Abstract:
A system and method for providing a graphical representation of a computer device and display overlay is disclosed. A computer device is represented in a graphical representation. The computer device comprises at least two modules. An overlay comprising at least one attribute corresponding to each of the modules is positioned such that the attributes are spatially associated with the modules corresponding thereto.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/074,082, filed on Jun. 19, 2008. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to computer device management products and a system and method of providing a graphical display of a computer device to a user. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    There exists a number of computer device management programs that provide a depiction of the computer device that is being managed. In these programs, a representation of the computer device is typically presented in a graphical user interface. A user of these management programs may interact with the graphical user interface by, for example, utilizing a keyboard, mouse, or other input device. The user interaction typically involves an attempt to diagnose an issue or problem with the computer device by monitoring the operation parameters or attributes of the computer device. Often, a user must diagnose a problem with the computer device on a general level, and then later determine which of the number of particular modules or components of the computer device is experiencing the error. The problems are usually presented to the user in text format, e.g., a statement stating the issue to be resolved and the location in the computer device where the problem is located, or with a visual indication, both of which being removed from the representation of the device. 
         [0005]    In both cases, the user then must translate the location identified in the text statement or visual indication to an actual physical location in the physical device to resolve the issue. Often times, the translation between the location identified by the text statement or visual indication and the physical location in the device is non-intuitive and the user must possess specialized knowledge of the device. It would be desirable for the computer management product to provide a more intuitive presentation of the issue to the user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The disclosure addresses the above-identified issue by providing a system and method for providing an overlay upon a graphical representation of a computer device. 
         [0007]    In some features, the present disclosure provides a graphical display system for presenting attributes of a computer device to a user. The system comprises a graphical representation of a computer device and a display overlay. The computer device comprises at least two modules, which are displayed in the graphical representation. Additionally, the display overlay comprises at least one attribute corresponding to each of the modules. Further, the overlay is positioned such that each of the attributes is spatially associated with its corresponding module. 
         [0008]    In various features, the present disclosure relates to a method for presenting attributes of a computer device to a user. The method comprises representing a computer device on a display to obtain a graphical representation of the computer device, and displaying an overlay on the graphical representation. The computer device comprises at least two modules. Additionally, the overlay comprises at least one attribute corresponding to each of the modules. Further, the overlay is positioned with respect to the graphical representation such that each of the attributes is spatially associated with its corresponding module. 
         [0009]    In still other features, the systems and methods described above are implemented by a computer program executed by one or more processors. The computer program can reside on a computer readable medium such as but not limited to memory, nonvolatile data storage, and/or other suitable tangible storage mediums. 
         [0010]    Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims and the drawings. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a graphical user interface according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a graphical user interface with a graphical overlay according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a graphical user interface with a graphical overlay according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a graphical user interface with a graphical overlay according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a graphical user interface with a graphical overlay according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
         [0018]    The present disclosure is directed to a graphical user interface  10  that intuitively links performance attributes of the modules of a computer device with a graphical overlay such that the user can quickly and easily monitor any or all of the attributes of the computer device. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a graphical user interface  10  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. Graphical user interface  10  comprises a graphical representation of a computer device  11 , an indicator legend portion  12 , an alarm status portion  13 , a server status portion  14 , a selection portion  15 , and attribute display portion  16 . The graphical representation of computer device  11  is either a 3D or 2D visual representation of the computer device. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the graphical representation of computer device  11  comprises one chassis of a multi-chassis computer rack, for example, a server. Alternatively, the graphical representation of computer device  11  may show all of the chassis of a server, or any number of the chassis. A user may select which portion of the computer device that will be displayed, for example, by selecting the appropriate component/chassis in selection portion  15 . 
         [0020]    The indicator legend portion  12  of the graphical user interface  10  comprises a plurality of graphical icons  12   a - 12   e  that identify the type of indication to be presented to a user. Further, the graphical icons  12   a - 12   e  of indicator legend  12  may also indicate the importance of the indicator, the time duration of the specific indication, or any other useful information that will be illustrated in the graphical user interface  10 . In the illustrated example of  FIG. 1 , the indicator legend  12  includes icons relating to filter alarms  120 , as well as indication of the status  122  of the alarm and the severity  124  of the alarm. 
