Patent Publication Number: US-2019179495-A1

Title: Screen display controller, method for controlling screen display, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein program for controlling screen display

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent application No. 2017-237988, filed on Dec. 12, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The embodiment discussed herein is directed to a screen display controller, a method for controlling screen display, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a program for controlling screen display. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Since a storage device provides tens of thousands of virtual disks (may also be referred to as “volumes”) according to some system configurations, tens of thousands of rows of the volume information (may also be referred to as “records”) are displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). 
     To enhance the convenience, it is conceivable that the number of rows of records to be displayed on the GUI is reduced by using a filtering function. Examples of a narrowing condition (may also be referred to as “filtering condition”) by the filtering function are “volume name” and “volume capacity”. After being set, the filtering condition may be stored in a storing device provided to the storage device. 
     In cases where the filtering function is working, the number of records narrowed after the filtering condition is set, the ON/OFF status of the filtering condition, and the contents of the filtering condition may be displayed on the GUI along with the records, for example. 
     [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-282197 
     [Patent Literature 2] International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2009/153831 
     [Patent Literature 3] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-22594 
     However, simultaneously displaying the number of records narrowed after the filtering condition is set, the ON/OFF status of the filtering condition, and the contents of the filtering condition on the screen would increase the number of items displayed on the screen and narrow the display area for records. In particular, two or more filtering conditions may be set and would occupy an increased number of displayed items if the contents of the filtering condition is displayed on the screen. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect, a screen display controller includes: a setting processor that sets a filtering condition for a plurality records, the filtering condition narrowing one or more display target records; a first display processor that displays, on a display device, the display target records for which the filtering condition is set by the setting processor; and a second display processor that displays, when a pointer displayed on the screen of the display is located inside a particular area, a content of the filtering condition set by the setting processor on a display device. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically illustrating the hardware configuration of a screen display controller according to an example of an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram schematically illustrating the functional configuration of a screen display controller of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of screen display of a record table of a screen display controller of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of a display setting screen of a screen display controller of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of a filtering condition storing table used in a screen display controller of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of screen display of a record table when a filtering condition is set in a screen display controller of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of first screen display of the contents of a filtering condition in a screen display controller of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of second screen display of the contents of a filtering condition in a screen display controller of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a succession of procedural steps of displaying a record table in a screen display controller of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a succession of procedural steps of setting a filtering condition in a screen display controller of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a succession of procedural steps of displaying the contents of a filtering condition in a screen display controller of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an example of screen display of the contents of a filtering condition in a screen display controller according to a modification to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Hereinafter, description will now be made in relation to an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiment is exemplary, and does not have intention to exclude various modifications and applications of techniques not mentioned in the embodiment. In other words, various changes and modifications can be suggested without departing from the scope of the embodiment. 
     The drawings do not illustrate therein all the functions and elements included in the embodiment, and may include additional functions and elements to those illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     Throughout the drawings, like reference numbers designate the same or substantially the same parts and elements, so repetitious description is omitted here. 
     (A) EXAMPLE OF EMBODIMENT 
     (A-1) Example of a System Configuration 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically illustrating the hardware configuration of a screen display controller  1  according to an example of the present embodiment. 
     The screen display controller  1  includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU)  11 , a memory  12 , a display controller  13 , a storing device  14 , an input interface (I/F)  15 , a writing/reading processor  16 , and a communication I/F  17 . 
     The memory  12  is exemplarily a storing device including a Read Only Memory (ROM) and a Random Access Memory (RAM). Into the ROM of the memory  12 , a program such as a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) may be written. A software program in the memory  12  may be appropriately read into and executed by the CPU  11 . The RAM of the memory  12  may be used as a primary recording memory or a working memory. 
     The display controller  13  is connected to a monitor  130  (display device) and controls the monitor  130 . Examples of the monitor  130  are an LCD, an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display, and an electronic paper display. The monitor  130  displays thereon various types of information to, for example, the operator. The monitor  130  may be combined with an input device and may be exemplified by a touch panel. The monitor  130  displays thereon a record table screen (to be described below with reference to  FIG. 3 ) and a display setting screen (to be described below with reference to  FIG. 4 ). 
     The storing device  14  is a device that readably and writably stores data and may be exemplified by a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a Solid State Drive (SSD), and a Storage Class Memory (SCM). 
