`MacPhail
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,661,434 B1
`*Dec. 9, 2003
`
`US006661434B1
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING
`STATUS OF CRITICAL [N[)[(jAT()RS ON
`DIVERSE DISPLAY DEVICES
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Margaret Gardner MacPhail, Austin,
`TX (US)
`
`5,953,010 A *
`6,421,700 B1 "‘
`
`9/1999 Kampe etal.
`7/2002 Holmes et al.
`
`345/772
`345/772
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—]ohn Cabeca
`Assistant Examiner—Brian Detwiler
`
`(73) Assignee:
`
`International Business Machines
`Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
`
`(74) Attomey, Agent, or Fit-m—Kevin L. Datfer; Conley
`Rose P.C.; Leslie Van Leeuwen
`
`( ‘ ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USC. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`“"5 P‘'“°“‘ ‘5 ‘“"1°°‘ ‘° “ ‘°'“‘““‘ “‘5‘
`claimer‘
`
`(21) APPL N0-5 09/5482596
`en
`mo
`(51)
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................ .. G090 5/00
`
`(52) US. Cl. ........................... .. 345/772; 345/846
`(53) Field of Search ............................ .. 345/440, 440.2,
`345/736, 754, 771, 772, 335, 337, 345,
`977; 700/27; 710/15, 17, 13_ 19
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U'S' PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,353,152 A
`8/1939
`7/1994
`5,369,589 A " ll/1994
`5,375,199 A * 12/1994
`
` 5,333,256 A *
`
`5:483:53 A
`1/1995
`--
`3,23%; 2 : 13:33; g;?_::;’°'d “" 3" """"4:933
`5:768:52 A
`6/1998 Jacoby ..::::::::::::::::::::: 345/441
`5,819,028 A ‘ 10/1998 Manghirmalani et al.
`345/440
`5,909,217 A *
`6/1999 Bereiter .................... .. 345/772
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`In a system and method for displaying status of critical
`indicators or variables, icons representing the indicators are
`displayed in superposition with a reference shape. The
`reference shape is divided into “higher-interest” and “lower-
`interest” portions, such that display of an icon over the
`higher-interest portion of the reference shape indicates a
`higher-interest value of the corresponding variable. The
`
`its lower portion designated the lower-interest portion. Each
`monitored variable may be allocated a vertical “slice” of the
`referenoe shape, such that the position of the corresponding
`icon when the variable is in the higher-interest state is
`laterally aligned with the position of the icon when the
`variable is in the lower-interest state. In some embodiments,
`:1 single icon representing the present status of the corre-
`sponding variable is positioned over either the higher-
`interest or lower-interest portion of the reference shape.
`Alternatively, two icons may be used for each variable,
`where one is positioned over the higher-interest portion and
`the other over the lower-interest portion. This representation
`is believed to make the status of each monitored variable
`
`visible at a glance. The simplicity of the representation may
`allow it to be ‘used elfectively on various computational
`d°V‘°°S’ ‘ncludmg “me “mh small" “‘°“°°h‘°m° dmplays‘
`
`28 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Page 1 of 16
`
`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1009
`
`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1009
`
`Page 1 of 16
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`Dec. 9, 2003
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`
`
`
`
`
`US 6,661,434 B1
`
`
`
`computational device
`
`
`
`
` 10
`
`
`
`
`
`
`storage medium 1_6_
`
`
`crossing
`time data
`
`
`29
`
`
`
` E
`
`
`
`
`processor
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`program
`instructions
`
`%
`
`
`
`
`
`crossing
`
`history
`data
`
`22
`
`
` display
`
`
`controller
`
`1.41
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`display
`
`screen
`
`
`E.
`
`
`Fig. 1
`
`
`
`Page 2 of 16
`
`Page 2 of 16
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 9,2003
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 6,661,434 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`30 38
`6
`53335353333337
`
`»9 9 \
`9 9 9.9 9.9.9.9
`fi&
`f?¢€§VJV
`'9’
`’°‘o¢'oooI
`"395
`5‘ 909999
`."Q:Q‘§‘OA\
`.....OAO.9.9...C
`
`
`
`
`
`3:!
