KR20010106186A - Computer system having graphical user interface with in-line tree filtering - Google Patents

Abstract

The user may initially select the objects that appear in the default tree display to be compatible with the computer system when generating the display for the object tree. The filter dialog box requires the user to define an on-demand object filter or to select one of several predefined tree-level filters. The standard associated with the selected filter initially identifies, retrieves and applies all nodes in the branch at a level dependent on the level of the selected node. If you test all relevant nodes, a new tree display is generated keeping the tree structure with only nodes that match the selection criteria.

Description

COMPUTER SYSTEM HAVING GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE WITH IN-LINE TREE FILTERING}

The present invention relates to a computer system, and more particularly to a computer system having a graphical user interface with inline tree filtering.

In the field of data processing, resources have conventionally been arranged in a hierarchy. This hierarchical arrangement is an array of multiple levels that a particular level of resource considers to contain or "own" one or more resources at the next lower level. These owned resources may in turn be owned or included within the resource scope at the next higher level.

The easiest way to understand a hierarchical system is probably by analogy of conventional filing systems used to store and use paper documents. Most businesses have at least one filing cabinet with multiple filing cabinets. Each of these filing cabinets has several drawers. Each of these drawers can have several accordion folders. Each of these accordion folders can have a large number of individual project folders. The document warehouse, filing cabinet, drawers, accordion folders, and individual project folders form a multilevel hierarchy. Starting at the lowest level, individual project folders are "owned" or contained within by an accordion folder. Every accordion folder in a drawer is thought to be owned by that drawer. All drawers of a particular filing cabinet are "owned" by that cabinet or the like.

In a data processing environment, the most common embodiment of a hierarchical system is a file system used for a program or data file of a computer system. Computer systems often have a plurality of physical storage drives or logical storage drives. Each of these storage drives can be logically divided into numerous folders, sometimes called directories. Except for one exception, at every level of the hierarchical file system, every folder can contain only folders or by adding one or more program or data files to the folder. One exception is that the lowest level of the file system hierarchy includes only program or data files by definition.

Another embodiment of a hierarchical data processing system is a distributed system. In a distributed system, the top level is an extranet consisting of the number of primary networks or individual networks. Each individual network may comprise a small network such as a local area network or LANs. Individual "end user" devices such as workstations or printers may be directly connected to the LAN media. As another example, an individual " end user " device may be associated with a server, which in turn is connected to LAN media.

When describing a hierarchical system in a data processing system, conventionally referred to a hierarchy as a tree and each object in the tree as a node. The top level object of the tree is called the root node. Nodes other than the root node are described as being one branch of the tree. Other objects in the tree are identified as subnodes or child nodes, depending on their relationship with other nodes in the tree. A secondary node is a node having other lower level nodes (child nodes). The same node can be both a child node (compared to a higher level subnode) and a subnode (compared to a lower level node).

Except for the simplest system, the tree can be quite large and difficult to find individual nodes. The user interface designer may choose to limit the display of tree information to a relatively small window at the edge of the display screen, making it more difficult for the user to find that node of the tree. The user has to scroll the tree vertically and horizontally to locate the node, and it is difficult to evaluate the logical relationship between a given node and the remaining nodes in the tree by observing for less than a predetermined time after the user starts searching for the node. Can be embarrassing.

Many different tree representations suggest an easy way for a user to effectively handle complex trees. Most of these displays require the entire display screen to be given through a tree display scheme, and can take the form of nested display, quasi-three-dimensional display or hyperbolic display of the tree structure. Tree displays that require the use of the entire display screen are obviously impractical because the decision is already made to limit the available space for the tree display to relatively small windows at the work area edge of the display screen. When the available space created for tree display is limited, system users have relatively few tools already available for use when navigating through the tree structure.

One known tool for dealing with trees is the use of expand / collapse controls known visually by the +/- icon or the directional arrow icon and known as the twisty control. Selecting the extension icon of the twisty adjacent to a particular subnode allows the display to expand to include the subnode and the child nodes in all directions. Selecting the collapse icon of the twistie adjacent to the secondary node in an already expanded display will cause all displayed child nodes to disappear, leaving only the initial secondary node.

Expand / collapse control, which limits its usefulness when navigating through tree structures, has at least two problems. First, the control executes to select one subnode in a timely manner and then expand the display of the unidirectional child node. Second, the controls operate on all or none bases. When the extended control associated with a particular node is selected, all director nodes are shown on the display screen even if the system user is only interested in locating one or several director nodes.

