METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPORTING AN ALERT STATE AT ANY LEVEL OF A HIERARCHY OF OBJECTS
An apparatus for reporting an alert state at any level of a hierarchy of managed objects in a computing system includes an arrange module that arranges the managed objects in a hierarchy. The hierarchy includes a top view and at least one sub-view, wherein the top view visually indicates an alert state representing the highest alert state of all managed objects and sub-views under the top view. A method for reporting an alert state at any level of a hierarchy of managed objects in a computing system includes arranging the managed objects in a hierarchy, having a top view and at least one sub-view, wherein the top view visually indicates an alert state representing the highest alert state of all managed objects and sub-views under the top view. A user display window for displaying an alert state at any level of a hierarchy of managed objects includes a navigation pane, a display pane, and a detail pane. The navigation pane displays a hierarchy of views and sub-views representing components of a computing system. The display pane displays visual representations of views, systems, or objects of the computing system. And, the detail pane displays details about a particular view, system, or object of the computing system. A user can visually see the state of any managed object within the computing system by viewing only a top-level view.
1 . An apparatus for reporting an alert state at any level of a hierarchy of managed objects in a computing system, the apparatus comprising:
an arrange module that arranges the managed objects in a hierarchy, having a top view and at least one sub-view, wherein the top view visually indicates an alert state representing the highest alert state of all managed objects and sub-views under the top view.
2 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a retrieve module that retrieves all alert states of all managed objects to determine the alert state representing the highest alert state.
3 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hierarchy is expandable and collapsible to show more or less details about the hierarchy.
4 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the top view indicates an alert state with an icon.
5 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the top view indicates an alert state with an icon having a particular shape.
6 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the top view indicates an alert state with a color.
7 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a connection module that retrieves the connection status of all managed objects.
8 . An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the connection status is displayed as a solid or dashed line.
9 . An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the connection status is displayed by a color.
10 . A user display window for displaying an alert state at any level of a hierarchy of managed objects, the user display window comprising:
a navigation pane for displaying a hierarchy of views and sub-views representing components of a computing system;
a display pane for displaying visual representations of views, systems, or objects of the computing system;
a detail pane for displaying details about a particular view, system, or object of the computing system;
wherein a user can visually see the state of any managed object within the computing system by viewing only a top-level view.
11 . A user display according to claim 10 , wherein the display pane displays the visual representation of the view, system, or objects as two superimposed icons.
12 . A user display according to claim 11 , wherein the two superimposed icons include a first icon representing an object superimposed on a second icon representing an alert state.
13 . A user display according to claim 12 , wherein the second icon represents the alert state by having a certain shape.
14 . A user display according to claim 12 , wherein the second icon represents the alert state by a color.
15 . A method for reporting an alert state at any level of a hierarchy of managed objects in a computing system, the method comprising:
arranging the managed objects in a hierarchy, having a top view and at least one sub-view, wherein the top view visually indicates an alert state representing the highest alert state of all managed objects and sub-views under the top view.
16 . A method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
retrieving all alert states of all managed objects to determine the alert state representing the highest alert state.
17 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein arranging includes arranging the managed objects in a hierarchy that is expandable and collapsible to show more or less details about the hierarchy.
18 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein arranging includes arranging the managed objects in a hierarchy, wherein the top view indicates an alert state with an icon.
19 . A method according to claim 18 , wherein arranging includes arranging the managed objects in a hierarchy, wherein the top view indicates an alert state with an icon having a particular shape.
20 . A method according to claim 18 , wherein arranging includes arranging the managed objects in a hierarchy, wherein the top view indicates an alert state with a color.