`
`
`
`ff.
`
`
`o%i%%fi
`,999o9\
`fifififlflfi
`
`
`\‘..C..."...4
`U.......§.‘
`gflfip
` 36
`
`‘a
`
`
`
`vvvvvvwz
`l'3'3':°:°3'3'3'i
`.0
`909009‘
`
`
`v\&%&$%
`99999
`/
`&&&&&&&3
`
`
`
`
`vvvov
`cocoa
`I‘:':'3':':
`
`-9909»
`vvv;§
`99999
`'¢.A'oK‘a9
`
`
`
`
` .—.—T--..—-.
`
`a
`
`b
`
`Page 3 of 16
`
`Page 3 of 16
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 9,2003
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 6,661,434 B1
`
`
`O
`O
`9009040.!‘
`.II‘3"*l¢;vo;30m02.02!Lo
` .0 0 0 v a.9
`
`o O . v.0O’O
`0 0 O o .
`4
`9’:
`
`
`
` .-....
`
`
`f¢V¢fi
` .4°.~.°..
`ooooo
`u‘o‘o’o‘o‘1
`. Q 9 Q 9 ‘
`O O Q Q .
`
`. Q 0 5 O
`F 9 C 9
`o’o‘¢’o‘o’1
`'o'o‘o‘o°
`
`
`
`¢¢;‘ O
`
`vgvggO Q 9 O ‘
`
`536
`000%
`
` ‘-9.4
`5 9 0%
`
`
`......
`
`
`
`V:.:.:Q:..
`
`
`
`58
`
` 32
`
`
` ;..........,
`
`>
`9
`0 0 9 0 9 .
`o.o:o:o:o‘4
`'o‘o°v‘o’o‘4
`
`'o’o'o’o’o‘:.3.‘ 9.6.9
`34
`46
`
`
`40
`
`Page 4 of 16
`
`
` ‘. v v,.
`Q 0 O
`1
`
`>‘o‘o‘o‘o’u
`00699
`9 9 0 9 0 c
`O O Q Q 0
`
`.o.o.o.o.o.
`:°1*:‘:'3'3
`
`
`76
`
`-v-V-
`
`.03.: .0...
`:~:~:-:~:»:
`
`
`
` 72
`
`Page 4 of 16
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 9,2003
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 6,661,434 B1
`
`
` 1
`
`
` O
`O
`
`
`o
`‘O.09.9
`OC55
`0’:
`
`0 o O 0'9 oo
` 0
`‘o
`0
`_¢ 0 o
`0 $
`0 0 0 3 .0.090 .9 0
`.0 0‘.
`o '9 0 o
`0':0
`9
` 30'00 o
`.6.
`
`30
`
`80
`
`0 8
`
`
`
`
`ooooov
`30009- 80
`I‘3°$‘2‘3°$
`
`
` 92
`
`Status cha ge timestamp
`
`Status change histoty
`
`Current value Variable identification
`
`Fig. 4
`
`Page 5 of 16
`
`
`
`
`7 v u - v
`I°1’3‘Z‘Z‘:
`Q C O O Q
`o‘o‘o'o’9’1
`
`
`§
`
`
`
`‘V4
`3'3‘
`«:~:9 4
` '3'}
`0 C
`‘o’<
`
`4
`
`Page 5 of 16
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 9,2003
`
`Sheet 5 of6
`
`US 6,661,434 B1
`
`
`
`98
`
`
`
`Space Available on Disk C
`
`Threshold Value: 100 MB
`
`‘Fme
`
`01:33:05
`01:29:16
`01:10:32
`
`high irl. to low int.
`low int. to high int.
`hlgh lnl. to low Int.