         [0021]    Selection portion  15  may comprise a list of available components or chassis of the computer device that will be displayed in the graphical representation  11 . Selection portion  15  may also provide a graphical representation of the computer device in a smaller format, with which the user could interact to select the component of the computer device that will be shown in graphical representation  11 . In the illustrated example, there are two different server chassis that may be displayed, of which one is displayed in graphical representation  11 . A user may select, through interaction with selection portion  15 , to display one, a subset of, or all of the components of the computer device to be displayed. In some embodiments, selection portion  15  could be combined with the graphical representation of the computer device  11  such that a user could interact directly with the graphical representation  11 , for example, by pointing and clicking with a mouse on the chassis of interest. 
         [0022]    The server status portion  14  provides an indication of the connection status between the management program and the computer device. The status indicated in server status portion  14  differs from that of alarm status  13  in that server status portion  14  merely indicates the status and wellbeing of the connection to the computer device. Server status portion  14  does not, for example, indicate any operating issues of the computer device, except that it shows when the computer device or a connection thereto has failed. 
         [0023]    The attribute display portion  16  of graphical user interface  10  lists, or provides a visual presentation of, all of the operating attributes of the computer device. In the illustrated example, the attribute display portion  16  lists the operating parameters or attributes of the chassis that is selected in selection portion  15  and illustrated in graphical representation  11 . The attribute display portion  16  in the illustrated example includes a table with a number of columns  16   a - 16   e.  The rows of this table comprise the specific operating parameters or attributes to be displayed. Column  16   a  indicates the state of the operating attribute and will indicate a fault or alarm relating to an attribute. Column  16   b  indentifies the name of the attribute being monitored. Column  16   c  indicates the type of the attribute being monitored, while column  16   d  indicates the value of the attribute. In the illustrated example, additional column  16   e  is provided for manipulating the settings of the specific attribute by means of a “settings” button. The amount, type and organization of the columns may differ and still fall within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a graphical user interface  10  with an associated display overlay  20  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. Display overlay  20 , or portions of the display overlay  20 , may be toggled on and off by a user. In this manner, a user may be presented with the graphical representation of computer device  11  of  FIG. 1  or, upon selection of graphical overlay  20 , the combination of graphical representation of the computer device  11  with overlay  20 . 
         [0025]    Graphical overlay  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , comprises an attribute identifier  21  and attribute display portions  22   a - 22   d.  Attribute identifier  21  provides an indication of which attribute the overlay  20  is currently presenting to the user. Attribute identifier  21  may, for example, comprise one of the graphical icons  12   a - 12   e  discussed above. Alternatively, attribute identifier  21  may be a textual indication of the attribute, or a textual indication combined with graphical icon  12   a - 12   e.  Attribute display portions  22   a - 22   d  in the illustrated example comprise bar graphs representing the measured value of the attribute being displayed. With specific reference to the attribute illustrated in  FIG. 2 , attribute identifier  21  comprises a graphical icon indicating that the temperature of the modules is being monitored. Attribute displays portions  22   a - 22   d  comprise bar graphs, which may be provided in multi-color format, as well as a numerical indication of the measured temperature value. Each of the attribute display portions  22   a - 22   d  corresponds to one of the modules  11   a - 11   d  of graphical representation of computer device  11 . The corresponding nature of the attribute display portions to the modules is indicated by a spatial association, for example, attribute display portions  22   a - 22   d  are present directly above modules  11   a - 11   d  in the illustrated example of  FIG. 2 . Alternative forms of spatial associations may be utilized, such as, but not limited to, lines connecting attribute display portions  22   a - 22   d  to their corresponding modules  11   a - 11   d.  In attribute display portion  16 , row  160 , which is temperature of the modules, may be highlighted to indicate which of the attributes is shown in graphical overlay  20 . 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , graphical overlay  20  may be subdivided into various different portions, for example, portions  20 - 1  and  20 - 2 . In this manner, a plurality of attributes may be presented in one graphical overlay  20 . In the illustrated example, graphical overlay portion  20 - 1  provides a visual indication of the data rate of modules  11   a - 11   d,  while graphical overlay portion  20 - 2  provides a visual indication of the temperature of modules  11   a - 11   d.  