This approach can solve some of the problems associated with twisties by using filters to limit the tree display to only nodes that match the filter standard. Conventional filter mechanisms have their own problems. Commonly, the filter may use a dialog box that duplicates some or all of the work area of the display screen. In addition, the conventional filter may be applied only to the direction of the child of a specific child node. This kind has the problem of limiting the flexibility and usefulness of the conventional filter mechanism.

The present invention is a filter tool that solves the problems of the prior art. In one example, the present invention is implemented by a method of selecting and displaying one or more graphic objects from a set of graphic objects occupying a predetermined position in a hierarchical object tree. At least a portion of the hierarchical object tree is initially displayed. User input is monitored to determine when this input identifies a graphical object in the displayed portion of the tree and in a set of object selection standards. If this user input is detected, the display is limited to all graphic objects that satisfy the identified graphic object and object selection standard and occupy a dependent position in the hierarchy of the identified graphic object.

1 illustrates a workstation in which the present invention is implemented.

2 is a simplified block diagram illustrating the essential components of the workstation of FIG.

3 illustrates a conventional hierarchical object tree in a majority collapsed state.

4 is a diagram illustrating the same object tree showing the form of a tree when a conventional enlarged operation is performed.

5 illustrates an object tree following filtering in accordance with the present invention.

6 shows a pull-down menu in the form used to select a filter.

7 illustrates a pull down menu in the form used to create or modify a filter.

8 illustrates a pull down menu of the type used to remove an existing filter.

9 is a dialog box of the form that may be used to define a custom filter.

10 is a flowchart showing an performing step of executing a filtering operation.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps performed to expand the functionality of a twisty control including a user select filter. FIG.

12 shows an object tree showing a filter status symbol that can be used to mark the presence of a filter, filter type and set filter when it is ignored by toggling of the twisty control.

The present invention can be easily understood with reference to the embodiments described below and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention provides a work area 20 for displaying a window in which the system unit 12 and the object tree 18 can be displayed and a video screen generated in the course of executing one or more application programs. A method of performing inline filtering of object information visible to a workstation or console 10 including a monitor 14 having a display screen that can be logically divided.

The system unit 12 is a large number of conventional components such as a central processing unit or CPU 22, a mass storage device 24 in the form of one or more hard drives located within the system unit, and a random access memory 26. And an optical drive 28 implementing optical storage technology such as a CD-R, CD-RW or DVD. According to the technology implemented in the optical drive 28, this drive may be used to store the executed application and / or data resulting from the execution of the application. This system unit typically further comprises an input device such as a keyboard 30 and a pointing device 32, most computer mice. Finally, the system unit includes an output adapter 34 to drive a device such as the monitor 14 or printer (not shown) shown in FIG. This system unit, of course, includes many other types of adapters. The components shown in FIG. 2 represent only the majority of the basic components typically found in virtual system units.

3 is a view showing a small part of a conventional object tree. In the tree shown, the root node or top node of the tree is node 36. In addition, the root node 36 may be referred to as a subnode with three child nodes 40a, 40b and 40c, which are identified as icons for network gateway devices by icons such as icons 38 and which will be described later. To identify.

The twisty control is associated with the nodes in the object tree. The reduced state is indicated by the right side triangle, for example triangle 42. If a particular node is in the collapsed state, the tree excludes the dependent nodes or represents only those nodes. The expanded state is represented by the bottom triangle, for example triangle 44. In the expanded state, the top level node in a branch is shown along each director node in that branch. For example, the expanded state for node 40b represents node 40b itself, and also represents dependent node 46 (main site and RPL) defined within the scope of node 40b. Gateway nodes 40a and 40c include a number of dependent nodes, but these dependent nodes do not appear in the object tree display because the subnodes are defined in the collapsed state rather than in the expanded state.

The tree display shown in Fig. 3 is familiar to users of an e-mail program and a network management program. Compared to the form of tree representations but widely known are those used in the Window Operating System of Microsort Corporation. In this system, the expand / collapse control is indicated by the +/- buttons respectively. Depending on how the system is configured, individual nodes may be primarily represented by icons usually accompanied by descriptive text labels.