`
`% disk filled
`
`50 %
`90.3%
`87 °/o
`
`104
`
`
`
`
`107
`
`
`
`107
`
`1
`
`00
`102
`
`Space Available on Disk C
`Threshold Value: 100 MB
`% disk filled
`
`90.3%
`
`Space Available on Disk C
`Threshold Value: 100 MB
`
`
`
`Time
`
`Value
`
`°/o disk filled
`
`
`50%
`01:33:05
`01:10:32
`87 °/.
`
`
`
`104
`
`105
`
`‘°7
`
`Fig _ 5'
`
`34
`
`32
`
`40
`
`Page 6 of 16
`
`Page 6 of 16
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 9, 2003
`
`Sheet 6 or 6
`
`US 6,661,434 B1
`
`cisplay reference shape £3
`
`compare present value of first
`variable to range data @
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`dlsplay corres. present
`status ioon over lower-
`higher-interest
`interest portion of shape
`range?
`
`
`
`
`
`display corres. present status
`icon over higher-interest
`portion of shape
`
`1 1 8
`
`_
`a't_°'"a“V°s:g:t"3
`'°°"‘ "
`'
`
`
`display alternative status
`NO
`ioon over opposite portion
`of shape
`
`
`variable? period after previous
`pass for this
`
`
`first
`
`
`
`
`
` display requested
`
`rmestarm
`information
`or history into.
`133
`quested?
`
`
`
`
`compare present value of
`next variable to range data
`
`Fig. 6
`
`Page 7 of 16
`
`Page 7 of 16
`
`
`
`
`
`US 6,661,434 B1
`
`
`
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING
`
`
`
`
`STATUS OF CRITICAL INDICATORS ON
`
`
`
`
`
`DIVERSE DISPLAY DEVICES
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`be displayed on a screen, where selection of an icon by a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`user results in a text display containing information regard-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing the status of the indicator. To indicate when a variable
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`has crossed a threshold value, various methods may be used,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`such as changing the shape or color of an icon representing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the variable, or not displaying an icon unless the correspond-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing variable has crossed a threshold value.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The above-described methods of monitoring critical indi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cators may result in difficulties, however, for users of diverse
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computational devices having varying display screen capa-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`bilities. The trend in size and capability of such display
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`screens often depends upon whether the device is fixed or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`portable. For example, displays associated with desktop
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computers are generally getting larger, to provide ease of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`viewing and/or accommodate increasingly complex appli-
`
`
`
`
`
`cations and operating systems. Such displays typically have
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a wide range of colors available, as well. On the other hand,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`displays associated with portable devices such as wireless
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`telephones and PDA’s are small and often getting smaller, to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`enhance, e.g., portability and battery life. These small dis-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`plays also tend to be monochrome displays rather than color,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`because of cost, resolution and power considerations.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Although not necessarily portable, displays included in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`automobiles or appliances may also be small monochrome
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`displays, to keep costs down and avoid taking space needed
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`for other functions of the system. This variation in display
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`size and capability for different computational devices
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`means that a GUI which allows effective monitoring of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`critical indicators when a system administrator’s console is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`used may be very difficult to use when connected remotely
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`with a cellular telephone. For example, text descriptions or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`icon variations easily understood using a large display may
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`be indistinguishable on a small one. Differences in color
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`used to distinguish, e.g., threshold crossings of variables are
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`naturally not effectively discerned on a monochrome dis-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`play.
`
`One approach to the problems presented by differing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`display capabilities would be to use different representations
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of critical indicators to be monitored on different displays,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`with more complex (and possibly more complete) represen-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tations used for higher-capability displays. Such an
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`approach may be disadvantageous, however, in requiring a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`user of multiple display screens to become familiar with
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`multiple representations of the monitored indicators. Use of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`multiple representations may make it more difficult
`to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`develop a desirable intuitive feel for any one representation.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`It would therefore be desirable to develop a method and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`system of monitoring critical
`indicators which may be
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`effectively used on displays having diverse sizes and capa-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`bilities.