     The input I/F  15  is connected to an input device such as a mouse  151  and a keyboard  152 , and controls the input device such as the mouse  151  and the keyboard  152 . The mouse  151  and the keyboard  152  are examples of an input device through which the operator makes various inputs. 
     The writing/reading processor  16  is configured to be able to mount a recording medium  160  thereon. The writing/reading processor  16  is configured to be capable of reading information recorded in the recording medium  16  under a state where the recording medium  160  is mounted on the writing/reading processor  16 . In this example, the recording medium  160  is portable. Examples of the recording medium  160  are a flexible disk, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, and a magneto-optical disk, and a semiconductor memory. 
     The communication I/F  17  is an interface that makes the screen display controller  1  possible to communicate with an external device. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram schematically illustrating the functional configuration of the screen display controller  1  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The CPU  11  is a processor that carries out various controls and calculations, and achieves various functions by executing the Operating System (OS) and programs stored in the memory  12 . Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the CPU  11  of the server device  1  functions as a setting processor  111 , a first display processor  112 , and a second display processor  113 . 
     The program to achieve the functions as the setting processor  111 , the first display processor  112 , and the second display processor  113  is provided, for example, in the form of being recorded in the above-described recording medium  160 . The computer reads the program from the recording medium  160  through the writing/reading processor  16 , and transfers the read program to an internal or external storing device to store therein for future use. Otherwise, the program may be recorded in a storing device (recording medium) such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk, and be provided from the storing device to the computer through a communication path. 
     In achieving the functions of the setting processor  111 , the first display processor  112 , and the second display processor  113 , the program stored in the internal storing device (in this embodiment, the memory  12 ) is executed by the microprocessor (CPU  11  of the present embodiment) of the computer. Alternatively, the computer may read and execute the program recorded in the recording medium  160 . 
     The CPU  11  exemplarily controls the operation of the overall screen display controller  1 . The device to control the operation of the overall screen display controller  1  is not limited to the CPU  11 , and may alternatively be one of a Micro Processing Unit (MPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Further alternatively, the device to control the operation of the overall screen display controller  1  may be a combination including two or more of a CPU, an MPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a PLD, and an FPGA. 
     The setting processor  111  sets a filtering condition on a record table  135  (to be described below with reference to  FIG. 3 , for example) displayed on the monitor  130 . The detailed function of the setting processor  111  will be described below with reference to, for example,  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     The first display processor  112  displays, for example, a record table  135  (to be described below with reference to  FIG. 3 ) on the monitor  130 . The detailed function of the first display processor  112  will be described below with reference to, for example,  FIGS. 3 and 6-8 . 
     The second display processor  113  displays, for example, the contents of a filtering condition on the monitor  130 . The detailed function of the second display processor  113  will be described below with reference to, for example,  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of screen display of the record table  135  of the screen display controller  1  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The first display processor  112  exemplarily displays a retrieval box  131 , a record number  132 , a page number  133 , a display setting button  134 , and a record table  135  on the monitor  130 . The first display processor  112  displays, when the display screen is switched to a volume list, when the display screen is updated, or when the filtering condition is set, one or more records satisfying the filtering condition in the form of the record table  135  on the monitor  130  by referring to a filtering condition storing table. The filtering condition storing table will be described below with reference to, for example,  FIG. 5 . A record may also be referred to as an item. 
     The retrieval box  131  is used to retrieve an arbitrary record from the record table  135 . 
     The record number  132  indicates the number of records narrowed by the filtering condition (represented by the numerator in  FIG. 3 ) and the number of overall records included in the record table  135  (represented by the denominator in  FIG. 3 ). In the example of  FIG. 3 , 22400 records out of the overall 22400 records are being displayed. This means that the filtering condition is not set in the example of  FIG. 3 . The number of records narrowed by the filtering condition and the number of overall records included in the record table  135  may also be referred to as the display target number and the overall record number, respectively. 
     The page number  133  indicates the number of the page of the record table  135  which page is being displayed on the monitor  130  (represented by the numerator in  FIG. 3 ) and the number of overall pages the record table  135  that can be displayed (represented by the denominator in  FIG. 3 ). In the example of  FIG. 3 , the first page out of the overall 310 pages is being displayed. 
     The display setting button  134  is a button to display a display setting screen on the monitor  130 . When the display setting button  134  is selected, the display setting screen that is to be detailed below with reference to  FIG. 4  is displayed. 
