Systems and methods for displaying and viewing data models

• US 8,907,988 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BMC Software Incorporated (KKR & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BMC Software Incorporated (KKR & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Poston, Ricky, He, Ting, Cooper, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Chante
• Application Number:
  US13/174,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20130002723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/441, 345/641, 345/647, 345/660, 345/619, 715/764, 715/853
• US Class Current: 345/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting

Abstract

A computer program product is tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium and includes executable code that, when executed, is configured to cause a data processing apparatus to display multiple objects in a single pane, where the multiple objects are visual representations of real objects and the multiple objects are dynamically sized and spaced relative to one another to fit all of the objects in the single pane. The computer program product includes executable code that, when executed, causes the data processing apparatus to display a subset of the objects and associated metadata in an examination frame. The examination frame is sized to fit within the single pane, where the subset of the objects displayed within the examination frame are sized larger than the objects outside of the examination frame.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium embodying a computer program product, the computer program product including executable code that, when executed, is configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

display a data model of a computing environment including displaying multiple objects of the data model in a single pane, the multiple objects visually representing real objects of the computing environment, the multiple objects dynamically sized and spaced relative to one another to fit all of the objects in the single pane; and

display a subset of the objects and associated metadata in an examination frame and filter the subset of objects in the examination frame such that only objects having designated criteria are displayed in the examination frame, the examination frame sized to fit within the single pane, the subset of the objects displayed within the examination frame sized larger than the objects outside of the examination frame.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein:

the examination frame is movable within the single pane, and the objects within the single pane are dynamically sized and spaced based on positions of the objects relative to a position of the examination frame.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein a size of the examination frame is configurable.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein a visual representation of the subset of the objects and the associated metadata in the examination frame is configurable.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable code that, when executed, is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to display additional objects in one or more additional single panes, wherein the additional objects in the additional single panes have a hierarchical relationship with the multiple objects in the single pane.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 further comprising executable code that, when executed, is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to display a subset of the additional objects and associated metadata in an additional examination frame, the additional examination frame sized to fit within one of the additional single panes, wherein the subset of the additional objects displayed within the additional examination frame are sized larger than the additional objects outside of the additional examination frame.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 further comprising executable code that, when executed, is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to display only objects in the single pane that are related to a selected additional object from one of the additional single panes.

8. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the objects displayed outside of the examination frame gradually increase in size as the objects approach closer to the examination frame.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying, using a computer, a data model of a computing environment including displaying multiple objects of the data model in a single pane, the multiple objects visually representing real objects of the computing environment, the multiple objects dynamically sized and spaced relative to one another to fit all of the objects in the single pane; and

displaying, using the computer, a subset of the objects and associated metadata in an examination frame and filtering the subset of objects in the examination frame such that only objects having designated criteria are displayed in the examination frame, the examination frame sized to fit within the single pane, the subset of the objects displayed within the examination frame sized larger than the objects outside of the examination frame.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein:

the examination frame is movable within the single pane, and

the objects within the single pane are dynamically sized and spaced based on positions of the objects relative to a position of the examination frame.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein a size of the examination frame is configurable.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein a visual representation of the subset of the objects and the associated metadata in the examination frame is configurable.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising displaying, using the computer, additional objects in one or more additional single panes, wherein the additional objects in the additional single panes have a hierarchical relationship with the multiple objects in the single pane.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising displaying, using the computer, a subset of the additional objects and associated metadata in an additional examination frame, the additional examination frame sized to fit within one of the additional single panes, wherein the subset of the additional objects displayed within the additional examination frame are sized larger than the additional objects outside of the additional examination frame.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising displaying, using the computer, only objects in the single pane that are related to a selected additional object from one of the additional single panes.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein the objects displayed outside of the examination frame gradually increase in size as the objects approach closer to the examination frame.

17. An apparatus including instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and executable by at least one processor, the apparatus comprising:

a rendering engine configured to cause the at least one processor to;

display a data model of a computing environment including displaying multiple objects of the data model in a single pane, the multiple objects visually representing real objects of the computing environment, the multiple objects dynamically sized and spaced relative to one another to fit all of the objects in the single pane;

display a subset of the objects and associated metadata in an examination frame, the examination frame sized to fit within the single pane, the subset of the objects displayed within the examination frame sized larger than the objects outside of the examination frame; and

display additional objects in one or more additional single panes, the additional objects in the additional single panes having a hierarchical relationship with the multiple objects in the single pane.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein:

the examination frame is movable within the single pane, and

the objects within the single pane are dynamically sized and spaced based on positions of the objects relative to a position of the examination frame.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein a size of the examination frame is configurable.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein a visual representation of the subset of the objects and the associated metadata in the examination frame is configurable.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the rendering engine is configured to cause the at least one processor to filter the subset of objects in the examination frame such that only objects having designated criteria are displayed in the examination frame.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the rendering engine is configured to cause the at least one processor to display a subset of the additional objects and associated metadata in an additional examination frame, the additional examination frame sized to fit within one of the additional single panes, wherein the subset of the additional objects displayed within the additional examination frame are sized larger than the additional objects outside of the additional examination frame.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the rendering engine is configured to cause the at least one processor to display only objects in the single pane that are related to a selected additional object from one of the additional single panes.

24. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the objects displayed outside of the examination frame gradually increase in size as the objects approach closer to the examination frame.