System and methods for a task management user interface
First Claim
1. In a storage area network, a method for executing tasks associated with storage area network management comprising:
- enumerating a plurality of tasks which have previously been scheduled for execution by the storage area network, the tasks corresponding to a plurality of applications for performing management operations on manageable entities in the storage area network;
organizing the tasks according to a hierarchical structure indicative of related tasks and manageable entities affected by the tasks and organizing the tasks according to a plurality of attributes, wherein the same task is identifiable by each of the plurality of attributes and wherein the attributes include status, logs, and affected manageable entities; and
presenting a plurality of display panes on a display screen, each of the display panes operable to display task management information;
wherein a first of the plurality of display panes comprise an ordered display of the tasks, the ordered display dynamically responsive to user requests and indicative of the organized hierarchical structure;
wherein a second of the plurality of display panes, separate from the first display pane, comprises a selection tree pane which displays a hierarchical selection tree indicative of tasks;
wherein a third of the plurality of display panes, separate from the first and second display panes, comprises a context details pane which displays context specific details corresponding to a selected row icon in the task list pane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a large storage area network (SAN), many administrative tasks perform various operations. Managing the tasks can be a formidable activity. A network management application, operable to identify and manipulate the tasks, organizes the tasks in a common graphical user interface (GUI) which allows task management from a single operator console. The task manager provides a GUI having display panes for managing the tasks. The task manager allows selection and invocation of tasks, in which the same task is identifiable by each of the plurality of attributes. The task manager displays the hierarchy of tasks in a task tree, including selectable task icons, in a task tree pane. The task icons are expandable into the corresponding subtasks and operations in a task list pane, and status details about the operations and task status are displayed in a context detail pane. An operator traverses the task tree to drill down into the operation and completion status of tasks in the task tree.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a storage area network, a method for executing tasks associated with storage area network management comprising:
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enumerating a plurality of tasks which have previously been scheduled for execution by the storage area network, the tasks corresponding to a plurality of applications for performing management operations on manageable entities in the storage area network; organizing the tasks according to a hierarchical structure indicative of related tasks and manageable entities affected by the tasks and organizing the tasks according to a plurality of attributes, wherein the same task is identifiable by each of the plurality of attributes and wherein the attributes include status, logs, and affected manageable entities; and presenting a plurality of display panes on a display screen, each of the display panes operable to display task management information; wherein a first of the plurality of display panes comprise an ordered display of the tasks, the ordered display dynamically responsive to user requests and indicative of the organized hierarchical structure; wherein a second of the plurality of display panes, separate from the first display pane, comprises a selection tree pane which displays a hierarchical selection tree indicative of tasks; wherein a third of the plurality of display panes, separate from the first and second display panes, comprises a context details pane which displays context specific details corresponding to a selected row icon in the task list pane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A network management device for executing tasks associated with storage area network management comprising:
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a processor; a network interface responsive to the processor and coupled to a storage area network; a memory for storing instructions and data, the processor responsive to the instructions; a task engine operable to enumerate a plurality of tasks which have previously been scheduled for execution by the storage area network, the tasks corresponding to a plurality of applications for performing management operations on manageable entities in the storage area network; a task manager coupled to the task engine operable to organize the tasks according to a hierarchical structure indicative of related tasks and manageable entities affected by the tasks and organizing the tasks according to a plurality of attributes, wherein the same task is identifiable by each of the plurality of attributes and wherein the attributes include status, logs, and affected manageable entities; and an interactive output device responsive to the task manger for presenting a plurality of display panes on a display screen, each of the display panes operable to display task management information; wherein a first of the plurality of display panes comprise an ordered display of the tasks, the ordered display dynamically responsive to user requests and indicative of the organized hierarchical structure; wherein a second of the plurality of display panes, separate from the first display pane, comprises a selection tree pane which displays a hierarchical selection tree indicative of tasks; wherein a third of the plurality of display panes, separate from the first and second display panes, comprises a context details pane which displays context specific details corresponding to a selected row icon in the task list pane. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product having a computer readable medium operable to store computer program logic embodied in computer program code encoded thereon for executing tasks associated with storage area network comprising:
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computer program code for enumerating a plurality of tasks which have previously been scheduled for execution by the storage area network, the tasks corresponding to a plurality of applications for performing management operations on manageable entities in the storage area network; computer program code for organizing the tasks according to a hierarchical structure indicative of related tasks and manageable entities affected by the tasks and organizing the tasks according to a plurality of attributes, wherein the same task is identifiable by each of the plurality of attributes and wherein the attributes include status, logs, and affected manageable entities; and computer program code for presenting a plurality of display panes on a display screen, each of the display panes operable to display task management information; wherein a first of the plurality of display panes comprise an ordered display of the tasks, the ordered display dynamically responsive to user requests and indicative of the organized hierarchical structure; wherein a second of the plurality of display panes, separate from the first display pane, comprises a selection tree pane which displays a hierarchical selection tree indicative of tasks; wherein a third of the plurality of display panes, separate from the first and second display panes, comprises a context details pane which displays context specific details corresponding to a selected row icon in the task list pane.
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17. A network management device for executing tasks associated with a storage area network management comprising:
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means for enumerating a plurality of tasks which have previously been scheduled for execution by the storage area network, the tasks corresponding to a plurality of applications for performing management operations on manageable entities in the storage area network; means for organizing the tasks according to a hierarchical structure indicative of related tasks and manageable entities affected by the tasks and organizing the tasks according to a plurality of attributes, wherein the same task is identifiable by each of the plurality of attributes and wherein the attributes include status, logs, and affected manageable entities; and means for presenting a plurality of display panes on a display screen, each of the display panes operable to display task management information; wherein a first of the plurality of display panes comprise an ordered display of the tasks, the ordered display dynamically responsive to user requests and indicative of the organized hierarchical structure; wherein a second of the plurality of display panes, separate from the first display pane, comprises a selection tree pane which displays a hierarchical selection tree indicative of tasks; wherein a third of the plurality of display panes, separate from the first and second display panes, comprises a context details pane which displays context specific details corresponding to a selected row icon in the task list pane.
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Specification