     The record table  135  includes multiple records. In the example of  FIG. 3 , the record table  135  is a volume list indicative of the volumes included in the storage device (not illustrated). The record table  135  may also be referred to as a displayed item storing table  135  or simply a table  135 . 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of a display setting screen of the screen display controller  1  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The setting processor  111  sets a filtering condition that the user inputs on the display setting screen to narrow the display targets on the records of the record table  135 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , examples of the filtering item are “STATUS”, “CAPACITY THRESHOLD STATUS”, “PROCESSING STATE”, AND “ID”. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of the filtering condition storing table used in the screen display controller  1  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The setting processor  111  stores the filtering condition set for the records into, for example, the storing device  14 . The filtering condition set for the records are represented by, for example, the filtering condition storing table illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In other words, the setting processor  111  generates the filtering condition storing table. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the filtering condition storing table has columns of “ITEM”, “SET VALUE”, AND “VALIDITY”. The “ITEM” column indicates each filtering items illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The “SET VALUE” column indicates a value set for each filtering item. The “VALIDITY” column indicates whether each filtering item is valid or invalid. For example, a filter item of which the “VALIDITY” column is set to “1” is valid, but a filter item of which the “VALIDITY” column is set to “0” is invalid. 
     In the example of  FIG. 5 , a filtering condition which has the filter item “STATUS” of “NORMAL”, a filtering condition which has the filter item “PROCESSING STATE” OF “COPYING”, a filtering condition which has the filter item “ID” of “1001-3000” are set to be valid. In contrast, in the example of  FIG. 5 , the filter item “CAPACITY THRESHOLD STATUS” is set to be invalid. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of screen display of the record table  135  when a filtering condition is set in a screen display controller  1  of  FIG. 1 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , a pointer  136  operated by the mouse  151  appears. 
     The first display processor  112  narrows one or more records to be displayed in the record table  135  on the basis of the filtering condition set by the setting processor  111  by referring to the filtering condition storing table illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and displays the narrowed records on the monitor  130 . In other words, the first display processor  112  displays the display target records satisfying the filtering condition set by the setting processor  111  on the monitor  130 . 
     The first display processor  112  may change the display color of the record number (represented by the numerator in  FIG. 6 ) narrowed by the filtering condition in the record number  132  (hatched in  FIG. 6 ). This allows the user to recognize that the filtering condition is set on the record table  135 . In the example of  FIG. 6 , 179 records out of the overall 22400 records are set to the display targets. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of first screen display of the contents of the filtering condition in the screen display controller  1  of  FIG. 1 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 7 , the pointer (may also be referred to as “cursor”)  136  is moved (in other words, mouse over) into the area (hatched in  FIG. 7 ) indicating the number of records narrowed by the filtering condition in the record number  132 . The second display processor  113  responsively raises a tooltip  137  (a display area small with respect to the entire screen) indicating that the filtering condition is set and also indicating the contents of the filtering condition on a predetermined position of the monitor  130  with reference to the filtering condition storing table (see  FIG. 5 ) and displays the tooltip  137  on the screen of the monitor  130 . In the example of  FIG. 7 , the second display processor  113  displays, as the contents of the filtering condition, “COPYING STATE” being “YES” and “COPYING PROTECTION” being “OFF” on the monitor  130 . The tooltip  137  may also be referred to as pop-up window  137 . 
     This means that, in cases where the pointer  136  displayed on the screen of the monitor  130  is located within a particular area, the second display processor  113  displays the contents of the filtering condition set by the setting processor  111  on the monitor  130 . Here, the particular area is an area that displays therein the number of records (i.e., the display target number) narrowed by the filtering condition. 
     Here, in cases where the pointer  136  moves from the inside of the area on the display target number of the record number  132  to the outside of the same area (which means that the screen is returned from the state of  FIG. 7  to the state of  FIG. 6 ), the second display processor  113  hides the tooltip  137  from the monitor  130 . 
     This means that, in cases where the pointer  136  moves from the inside of the particular area to the outside of the particular area, the second display processor  113  hides the contents of the filtering condition set by the setting processor  111  from the monitor  130 . In other words, the second display processor  113  temporarily displays the contents of the filtering condition set by the setting processor  111  only when the pointer  136  is located inside the particular area. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of second screen display of the contents of the filtering condition  1  in the screen display controller of  FIG. 1 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 8 , the setting processor  111  does not set the filtering condition. Consequently, the number of records narrowed by the filtering condition (represented by the numerator in  FIG. 8 ) and the number of overall records included in the record table  135  (represented by the denominator in  FIG. 8 ) are both 22400. 