In most networks, the number of higher level nodes, such as gateway nodes, is limited. However, the number of lower level nodes, including end nodes, can be quite large. Conventionally. When the twisty control for a particular node is extended, a system occurs that attempts to display all nodes contained within the next lower level. The number of nodes is so large that it cannot display all in a navigation operation, for example a tree display window, which makes scrolling difficult.

Referring to FIG. 4, when branch node 48 (main site) is extended, the next lower level or subordinate level may include as many nodes as not all of them are shown simultaneously in the tree window. This can be particularly embarrassing if the system administrator is not interested in all subordinate nodes but only in nodes that match certain standards, such as assignment tasks or completion of encountered error conditions. Although the icon used has a form that marks the action in a particular state, the majority of nodes shown may make it difficult for the system administrator to easily point to a limited node that matches a particular standard.

The present invention is a filter tool that facilitates a system user, such as an administrator, to limit the tree display to only the nodes of interest at present. The filter tool includes several pull down menus and at least one dialog box used for the Select, Create, Modify, and Remove filters. The structure and use of these pull-down menus and dialog boxes are described below for the results of performing tree filtering operations using them.

The object filtering operation performed in response to the selection of a branch level or tree level filter is different from conventional object filtering operations in many respects. In one example, the filtering operation applies to all nodes that depend on the selected subnode, not just those nodes at the next lower level of the hierarchy. As another example, only noses that match the filtering standard are displayed in the tree resulting from the filtering operation. As another example, the filter control is displayed directly as an inline control and available from within the tree itself. Finally, it is to be understood that the filtering operation is different from the global expansion or global reduction form of the operation known in the prior art, and the unique twisty is used as part of the tree representation.

These properties are shown in FIG. 5, which is a representation of an object tree that occurs when a selection filter is applied to all nodes from all dependent nodes of the entire system as the top filter is applied to the top root node. For example, a system user can select a tree level filter to find nodes that encounter some class of error conditions while completing an assignment.

When this filter is applied to the root node 59, its director nodes 60a, 60b and 60c are automatically selected and expanded as if they were all nodes dependent on that node. However, only displayed objects are objects that match the filter standard. Thus, expansion of gateway 60a results in a visual indication of only a few workstations shown in set 64. When the gateway 60b is extended, the extension extends to the direct additional node and all nodes subordinate to this direct additional node. Thus, the tree appears as a single user on the RPL device with the workstation encountered the main site and the error condition. Likewise, the expansion of gateway 60c shows a single workstation encountered with an error condition.

In order to allow the system user to understand that the tree display is not a representation of the complete (globally expanding) tree but rather a limited tree resulting from the selection filter, the new control element 62 and the right triangle are labeled as filtered extensions rather than global extensions. It is used to While maintaining the existing naming convention, the new control, called half-twisty, applies to all nodes that depend on the top level in the selective filtering process. Of course, other forms of visual representation of twisty control are possible.

This twisty control can cycle through two or more states. For example, the twisty cycles through three states: full collapse, filter expansion, and full expansion. In addition, these three states correspond to “view all”, “some views” and “not see” in the tree. Each click of the current active twisty control cycles through the twists after these three states.

6 shows the primary filter pull-down menu 70 selected from the application toolbar whenever the tree filtering operation is performed along the cascade menu 72 selected to perform a particular filter selection operation. Several filter holding steps can be performed directly from the primary menu 72, including the selection step 74, the fitting step 76, and the deleting step 78, all of which are secondary menus such as the menu 72. Is performed through The primary menu also includes controls that can be used to generate specific tree level or branch level operations. This field includes a base control, such as an Expand All control 80, which, if selected, causes all nodes to be displayed in the tree or branch, and includes a Contract All control 82 If a plurality of root trees, if selected, removes all objects from the tree display or branch display different from the root object or objects. In accordance with the present invention, the primary menu may also be expanded to include only objects that meet the selection criteria in the currently selected filter, if selected, including a Filtered Expand control 84.

The filter extension operation may occur from the menu 70. As another example, if the system user wishes to use a twisty control in the tree to generate a filter expansion action, control 84 may include a check box to display the user's currently selected filter with a third twist mark, e.g., the right triangle described above. Allow to assign If the current filter is assigned to the third twistie indication, the system user can use the twistie to toggle between global termination, filter extension, and full extension object tree state.

