Separation of presentation and business models for common management platform tasks in a storage area network

• US 8,020,108 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Roytman, Evgeny, Virgil, Michael, Hegerich, Michael G., Becher, Andrew S., Kedem, Eyal
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan; Alvin H
• Application Number:
  US11/540,160
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 715/762, 715/853, 715/965, 717/710, 717/713, 709/223
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration

Abstract

Methods and systems for separating presentation and business models for common management platform tasks in a storage area network (SAN) are disclosed. A graphical user interface (GUI) object may be mapped to a task object, which include action(s) performed on a SAN. A selection of task objects from a collection of task objects is received, which are needed to implement the underlying functionality of a GUI object. The collection of task objects is part of a task framework. An arrangement of the task objects according to a hierarchy of the framework is received. The hierarchy includes simple task objects, corresponding to actions performed on a SAN, and composite task objects, corresponding to at least two simple task objects and may include other composite task objects. The arranged task objects are mapped to the GUI object by extending a presentation object to encapsulate the GUI object and the arranged task objects.

Claims

1. A method of mapping a graphical user interface object to underlying task objects, wherein the task objects include actions performed on a storage area network, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of task objects from a collection of task objects presented for selection on an application developer graphical user interface for mapping the graphical user interface object to underlying task objects, wherein the graphical user interface object is configured for presentation on a storage area network management graphical user interface for managing the storage area network, wherein the selected task objects are needed to implement underlying functionality of the graphical user interface object, wherein the collection of task objects is part of a task framework, wherein the selection allows improvements to underlying functionality implemented by the selected task objects and maintaining a consistent user experience by displaying the graphical user interface object, wherein underlying functionality implemented by the selected task objects gathers data and computes results data and actions, and wherein the task framework comprises;

a task manager component for managing execution of task objects, wherein managing execution of task objects includes tracking a status of task object execution and allocating resources during the execution of task objects; and

a view component for managing presentation objects, wherein managing presentation objects includes managing the mapping of the graphical user interface object to the selected task objects providing the underlying functionality of the graphical user interface object;

receiving an arrangement of the selected task objects according to a task hierarchy of the task framework, wherein the hierarchy comprises simple task objects and composite task objects, wherein simple task objects correspond to an action performed on a storage area network, and wherein composite task objects correspond to at least two simple task objects and may include other composite task objects;

mapping the arranged task objects to the graphical user interface object by extending a presentation object to encapsulate the graphical user interface object and the arranged task objects, the mapping comprising;

providing a separation between the graphical user interface object and the arranged task objects, the separation such that a nomenclature of the arranged task objects need not correspond to a nomenclature of the graphical user interface object; and

encapsulating, in the presentation object, the graphical user interface object and the arranged task objects, the encapsulating providing the mapping from the graphical user interface object to the arranged task objects;

presenting the graphical user interface object on the storage area network management graphical user interface for managing the storage area network, wherein the arranged task objects mapped to the graphical user interface object are separated from the graphical user interface object and not able to be selected directly for activation on the storage area network management graphical user interface; and

receiving a selection on the storage area network management graphical user interface of the presented graphical user interface object, resulting in underlying functionality of the graphical user interface object being activated, such that one or more actions related to the mapped task objects occur on the storage area network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the task framework includes modules for executing task objects, the method comprising:

receiving an activation command for a graphical user interface object; and

using the modules to execute the task objects that are mapped from that graphical user interface object via the presentation object.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting comprises:

presenting multiple graphical user interface objects on a graphical user interface, wherein any task objects mapped to any graphical user interface objects are separated from the graphical user interface object and not presented on the graphical user interface for execution by a user;

wherein receiving a selection of the presented graphical user interface object comprises;

receiving a selection of multiple presented graphical user interface objects; and

performing receiving a selection of task objects, receiving an arrangement of task objects, and mapping for each received graphical user interface object not already mapped to one or more task objects.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising:

providing an initial presentation object, wherein an initial presentation object is used to create the presentation object for each graphical user interface object in the selection of multiple graphical user interface objects.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein, during the repeating of receiving an arrangement of task objects, using an arrangement of task objects mapped to a first graphical user interface object as the arrangement of task objects for a second graphical user interface object, wherein the first graphical user interface object is presented on a first graphical user interface and the second graphical user interface object is presented on a second graphical user interface.