     In the example of  FIG. 8 , under a state where no filtering condition is set, the pointer  136  moves into the area (hatched in  FIG. 8 ) indicating the number of records narrowed by the filtering condition in the record number  132 . The second display processor  113  responsively raises a tooltip  137  indicating that the filtering condition is not set at a predetermined position on the screen of the monitor  130 . 
     (A-2) Example of Operation 
     Description will now be made in relation to an example of a succession of procedural steps of displaying the record table  135  in the screen display controller  1  of  FIG. 1  with reference to the flow diagram (Steps S 1 -S 6 ) of  FIG. 9 . 
     The first display processor  112  reads the filtering condition being set by the setting processor  111  from the filtering condition storing table (see  FIG. 5 ) (Step S 1 ). 
     The first display processor  112  determines whether the filtering condition is set in the filtering condition storing table (Step S 2 ). 
     If the filtering condition is set (see Yes route of Step S 2 ), the first display processor  112  retrieves a record in the record table  135  using the filtering condition and extracts one or more records satisfying the filtering condition (Step S 3 ). 
     The first display processor  112  displays the display target number of the record number  132  in a different color on the display  130  (Step S 4 ) and ends the process. 
     If the filtering condition is not set (see No route of Step S 2 ), the first display processor  112  sets all the records in the record table  135  to the display targets (Step S 5 ). 
     The first display processor  112  displays the display target number in the record number  132  on the monitor  130  (Step S 6 ) and ends the process. 
     Next, description will now be made in relation to an example of a succession of procedural steps of setting a filtering condition in the screen display controller  1  of  FIG. 1  with reference to the flow diagram (Steps S 11 -S 14 ) of  FIG. 10 . 
     The setting processor  111  reads the filtering condition from the filtering condition storing table (see  FIG. 5 ) and displays the read filtering condition on the display setting screen (see  FIG. 4 ) (Step S 11 ). 
     The setting processor  111  receives an input of a filtering condition from the user on the display setting screen (Step S 12 ). 
     The setting processor  111  stores the new filtering condition into the filtering condition storing table (Step S 13 ). 
     The first display processor  112  displays the record table  135  on the monitor  130  under the new filtering condition (Step S 14 ) and ends the process. 
     Next, description will now be made in relation to an example of a succession of procedural steps of displaying the contents of a filtering condition in the screen display controller  1  of  FIG. 1  with reference to the flow diagram (Steps S 21 -S 26 ) of  FIG. 11 . 
     The second display processor  113  determines, on the basis of the coordinate of the screen, whether the pointer  136  is positioned on the display target number (Step S 21 ). 
     If the pointer  136  is positioned on the display target number (see Yes route of Step S 21 ), the second display processor  113  reads the filtering condition from the filtering condition storing table (Step S 22 ). 
     The second display processor  113  determines whether a filtering condition is set in the filtering condition storing table (Step S 23 ). 
     If the filtering condition is not set (see No route of Step S 23 ), the process ends. Alternatively, if the filtering condition is not set, the second display processor  113  raises the tooltip  137  on the screen to display the indication that the filtering condition is not set. 
     In contrast, if the filtering condition is set (see Yes route of Step S 23 ), the second display processor  113  raises a tooltip  137  to display the contents of the filtering condition on the monitor  130  (Step S 24 ) and ends the process. 
     If the pointer  136  is not positioned on the display target number in Step S 21  (see No route of Step S 21 ), the second display processor  113  determines whether a tooltip is currently being displayed (Step S 25 ). 
     If a tooltip  137  is not being displayed (see No route of Step S 25 ), the process ends. 
     In contrast, if a tooltip  137  is being displayed (see Yes route of Step S 25 ), the second display processor  113  hides the tooltip  137  from the monitor  130  (Step S 26 ) and ends the process. 
     The determination as to whether the filtering condition is being set in Step S 23  may be carried out before Step S 21  in which the determination as to whether the pointer  136  is positioned on the display target number is made. 
     (A-3) Effects 
     The screen display controller  1  according to an example of the above embodiment brings the following effects, for example. 
     The setting processor  111  sets a filtering condition for multiple records to narrow one or more display targets. The first display processor  112  displays the display target records for which the filtering condition is set by the setting processor  111  on the monitor  130 . The second display processor  113  displays, when the pointer  136  displayed on the screen of the monitor  130  is located inside a particular area, the contents of the filtering condition set by the setting processor  111  on the monitor  130 . 