`
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`
`The problems outlined above are in large part addressed
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`by a method and system in which icons representing critical
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`indicators are displayed in superposition with a reference
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`shape. The reference shape is divided into “higher-interest”
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and “lower-interest” portions, such that display of an icon
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`over the higher-interest portion of the reference shape indi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cates a higher-interest value of the corresponding variable.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In the case of a system administration application,
`for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`example, display of an icon over the higher-interest portion
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`may indicate that the value of the corresponding variable has
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`crossed a threshold into a range associated with a perfor-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mance problem for the system or network. For a stock-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`monitoring application, display of an icon over the higher-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`interest portion could indicate, for example, that the price of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the corresponding stock has crossed a “buy” or “sell”
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`20
`
`
`
`25
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`35
`
`
`
`40
`
`
`
`45
`
`
`50
`
`
`
`55
`
`
`
`60
`
`
`
`65
`
`
`
`
`This application is related to the following copending
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent Applications, filed on even date herewith: Ser.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`No. 09/548,694 entitled “Method and System for Displaying
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Status of Critical Indicators on Diverse Display Devices and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Indicating Changes in Status” by MacPhail, and Ser. No.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`09/548,695 entitled “Method and System for Displaying
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Status of Critical Indicators on Diverse Display Devices and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Indicating a History of Status Changes” by MacPhail.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`
`
`
`
`This invention relates to information display, and more
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`particularly to a method and system for displaying the status
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of variables, or indicators, on diverse display devices. This
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`method may be useful for multiple applications involving
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`information display, including, for example, platform man-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`agement in heterogeneous systems.
`
`
`
`
`2. Description of the Related Art
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The following descriptions and examples are not admitted
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion within this section.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The continuing proliferation of powerful, convenient
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computational devices has been accompanied by an increase
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in the use of networks connecting these devices. Computa-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tional devices include computers and other, often portable,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`devices such as wireless telephones, personal digital assis-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tants (PDA’s), automobile-based computers and appliance-
`
`
`
`
`
`based computers. Such computational devices are also
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`sometimes termed “pervasive devices”. “Computer”, as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`used herein, may refer to any of such computational devices.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The networks connecting computational devices may be
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`“wired” networks, formed using “land lines” such as copper
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wire or fiber optic cable, wireless networks employing earth
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and/or satellite-based wireless transmission links, or com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`binations of wired and wireless network portions. Net-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`worked computational devices are increasingly configured
`
`
`
`
`
`with the ability to interact and communicate with one
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`another. For example, electronic mail may currently be sent
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to some wireless telephones and pagers, and PDA’s may be
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`used to access some Internet and World Wide Web (or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`“web”) sites.
`
`
`Many network-based applications involve monitoring
`
`
`
`
`variables of interest, which may be called “critical indica-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tors”. For example, a system administrator for a computer
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`system or network may need to monitor variables such as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`transaction rates, application program status, and disk space
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`availability. Such variables may be considered critical indi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cators in that they are important indicators of the health of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the system or network. Alternatively, an investor may wish
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to monitor a variable such as a stock price, and may
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`particularly want to be alerted if the price rises above or falls
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`below a particular critical value. Entertainment-oriented
`
`
`
`
`
`
`applications may also involve monitoring of critical indica-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tors. For example, a horse-racing enthusiast may wish to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`know whether a particular race has started or finished, and/or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`whether a particular horse has placed above or below a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`particular level. Monitoring of such critical indicators using
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a computational device is typically done through a graphical
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`user interface (GUI) on the device’s display screen. Many
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`different display formats are possible. For example, a bar
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`graph could be used to indicate values of various indicators,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`where the heights of the bars vary with time to follow the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`indicator values. Icons representing each indicator may also
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 8 of 16
`
`Page 8 of 16
`
`
`
`
`
`US 6,661,434 B1
`
`
`
`
`3
`threshold preset by the user. In the case of the horse-racing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`example mentioned above, display of an icon over the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`higher-interest portion may indicate, for example, that a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`corresponding race is currently underway, or that a particular
