Techniques for user interface selection

• US 8,533,604 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Parenti, Mark, Todd, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/215,150
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 715/743, 715/707, 715/741, 715/777
• US Class Current: 715/743
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Described are techniques for user interface selection. A plurality of user interface sets is provided. Each of the plurality of user interface sets includes a plurality of user interfaces corresponding to a plurality of user levels of interaction. Each of the plurality of user levels of interaction is associated with a different level of abstraction with respect to processing performed in the data storage system for implementing a request. First user information associated with the user is provided. The first user information identifies one of said plurality of user levels for at least one of the plurality of user interface sets. A user interface is selected for display in connection with interactions with the user in accordance with the first user information. The selected user interface is displayed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for user interface selection for a user comprising:

providing a plurality of user interface sets, wherein each of said plurality of user interface sets includes a plurality of user interfaces corresponding to a plurality of user levels of interaction, each of said plurality of user levels of interaction being associated with a different level of abstraction with respect to processing performed in a data storage system for implementing a request;

providing first user information associated with the user, the first user information identifying a first of said plurality of user levels for at least one of the plurality of user interface sets;

selecting, from a first of said plurality of user interface sets, a first user interface for display in connection with interactions with the user in accordance with the first user information;

displaying a plurality of tabs and the first user interface associated with the first user level for performing a first task for an application, wherein each of the plurality of tabs indicates a different one of the plurality of user levels, the plurality of tabs including at least a first tab denoting the first user level and a second tab denoting a second user level;

receiving a first set of one or more input parameters through user interaction with the first user interface, wherein the first set of one or more input parameters is used for performing the first task for the application when interacting at the first user level;

selecting a second one of the plurality of tabs denoting the second user level while the first user interface is displayed and includes the first set of one or more parameters, said second user level indicating a greater level of user proficiency than said first user level, wherein the second tab is selected in response to user selection of the second tab; and

displaying, in response to performing said selecting the second one of the tabs while the first user interface is displayed and includes the first set of one or more input parameters, a second user interface from the first user interface set for user interactions in connection with performing the first task, wherein said second user interface includes one or more displayed parameters that are automatically determined by mapping the first set of one or more input parameters to said one or more displayed parameters, wherein said one or more displayed parameters are a second set of input parameters customized for performing the first task for the application when interacting at the second user level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more displayed parameters indicate performing a data storage provisioning request for the application, and wherein said first of the plurality of user interface sets is associated with performing the data storage provisioning request for the application, and a second different one of the plurality of user interface sets is associated with performing a different type of request for the application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface set includes user interfaces for use in connection with obtaining information of a data storage request, the first user information including a first identifier identifying said first user level and an associated one of the first plurality of user interfaces.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first identifier includes a user interface extension indicator indicating that the user may select to interact at one or more other levels included in a range of levels from said first user level to a maximum user level, each of said levels in the range being associated with one of the user interfaces in the first user interface set.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the associated one of the first plurality of user interfaces is updated in accordance with at least one of a manual selection and an automatic update using one or more criteria.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more criteria includes successful implementation of a threshold number of requests at a level in the range, and if the threshold number of requests at said level is performed, then said first identifier is updated to identify said level and a corresponding user interface for said level is initially displayed in connection with a subsequent session for said user.

7. A computer-implemented method for user interface selection for a user comprising:

providing a plurality of user interface sets, wherein each of said plurality of user interface sets includes a plurality of user interfaces corresponding to a plurality of user levels of interaction, each of said plurality of user levels of interaction being associated with a different level of abstraction with respect to processing performed in a data storage system for implementing a request;

providing a table of first user information associated with the user, the first user information including a starting level identifier for each of said plurality of user interface sets, said starting level identifier including a first identifier identifying one of the user interfaces from said each user interface set and an optional extension indicator wherein, if said optional extension indicator is included in said starting level identifier, said optional extension indicator indicates that the user may select to interact at a different user level and associated user interface than as indicated by the first identifier;

selecting, from the plurality of user interface sets, a selected user interface set for obtaining information used to implement a request for a task associated with said selected user interface set;

selecting, in accordance with the selected user interface set, an entry in the table;

selecting, from the selected user interface set, a first user interface in accordance with the first identifier included in the entry for the selected user interface set;

displaying a plurality of tabs and the first user interface associated with a first of said plurality of user levels of interaction for performing the task for an application, wherein each of the plurality of tabs indicates a different one of the plurality of user levels, the plurality of tabs including at least a first tab denoting the first user level and a second tab denoting a second user level;