     Thereby, the contents of the filtering condition for the records can be efficiently displayed. Specifically, the contents of the filtering condition can be displayed on the same display area of the screen as a display area for a case where the filtering condition is not set. 
     The second display processor  113  displays the contents of the filtering condition on a part of the display target records. 
     Consequently, the contents of the filtering condition and the records in the record table  135  are displayed closely to each other, so that the contents of the filtering condition can be efficiently compared with the records in the record table  135 . 
     Only when the pointer  136  is positioned inside the particular area, the second display processor  113  temporarily displays the contents of the filtering condition set by the setting processor  111  on the monitor  130 . 
     This easily switches the contents of the filtering condition between being displayed or being hide. 
     When the pointer  136  moves from the inside of the particular area to the outside of the particular area, the second display processor  113  hides the contents of the filtering condition set by the setting processor  111  from the monitor  130 . 
     This can hide the contents of the filtering condition when the user does not intend to display the contents of the filtering condition, so that the readability of the record table  135  can be enhanced. 
     Under a state where setting of the filtering condition by the setting processor  111  is cancelled and also the pointer  136  is positioned inside the particular area, the second display processor  113  displays information indicating that the filtering condition is not set on the monitor  130 . 
     Thereby, the user can clearly recognize that the filtering condition is not set. 
     The first display processor  112  displays the number of display target records among the multiple records in conjunction with the display target record for which a filtering condition is set by the setting processor  111  on the monitor  130 . In cases where the pointer  136  displayed on the screen of the monitor  130  is located inside of an area where the number of narrowed records is displayed, the second display processor  113  displays the contents of the filtering condition set by the setting processor  111  on the monitor  130 . 
     This eliminates the requirement for newly preparing a particular area to display thereon the contents of the filtering condition, so that an amount of data for the screen can be reduced. 
     (B) MODIFICATION 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an example of screen display of the contents of a filtering condition in a screen display controller according to a modification to the embodiment. 
     In the example of  FIG. 12 , the first display processor  112  newly displays, in cases where the filtering condition is set by the setting processor  111 , an icon  138  on the monitor  130  differently from an example of the above embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 7 . The icon may also be referred to as an object or a button. 
     In cases where the pointer  136  is located on (in other words, mouse over) the icon  138 , the second display processor  113  displays the tooltip  137  on the monitor  137 . 
     Specifically, the first display processor  112  displays the icon  138  indicating that the filtering condition is being set in conjunction with one or more display target records for which the filtering condition is being set by the setting processor  111  on the monitor  130 . In cases where the pointer  136  displayed on the screen of the monitor  130  is located within the area where the icon  138  is displayed, the second display processor  113  displays the contents of the filtering condition set by the setting processor  111  on the monitor  130 . 
     This brings additional effects that the user can easily recognize that the filtering condition is set and that the contents of the filtering condition can be easily displayed to the effects that an example of the above embodiment brings. 
     (C) MISCELLANEOUS 
     The disclosed technique is not limited to the above embodiment and can be variously changed or modified without departing from the scope of the present embodiment. The configurations and processes of the present embodiment can be selected, omitted, or appropriately combined according to the requirement. 
     In an example of the above embodiment and its modification, the second display processor  113  displays, in the form of the tooltip  137  on the screen, the contents of the filtering condition for the record table  135  containing the records of multiple volumes provided by the storage device. However, the display manner of the contents of the filtering condition is not limited to this. Alternatively, the second display processor  113  may display the contents of the filtering condition for a table containing various records in the form of a tooltip  137  on the screen. 
     In an example of the above embodiment and its modification, the second display processor  113  displays the contents of the filtering condition in the form of the tooltip  137  in the event of mouse over to the particular area, but the manner of displaying the contents is not limited to this. Alternatively, the second display processor  113  may display the tooltip  137  when the pointer  136  being the state of mouse over to the display target number of the record number  132  or the icon  138  clicks the display target number of the record number  132  or the icon  138 . 
     This can avoid inconvenience that the contents of the filtering condition is displayed on the screen even if the user does not intend to display the contents of the filtering condition. 
     According to one aspect of the embodiment, the filtering condition for records can be efficiently displayed. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for the pedagogical purposes of aiding the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to further the art, and are not to be construed limitations to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although one or more embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.