METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING A MONITORED STATE WITH NO EXPLICIT CONNECTION
A user display window for visually indicating a monitored connection state of a managed object in a computing system includes a display pane for displaying visual representations of views, systems, or objects of the computing system, wherein the managed object is represented with a first icon and the connection state is represented with an outline around the first icon. A user can visually see the connection state of any managed object within the computing system by viewing the display plane and seeing the outline around the first icon. A method for visually indicating a monitored connection state of a managed object in a computing system includes representing the managed object with a first icon; representing the connection state with a first representation; and superimposing the first icon on the first representation. An apparatus for visually indicating a monitored connection state of a managed object in a computing system includes a first represent module, a second represent module, and a superimposing module. The first represent module represents the managed object with a first icon. The second represent module represents the connection state with a first representation. The superimposing module superimposes the first icon on the first representation.
1 . A user display window for visually indicating a monitored connection state of a managed object in a computing system, the user display window comprising:
a display pane for displaying visual representations of views, systems, or objects of the computing system, wherein the managed object is represented with a first icon and the connection state is represented with an outline around the first icon;
wherein a user can visually see the connection state of any managed object within the computing system by viewing the display plane and seeing the outline around the first icon.
2 . A user display according to claim 1 , wherein the outline is a solid line.
3 . A user display according to claim 1 , wherein the outline is a dashed line.
4 . A user display according to claim 1 , wherein the outline is colored.
5 . A user display according to claim 1 , wherein the display pane also displays a second icon indicating a state of the managed object.
6 . A user display according to claim 5 , wherein the first icon is superimposed on the second icon.
7 . A user display according to claim 6 , wherein the second icon is a circle, indicating no alert; a triangle indicating a major alert; or a octagon, indicating a critical alert.
8 . A user display according to claim 5 , wherein the second icon is colored to indicate a state of the managed object.
9 . A user display according to claim 8 , wherein the color is green, indicating no alert, yellow indicating a major alert, or red indicating a critical alert.
10 . A method for visually indicating a monitored connection state of a managed object in a computing system, the method comprising:
representing the managed object with a first icon;
representing the connection state with a first representation; and
superimposing the first icon on the first representation.
11 . A method according to claim 10 , wherein representing the connection state includes representing the connection state with a first outline; and superimposing the first icon on the first outline such that the first outline appears to be around the first icon.
12 . A method according to claim 10 , wherein representing the connection state includes representing the connection state with a dashed line indicating no connection or a solid line indicating a connection.
13 . A method according to claim 10 , wherein representing the connection state includes representing the connection state with a color.
14 . A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
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.
15 . A method according to 14 , 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.
16 . A method according to 14 , wherein representing the state includes representing the state of the managed object by a color.
17 . 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.
18 . An apparatus for visually indicating a monitored connection state of a managed object 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 connection state with a first representation; and
a superimposing module that superimposes the first icon on the first representation.
19 . An apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the first representation includes an outline.
20 . An apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the outline includes a dashed line indicating no connection or a solid line indicating a connection.