METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING MULTIPLE STATES WITHIN A SINGLE IMAGE
A user display window that displays a managed object and its state within a single image includes a display pane for displaying a visual image, wherein a first icon represents the managed object and a second icon represents the state of the managed icon and the first icon is superimposed over the second icon to create the visual image. A user can visually see the managed object and its state within the computing system. A method for visually indicating a managed object and its state within a single image in a computing system includes representing the managed object with a first icon; representing the state of the managed object with a second icon; and superimposing the first icon on the second icon such that the resulting image provides a visual indication of the managed object and its state. An apparatus for visually indicating a managed object and its state within a single image in a computing system includes a first represent module that represents the managed object with a first icon; a second represent module that represents the state of the managed object with a second icon; and a superimpose module that superimposes the first icon on the second icon such that the resulting image provides a visual indication of the managed object and its state.
1 . A user display window that displays a managed object and its state within a single image, the user display window comprising:
a display pane for displaying a visual image, wherein a first icon represents the managed object and a second icon represents the state of the managed icon and the first icon is superimposed over the second icon to create the visual image; and
wherein a user can visually see the managed object and its state within the computing system.
2 . A user display window according to claim 1 , wherein a shape of the second icon indicates its state.
3 . A user display window according to claim 2 , wherein the shape includes a circle that indicates no alert, a triangle that indicates a major alert, and an octagon that indicates a critical alert.
4 . A user display window according to claim 1 , wherein a color of the second icon indicates its state.
5 . A user display window according to claim 4 , wherein the color includes green that indicates no alert, yellow that indicates a major alert, and red that indicates a critical alert.
6 . A user display window according to claim 1 , wherein the first or second icon can be created by a user.
7 . A user display window according to claim 1 , wherein the display pane also indicates a connection status for the managed object.
8 . A user display window according to claim 7 , wherein the connection status is indicated by a solid line that indicates the managed object is connected or a dashed line that indicates the managed object is unconnected.
9 . A user display window according to claim 8 , wherein the solid or dashed line is drawn around the first and second icons and is part of the visual image.
10 . A method for visually indicating a managed object and its state within a single image in a computing system, the method comprising:
representing the managed object with a first icon;
representing the state of the managed object with a second icon; and
superimposing the first icon on the second icon such that the resulting image provides a visual indication of the managed object and its state.
11 . A method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
representing a connection state of the managed object with a indicator;
12 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein representing a connection includes representing a connection state of the managed object with a solid line indicating the managed object is connected or a dashed line indicating the managed object is not connected.
13 . A method according to 10 , wherein representing the state includes representing the state with a second icon that is either a circle, indicating no alert; a triangle, indicating a major alert; or a octagon indicating a critical alert.
14 . A method according to 10 , wherein representing the state includes representing the state of the managed object by a color.
15 . A method according to claim 14 , wherein representing the state includes representing the state of the managed object by green, indicating no alert; by yellow, indicating a major alert; or by red indicating a critical alert.
16 . An apparatus for visually indicating a managed object and its state within a single image in a computing system, the apparatus comprising:
a first represent module that represents the managed object with a first icon;
a second represent module that represents the state of the managed object with a second icon; and
a superimpose module that superimposes the first icon on the second icon such that the resulting image provides a visual indication of the managed object and its state.
17 . An apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a connection module that represents a connection state of the managed object with a indicator;
18 . An apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the connection state is indicated with a solid line indicating the managed object is connected or a dashed line indicating the managed object is not connected.
19 . An apparatus according to 16 , wherein the second icon is either a circle, indicating no alert; a triangle, indicating a major alert; or a octagon indicating a critical alert.
20 . An apparatus according to 16 , wherein second icon has a color indicative of the state.