Secondary menu 72 is selected each time the user wishes to select either an existing filter custom or on-demand filter or a predetermined reference filter. This predetermined filter is changed as the intended use function of the filtering tool. The scheduled filter shown in the secondary menu 72 is typically used for network management applications where the user wishes to track pending tasks, current tasks or completed tasks or track errors encountered during execution. . Although not specifically shown, selecting the "Select on-demand filter" control selection causes the third-order filter to display a list of scheduled filters.

Referring to FIG. 7, in response to a user fitting a filter, the secondary menu 86 may be selected from the primary menu 70. The second menu preferably gives the user an opportunity to create a new filter, modify the currently selected filter, or modify it with an existing filter that is different from the currently selected filter.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the user wishes to delete an existing filter, the secondary filter 88 may be called by selecting to delete the filter control of the primary menu 70. This secondary menu 88 preferably includes a complete list of existing filters that can be deleted under user control. Reference navigation techniques such as vertical or horizontal scroll bars can be used when the complete list is expected to occupy the main screen area.

The user has defined a new filter as described above. A dialog box as shown in FIG. 9 can be used for this task. This dialog box allows the user to insert a new filter name, checkbox array 92 and radio buttons so that the filter has a simple filter setting array 94 in the form already described with reference to the secondary menu 72. And a test box 90 for use in efficiently defining a drop down list array 96 that can be used to define filters from scheduled list entries and logic operators. Array 96 is supplemented by a script box 98 that the user can use to define the desired filter using a suitable scripting language.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of steps performed to perform a selective filtering operation that occurs in a tree display of the type described with reference to FIG. 5. Initially, a default display of the object tree occurs at step 100. Typically, the default display shows a fully collapsed tree. If the user wishes to perform a filter action, the highest level tree object to which the filtering has been applied is selected in operation 102 before the filter selection initiates operation 104. This filter selection may include selecting an existing filter, modifying an existing filter, or defining a new filter. The exact order of steps performed to select a suitable filter is not necessary to understand the present invention. Completion of the filter selection operation is detected in operation 106. If the desired filter is set, the object selection filter standard associated with the selection filter is identified by the system in step 108 and the actual filtering begins.

In operation 110, the tree branch is selected by itself at a level dependent on the level of the initially selected object. In this branch, the object is identified as operation 112 and the test 114 is derived to determine whether the selected object matches the previously identified selection standard. If the object is to match the selection standard, the object is checked at step 116 In addition, the test 118 determines whether there are more objects or nodes to be considered in the same branch. If the test 114 marks an object that does not match the selection criteria, step 116 is bypassed. The program repeats the loop beginning at step 112 and ending at step 118 until test 118 indicates that all nodes have been tested at the selected branch.

If all nodes in the selected branch are tested, the program continues the test 120 to determine whether there are more branches at a level dependent on the level of the initially selected node. If there is a branch, the program starts a second loop starting at input operation 110 and continues through operation 120 until all branches are selected at the subordinate level. If all branches are tested at a level that is dependent on the level of the initially selected node, a tree display is generated in step 122 showing only objects that meet the selection criteria along a label associated with the subnode for that object.

As discussed above, it is desirable to allow a user to easily perform a filter expansion operation by associating a predetermined filter or reference filter with a "half twisty" such as the right triangle described with reference to FIG. 5. 11 illustrates a system operation performed when a user selects a twistie associated with a specific object in a tree. The current twisty state is read (act 124) to determine whether the current twisty indicates an all collapse, an expand filter, or an all expand state. The system is then tested (operation 126) to determine whether a filter extension condition is defined and whether the filter extension is associated with a twisty indication.

If the filter expansion state is defined or there is no relationship established between the existing filter and the twistie, by definition the twistie can only display either the expand all state or the collapse all state. If Test 128 shows that it is already in the expand all state, the twistie is toggled to a later available state, usually a collapse all state. If the twisty is not in the expand all state, it is in the collapse all state and toggles to the expand all state.

If operation 126 illustrates a filter associated with the twistie, the twistie may indicate one of three states: collapse all, expand filters, or expand all. Operation 130 determines whether the twisty is all in the collapse state and operation 132 determines whether the twisty is in the filter expansion state and defines the next available twisty state.