Attribute display portions  22   a - 1  to  22   d - 1  comprise line graphs that graphically illustrate the attribute of data rate through modules  11   a - 11   d,  respectively. Attribute display portions  22   a - 2  to  22   d - 2  comprise bar graphs illustrating the temperature of modules  11   a - 11   d,  respectively. In this manner, a user may select and monitor multiple attributes through display overlay  20 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a graphical user interface  10  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. Graphical overlay  30  in  FIG. 4  differs from the graphical overlays  20  in  FIGS. 2 and 3  in that only a portion of the attributes associated with the computer device is presented at one time. In the illustrated example, graphical overlay  30  includes a comprehensive attribute display  35  that corresponds with module  33   a  of the computer device. The comprehensive attribute display  35  is spatially associated with module  33   a  by use of spatial association indicator  34 . In the illustrated example, spatial association indicator  34  comprises lines and shaded portions linking module  33   a  with attribute display  35 , although different forms of spatial associations or spatial association indicators may be used. Comprehensive attribute display  35 , in the illustrated example, identifies four different attributes of module  33   a,  specifically, voltage  32   a,  temperature  32   b,  current  32   c,  and data rate  32   d.  These attributes are identified by attribute identifiers  31 - 1  to  31 - 4 , respectively. The specific format illustrated in  FIG. 4  of attribute display portions  32   a - 32   d  are line graphs indicating a value of the attribute versus time, although other forms of display and/or graphs may be utilized. In this embodiment, a user presented with graphical user interface  10  may monitor all of the attributes associated with a particular module  33   a  of a computer device at one time, and thus monitor the modules  33   a - 33   d  of the computer device separately. Alternatively, the graphical overlay  30  may display comprehensive attribute displays for each and every module  33   a - 33   d  of the computer device. It is contemplated that the graphical overlay  30  include all of the comprehensive attribute displays  35 , or all of the attribute display portions  22   a - 22   d,  for every module  11   a - 11   d,    33   a - 33   d  even when only a subset of these attribute display portions are displayed to a user. Thus, display overlays  20 ,  30  are said to include attributes corresponding to each of the modules even in the event that only a portion of the these attributes are displayed to a user at any one time. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a graphical user display  10  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. In this example, graphical overlay  40  displays to a user a plurality of connections  41  between modules  11   a - 11   d  of the computer device. These connections  41   a  through  41   d  are shown to link the modules that are connected, although multiple module connections, for example, one connecting modules  11   a  to  11   b  to  11   c  (not shown), may also be displayed. Graphical overlay  40  may also include attribute display portions  42   a  through  42   d  associated with connections  41   a  to  41   d,  respectively. These attribute display portions  42   a - 42   d  may, for example, display specific attributes of the connections  41   a  to  41   d  to which they are associated. In the illustrated example in  FIG. 5 , attribute display portions  42   a - 42   d  comprise a line graph of data rate versus time for the connections  41   a  to  41   d,  although other attributes would fall within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the graphical overlays  20 ,  30 ,  40  and all of their associated portions are semi-transparent. Furthermore, the graphical overlays  20 ,  30 ,  40  of the present disclosure may be positioned such that the attribute display portions, for example elements  22 ,  32  and  42 , are present over the modules  11   a - 11   d,    33   a - 33   d  to which they are associated. In various embodiments, the graphical overlays of the present disclosure include attribute display portions  22   a - 22   d,    32   a - 32   d,  and  42   a - 42   d  that are not present over their associated modules, but instead are otherwise spatially associated therewith. Additionally, attribute display portions  22 ,  32 ,  42 , may comprise one of, or a combination of, a bar graph format, a contour map format, a line graph format, a numerical or textual indication of the value of the attribute, or any other format. For example, with respect to  FIG. 2 , which indicates the temperature of the modules  11   a - 11   d  of the computer device, attribute display portions  22   a - 22   d  comprise both a bar graph and an associated numerical value indicating the temperature of the modules  11   a - 11   d,  respectively. It is also contemplated that any attribute of the computer device may be displayed by the graphical user interface  10  and its associated graphical overlay  20 ,  30 ,  40  of the present disclosure, specifically including, but not limited to, the temperature, voltage, current, power rating and data rate of a module. 
         [0030]    The graphical user interface  10  of the present disclosure may be implemented such that a user may selectively display portions of the graphical overlays  20 ,  30 ,  40  by, for example, interaction with a computer associated with the display on which the graphical user interface  10  is presented. In some embodiments, a user may toggle through various display modes of the graphical overlay  20 ,  30 ,  40  by use of hot keys on a keyboard. Alternatively, or in addition to hot keys, a user may toggle through display modes of the graphical overlay  20 ,  30 ,  40  by a mouse or any other computer input device. 
         [0031]    Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification and following claims.