console includes a first zone and a second zone. The method involves receiving a list of workspace names and, in response, displaying an explorer tool including the list of workspace names in the first zone. Upon indication from a user that a first workspace name from the list of workspace names has been selected, a first workspace associated with the first workspace name is displayed in the second zone.

Claims

1. A display device having rendered thereon a network management console for displaying and accessing objects from a plurality of network resources, comprising:

a second zone rendered in the console, the second zone including a selected workspace, the selected workspace including at least one module;

a first zone rendered in the console, the first zone including an explorer tool, the explorer tool displaying a list of workspace names and a list of module names, the list of workspace names including a workspace name associated with the selected workspace, the list of module names including a module name associated with the at least one module;

wherein the at least one module includes an object pane displaying a list of objects associated with the at least one module;

wherein the at least one module includes an task pane displaying a list of tasks associated with the list of objects;

wherein the at least one module includes an indicator indicating that one of the objects in the list of objects has been selected;

wherein the at least one module includes an indicator indicating that one of the tasks in the list of tasks has been selected;

wherein the at least one module includes a work pane displaying information related to the selected task and the selected object; and

wherein the information related to the selected task and the selected object displayed in the at least one module includes a property sheet.

2. A display device as defined in claim 1, wherein the explorer module further includes an explorer tool bar and wherein the list of workspace names is displayed in a drop down menu extending from the explorer tool bar.

3. A display device as defined in claim 2, wherein the list of module names is displayed in a drop down menu extending from the workspace name associated with the selected workspace.

4. A display device as defined in claim 3, wherein the explorer further includes a visual indicator indicating that the workspace associated with the selected workspace name is included in the second zone.

5. A display device as defined in claim 4, wherein the explorer further includes a visual indicator indicating that the module associated with the at least one module name is included in the selected workspace.

6. A display device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one module includes an object pane displaying a list of objects associated with the at least one module.

7. A display device as defined in claim 6, wherein the at least one module includes an task pane displaying a list of tasks associated with the list of objects.

8. A display device as defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one module includes an indicator indicating that one of the objects in the list of objects has been selected.

9. A display device as defined in claim 8, wherein the at least one module includes an indicator indicating that one of the tasks in the list of tasks has been selected.

10. A display device as defined in claim 9, wherein the at least one module includes a work pane displaying information related to the selected task and the selected object.

11. A display device as defined in claim 1, wherein the information related to the selected task and the selected object displayed in the at least one module further includes a property page.

12. A display device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one module includes an indicator indicating that two of the objects in the list of objects have been selected.

13. A display device as defined in claim 12, wherein the at least one module includes an indicator indicating that one of the tasks of the list of tasks has been selected.

14. A display device as defined in claim 13, wherein the at least one module includes a work pane displaying information related to the selected task and the selected objects.

15. A display device as defined in claim 13, wherein the information related to the selected task and the selected objects comprises a property page associated with a first of the two selected objects and a property page associated with a second of the two selected objects.

16. A method of displaying functions associated with an object on a graphical user interface, wherein each function is performed by one of a set of resources in a network, the method comprising:

receiving a user request to display functions associated with the object, wherein the object is associated with an object type;

collecting first information related to static functions that are associated with all objects of the object type from a first resource;

obtaining a task handler address from the object, the task handler address identifying a second resource;

generating a request to the second resource based on the task handler address for second information related to dynamic functions associated with the object;

receiving second information from the second resource; and

rendering on a display a list including static functions and dynamic functions associated with the object based on the first information and the second information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein obtaining the task handler address further comprises:

inspecting one or more property pages of the object, each property page provided by one of the set of resources.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein collecting first information further comprises:

inspecting one or more property pages of the object, each property page provided by one of the set of resources;

obtaining a static task handler address from the object, the static task handler address identifying the first resource;

generating a request to the first resource based on the static task handler address for first information related to static functions associated with the object.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein collecting first information further comprises:

accessing a data store containing first information, the first information provided by one or more resources when the resources were installed on the network.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein collecting further comprises:

accessing a property page of the object, the property previously provided by the first resource and containing the first information.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

merging the first information and the second information to create the list including static functions and dynamic functions associated with the object.