As mentioned above, filters can be applied at branch level and tree level and the filters are ignored by toggling twisty controls associated with the tree or a particular branch after it has been set. In order to provide feedback to the user regarding whether the filter is set or not, an indicator of the type shown in FIG. 12 may be included in the object tree display. Small shading circle 140 may be used to indicate that a filter has been applied to an object in the tree or to a particular branch of the tree. If a particular set of filters for a branch is ignored by toggling the twist control associated with the branch, a hollow circle or "donut" 142 may be used. The twist next to the indicator 142 indicates that the associated branch is fully reduced, that is, the user can complete something by toggling the twisty control. A "donut" reminds the user of the presence of an initial filter and an ignore filter.

Since different filters can be applied to different branches in the object tree, it is desirable to use different indicators to identify different filter states. The red dot or donut shape described may be suitable for an error indication filter. Small triangles 144 of different colors, such as yellow, may be suitable for use by filters to identify branches or objects that operate alert conditions or alert conditions.

Preferred embodiments of the invention described herein may be modified and modified by those skilled in the art. For example, the above process begins by first selecting a top level object for the filter to be applied, but by those skilled in the art, first selecting a target filter and then first requesting a filter dial box to select the root node to which the selected filter is automatically applied. It is within the scope of the present invention to trigger the process. Therefore, this may lead to further claims included in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the described changes and all other variations and modifications fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The user may initially select the objects that appear in the default tree display to be compatible with the computer system when generating the display for the object tree. The filter dialog box requires the user to define an on-demand object filter or to select one of several predefined tree-level filters. The standard associated with the selected filter initially identifies, retrieves and applies all nodes in the branch at a level dependent on the level of the selected node. If you test all relevant nodes, the new tree display has the effect of maintaining a tree structure that does not represent only nodes that match the selection criteria.

Claims (13)

A method of selecting and displaying one or more graphic objects from a set of graphic objects having a predetermined position in a hierarchical object tree. Displaying at least a portion of the hierarchical object tree; Monitoring user input by identifying object selection standards and graphical objects in the display; And in response to the user input, restricting the display of the identified graphic object and all of the graphic objects that satisfy the identified object selection standard and occupy a dependent position in the hierarchy of the identified graphic objects. The method of claim 1, wherein the object standard selection is selected from a set of predetermined selection criteria. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is monitored according to a user selection of a control associated with the identified graphical object. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising modifying the shape to cover the control only when the selected graphical object is displayed. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising adding an indicator adjacent to the selected control, wherein the added indicator is shaped to reflect the characteristics of an object selection standard. A computer system that allows a user to select graphical objects within the scope of a hierarchical object tree for visual display. The computer system, A processor; A memory connected to the processor; A display connected to said processor and having a display screen for visual display of graphical images; At least a portion of the display screen includes graphical user interface logic loaded into a memory to control the visible display, The graphical user interface logic is Display logic to provide an initial visible representation of the hierarchical object tree; User input identifying an object selection standard and input logic to monitor graphical objects included in the initial visible representation, The display logic is responsive to the monitored user input computer system for limiting the visible display to all graphic objects that satisfy the identified graphic object and object selection standard and occupy a dependent position in the hierarchy of the identified graphic object. . The method of claim 6, further comprising selection logic that allows a user to predefine a set of selection criteria, Wherein each set of selection criteria can be identified by a monitored user input. 8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the display logic provides a visual representation of a control associated with the identified graphical object and input logic that allows the user to select one of a predetermined set of selection criteria by repeating the control selection. 9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the display logic further comprises a visual indicator adjacent to the selected control, wherein the visual indicator reflects the characteristics of an object selection standard associated with the control. A computer program product comprising a computer medium having a computer readable program embodied in the medium, The computer readable program may be executed when the computer is executed. Generate a display of at least some of the hierarchical objects such that each object in the tree is represented by a graphical object having a predetermined position in the hierarchical object tree, Monitors user input that identifies object selection standards and graphical objects that appear in the generated display, And responsive to the user input, changing the display to include only the identified graphic object and all graphic objects that satisfy an object selection standard and occupy a dependent position in the hierarchy of identified graphic objects. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer readable program can further predefine a set of object standards, wherein each set of object selection standards can be selected in response to user input. 12. The computer program product of claim 10 or 11, wherein the computer readable program further generates a graphic control object associated with the identified graphic object. 13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer readable program modifies the shape of the graphic control object only when the selected graphic object is displayed.