receiving a first set of one or more input parameters through user interaction with the first user interface, wherein the first set of one or more input parameters is used for performing the first task for the application when interacting at the first user level;

selecting a second one of the plurality of tabs denoting the second user level while the first user interface is displayed and includes the first set of one or more parameters, said second user level indicating a greater level of user proficiency than said first user level, wherein the second tab is selected in response to user selection of the second tab; and

displaying, in response to performing said selecting the second one of the tabs while the first user interface is displayed and includes the first set of one or more input parameters, a second user interface from the first user interface set for user interactions in connection with performing the first task, wherein said second user interface includes one or more displayed parameters that are automatically determined by mapping the first set of one or more input parameters to said one or more displayed parameters, wherein said one or more displayed parameters are a second set of input parameters customized for performing the first task for the application when interacting at the second user level.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the entry in the table includes said starting level identifier, said starting level identifier including said first identifier and the extension indicator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the extension indicator indicates that the user may interact at a selected one of said plurality of user levels ranging from said first user level corresponding to said first identifier and a maximum level, each of said plurality of user levels including a corresponding user interface in the selected user interface set.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a selectable tab for each of said plurality of user levels ranging from the first user level to the maximum level.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first identifier is automatically updated in accordance with data collected for activity of said user.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of user interface sets is associated with performing data storage provisioning for an application storing data on the data storage system.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein updating of the first identifier is performed in accordance with an enablement indicator, wherein when said enablement indicator is enabled, processing is performed to determine whether to update the first identifier in accordance with data collected for activity of the user, and if said enablement indicator is not enabled, said processing is not performed.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein permission information for the user is used to determine whether the user is allowed to modify data displayed in the first user interface and whether the user is allowed to implement a request using the first interface.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable code stored thereon for user interface selection for a user, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable code for:

providing a plurality of user interface sets, wherein each of said plurality of user interface sets includes a plurality of user interfaces corresponding to a plurality of user levels of interaction, each of said plurality of user levels of interaction being associated with a different level of abstraction with respect to processing performed in a data storage system for implementing a request;

providing a table of first user information associated with the user, the first user information including a starting level identifier for each of said plurality of user interface sets, said starting level identifier including a first identifier identifying one of the user interfaces from said each user interface set and an optional extension indicator wherein, if said optional extension indicator is included in said starting level identifier, said optional extension indicator indicates that the user may select to interact at a different user level and associated user interface than as indicated by the first identifier;

selecting, from the plurality of user interface sets, a selected user interface set for obtaining information used to implement a request for a task associated with said selected user interface set;

selecting, in accordance with the selected user interface set, an entry in the table;

selecting, from the selected user interface set, a first user interface in accordance with the first identifier included in the entry”

for the selected user interface set;

displaying a plurality of tabs and the first user interface associated with a first of said plurality of user levels of interaction for performing the task for an application, wherein each of the plurality of tabs indicates a different one of the plurality of user levels, the plurality of tabs including at least a first tab denoting the first user level and a second tab denoting a second user level;

receiving a first set of one or more input parameters through user interaction with the first user interface, wherein the first set of one or more input parameters is used for performing the first task for the application when interacting at the first user level;

selecting a second one of the plurality of tabs denoting the second user level while the first user interface is displayed and includes the first set of one or more parameters, said second user level indicating a greater level of user proficiency than said first user level, wherein the second tab is selected in response to user selection of the second tab; and

displaying, in response to performing said selecting the second one of the tabs while the first user interface is displayed and includes the first set of one or more input parameters, a second user interface from the first user interface set for user interactions in connection with performing the first task, wherein said second user interface includes one or more displayed parameters that are automatically determined by mapping the first set of one or more input parameters to said one or more displayed parameters, wherein said one or more displayed parameters are a second set of input parameters customized for performing the first task for the application when interacting at the second user level.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the entry in the table includes said starting level identifier, said starting level identifier including said first identifier and the extension indicator, wherein the extension indicator indicates that the user may interact at a selected one of said plurality of user levels ranging from said first user level corresponding to said first identifier and a maximum level, each of said plurality of user levels including a corresponding user interface in the selected user interface set.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising executable code for:

displaying a selectable tab for each of said plurality of user levels ranging from the first user level to the maximum level.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein said first identifier is automatically updated in accordance with data collected for activity of said user, and wherein updating of the first identifier is performed in accordance with an enablement indicator, when said enablement indicator is enabled, processing is performed to determine whether to update the first identifier in accordance with data collected for activity of the user, and if said enablement indicator is not enabled, said processing is not performed.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of user interface sets is associated with performing data storage provisioning for an application storing data on the data storage system.