6. The method of claim 3 comprising:

creating a storage area network management product graphical user interface by joining the graphical user interface objects together, wherein each graphical user interface object is presented by the storage area network management product graphical user interface, wherein the storage area network management product graphical user interface includes the underlying presentation objects and the arranged task objects of the joined graphical user interface objects, wherein the underlying presentation objects and the arranged task objects are separated from a user and are not presented by the storage area network management product graphical user interface.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the separation provides a design of the graphical user interface object without necessitating the separated design affecting the encapsulated task objects providing underlying functionality.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the task objects including simple task objects and composite task objects defined in the hierarchy, the composite task objects including at least one simple task object, the method further comprising:

executing the simple task objects and composite task objects according to the an order defined in the hierarchy, the tasks objects included in a composite task object being executed as a subtask of the composite task object, each of the subtasks executed according to a one of a plurality of execution strategies, the execution strategies including serial and parallel execution, executing further comprising;

enqueueing the task objects for execution according to the order specified in the hierarchy;

notifying waiting tasks objects of completion of enqueued subtasks; and

denoting a composite task object as completed upon notification of the respective subtasks.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the task framework defines a set of classes which encapsulate common attributes, relationships, and behavior of common management platform tasks and methods provided by the task framework include a default implementation.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the nomenclature of the arranged task objects comprises a first system for naming the task objects and the nomenclature of the graphical user interface objects comprises a second system for naming the graphical user interface objects.

11. A computer program product, stored on computer readable storage medium, including program logic encoded whereon that, when executed on a processor of a computer system, maps a graphical user interface object to underlying task objects, wherein the task objects include actions performed on a storage area network, the computer program product comprising:

computer program code for receiving a selection of task objects from a collection of task objects presented for selection on an application developer graphical user interface for mapping the graphical user interface object to underlying task objects, wherein the graphical user interface object is configured for presentation on a storage area network management graphical user interface for managing the storage area network, wherein the selected task objects are needed to implement underlying functionality of the graphical user interface object, wherein the collection of task objects is part of a task framework, wherein the selection allows improvements to underlying functionality implemented by the selected task objects and maintaining a consistent user experience by displaying the graphical user interface object, wherein underlying functionality implemented by the selected task objects gathers data and computes results data and actions, and wherein the task framework comprises;

a task manager component for managing execution of task objects, wherein managing execution of task objects includes tracking a status of task object execution and allocating resources during the execution of task objects; and

a view component for managing presentation objects, wherein managing presentation objects includes managing the mapping of the graphical user interface object to the selected task objects providing the underlying functionality of the graphical user interface object;

computer program code for receiving an arrangement of the selected task objects according to a task hierarchy of the task framework, wherein the hierarchy comprises simple task objects and composite task objects, wherein simple task objects correspond to an action performed on a storage area network, and wherein composite task objects correspond to at least two simple task objects and may include other composite task objects;

computer program code for mapping the arranged task objects to the graphical user interface object by extending a presentation object to encapsulate the graphical user interface object and the arranged task objects, the computer program code for mapping comprising;

computer program code for providing a separation between the graphical user interface object and the arranged task objects, the separation such that a nomenclature of the arranged task objects need not correspond to a nomenclature of the graphical user interface object; and

computer program code for encapsulating, in the presentation object, the graphical user interface object and the arranged task objects, the encapsulating providing the mapping from the graphical user interface object to the arranged task objects;

computer program code for presenting the graphical user interface object on the storage area network management graphical user interface for managing the storage area network, wherein the arranged task objects mapped to the graphical user interface object are separated from the graphical user interface object and not able to be selected directly for activation on the storage area network management graphical user interface; and

computer program code for receiving a selection on the storage area network management graphical user interface of the presented graphical user interface object, resulting in underlying functionality of the graphical user interface object being activated, such that one or more actions related to the mapped task objects occur on the storage area network.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the task framework includes modules for executing task objects, the method comprising:

computer program code for receiving an activation command for a graphical user interface object; and

computer program code for using the modules to execute the task objects that are mapped from that graphical user interface object via the presentation object.

13. The computer program product of claim 11 comprising, during the repeating of receiving an arrangement of task objects, computer program code for using an arrangement of task objects mapped to a first graphical user interface object as the arrangement of task objects for a second graphical user interface object, wherein the first graphical user interface object is presented on a first graphical user interface and the second graphical user interface object is presented on a second graphical user interface.

14. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising:

computer program code for creating a storage area network management product graphical user interface by joining a plurality of graphical user interface objects together, wherein each graphical user interface object is presented by the storage area network management product graphical user interface, wherein the storage area network management product graphical user interface includes the underlying presentation objects and the arranged task objects of the joined graphical user interface objects, wherein the underlying presentation objects and the arranged task objects are separated from a user and are not presented by the storage area network management product graphical user interface.

15. A method of mapping a graphical user interface object to underlying task objects, wherein the task objects includes actions performed on a storage area network, and wherein graphical user interface objects comprise a graphical user interface of a storage area network management product, the method comprising:

selecting a first graphical user interface object on the storage area network management product graphical user interface, wherein a selection of task objects from a collection of task objects presented for selection on an application developer graphical user interface for mapping the first graphical user interface object to underlying task objects, wherein the first graphical user interface object is configured for presentation on the storage area network management product graphical user interface for managing the storage area network, wherein the selected task objects implement underlying functionality of the selected first graphical user interface object and causes one or more actions to occur on the storage area network upon activation of the first graphical user interface object, wherein the selection allows improvements to underlying functionality implemented by the selected task objects and maintaining a consistent user experience by displaying the first graphical user interface object, wherein underlying functionality implemented by the selected task objects gathers data and computes results data and actions, wherein the task objects mapped to the first graphical user interface object are separated from the first graphical user interface object and not able to be selected directly for activation;

determining what task objects from a collection of task objects are needed to implement underlying functionality of the first graphical user interface object, wherein the collection of task objects is part of a task framework, wherein the task framework includes modules for executing task objects;

comprising;

a task manager component for managing execution of task objects, wherein managing execution of task objects includes tracking a status of task object execution and allocating resources during the execution of task objects; and

a view component for managing presentation objects, wherein managing presentation objects includes managing the mapping of the first graphical user interface object to the selected task objects providing the underlying functionality of the first graphical user interface object;

arranging the determined task objects according to a task hierarchy of the task framework, wherein the hierarchy comprises simple task objects and composite task objects, wherein simple task objects correspond to an action performed on a storage area network, and wherein composite task objects correspond to at least two simple task objects and may include other composite task objects;

extending a presentation object to encapsulate the first graphical user interface object and the arranged task objects for the first graphical user interface object, wherein the presentation object maps the first graphical user interface object to the arranged task objects, the mapping comprising;

providing a separation between the first graphical user interface object and the arranged task objects, the separation such that a nomenclature of the arranged task objects need not correspond to a nomenclature of the first graphical user interface object; and

encapsulating, in the presentation object, the first graphical user interface object and the arranged task objects, the encapsulating providing the mapping from the first graphical user interface object to the arranged task objects;

presenting the first graphical user interface object on the storage area network management product graphical user interface for managing the storage area network, wherein the arranged task objects mapped to the first graphical user interface object are separated from the first graphical user interface object and not able to be selected directly for activation on the storage area network management product graphical user interface; and

receiving a selection on the storage area network management product graphical user interface of the presented first graphical user interface object, resulting in underlying functionality of the first graphical user interface object being activated, such that one or more actions related to the mapped task objects occur on the storage area network.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising:

selecting a second graphical user interface object for the storage area network management product graphical user interface, wherein underlying functionality of the selected second graphical user interface object causes one or more actions to occur on a storage area network upon activation of the second graphical user interface object;

using at least part of the arranged task objects of the first graphical user interface object as part of arranged task objects for the second graphical user interface object to implement underlying functionality of the second graphical user interface object; and

extending a second presentation object to encapsulate the second graphical user interface object and the arranged task objects for the second graphical user interface object, wherein the second presentation object maps the second graphical user interface object to the arranged task objects.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein selecting comprises:

determining a function to be provided by the storage area network management product graphical user interface; and

selecting one or more graphical user interface objects to be associated with the determined function;

wherein, if more than one graphical user interface object is selected, determining, arranging, and extending are performed for each selected graphical user interface object.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein more than one graphical user interface object is selected and wherein during the repeating of arranging the determined task objects, using at least part of an arrangement of task objects for a first graphical user interface object as part of an arrangement of task objects for a second graphical user interface object.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein selecting one or more graphical user interface objects comprises:

using one or more graphical user interface objects from a pre-existing graphical user interface.

20. The method of claim 15 comprising:

creating a business model from a group of arranged task objects; and

using the business model with multiple graphical user interfaces, wherein the presentation objects vary depending on the graphical user interface objects of each graphical user interface.