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`horse corresponding to the icon has placed at or above a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`preset level (e.g., second place) in its most recent race.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The reference shape is preferably elongated horizontally,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and an upper portion of the shape is typically designated as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the higher-interest portion, while the lower portion of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`shape is designated the lower-interest portion. In one pre-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ferred embodiment, the reference shape is an elongated oval.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Multiple icons, corresponding to multiple monitored
`
`
`
`
`
`
`variables, may be displayed over the reference shape. Each
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`monitored variable is preferably allocated a vertical “slice”
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of the reference shape, such that the position of the corre-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`sponding icon when the variable is in the higher-interest
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`state is laterally aligned with (i.e., along the same vertical
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`line as) the position of the icon when the variable is in the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lower-interest state. In some embodiments, a single icon
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`representing the present status of the corresponding variable
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`is positioned over either the higher-interest or lower-interest
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`portion of the reference shape. Alternatively, two icons may
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`be used for each variable, where one is positioned over the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`higher-interest portion and the other over the lower-interest
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`portion. In such an embodiment, the icon representing the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`present value of the variable is given a distinctive
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`appearance, such as being displayed with a higher contrast.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Use of the reference shape to indicate the status (higher-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`interest or lower-interest) of a monitored variable is believed
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to confer several advantages. The relatively large size of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`reference shape (it may be scaled to essentially fill a display,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`if desired) is believed to make the status of the monitored
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`variables visible at a glance, even on a small display.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Because the status is indicated by position of the icon,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`differences in individual icon characteristics such as color or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`shape, which may be difficult to discern on a small and/or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`monochrome display, need not be relied upon. Since detailed
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`icon structures are therefore not necessary, the representa-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion of the monitored variables may be implemented using
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a relatively simple reference shape and simple icon geom-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`etries (such as simple shapes). This simplicity may allow the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`representation to be scaled to small sizes without loss of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`information content. In this way, the same representation
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`may be used on displays for diverse computational devices,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`freeing the user from the need to use different representa-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tions on different displays, and freeing application develop-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ers from the need to develop multiple representations.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Cross-platform interoperability may therefore be enhanced.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In addition to providing a rapid indication of the status of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a monitored variable,
`the representation described above
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`may include a method of indicating that the status of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`variable has changed, from higher-interest to lower-interest
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`or vice versa. The status change may be indicated by
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`changing the appearance of the icon corresponding to the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`present status of a monitored variable. For example, the icon
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`may be made to blink, or to move back and forth. Such a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`change in appearance is typically implemented for a prede-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`termined period of time following the change of status,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`where the time period may be set by an application devel-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`oper and/or a user. Such an indication that the status of a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`variable has changed is believed to be advantageous in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`situations for which rapid action is required in response to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`changes in monitored variables. As in the case of other
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`aspects of the display representation described above, this
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`change in icon appearance is believed to be conveniently
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`observed, even on low-capability displays. The time at
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`which a status change occurs may also be stored and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`20
`
`
`
`25
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`35
`
`
`
`40
`
`
`
`45
`
`
`50
`
`
`
`55
`
`
`
`60
`
`
`
`65
`
`
`Page 9 of 16
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4
`
`provided to a viewer through a GUI implementing the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`display representation described herein. In an embodiment,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the time of the status change may be shown on the display
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`screen during the time period of the above-described icon
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`appearance change. Alternatively, the time may be displayed
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in response to a user selection of the icon corresponding to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the present status of the variable. Display of the time at
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`which a status change occurs may be important
`in, for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`example, allowing an assessment of the potential effects of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the status change.
`
`
`
`In some applications, it is desirable to know not just the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`time of the most recent status change of a variable, but a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`history of multiple status changes. Stock prices,
`for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`example, may cross a threshold value in different directions
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`numerous times a day. The same is true of certain computer
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`system and network quantities, depending on, for example,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the degree of utilization of the system or network. As an
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`example, a person providing technical support for a com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`puter network may receive a report of a particular failure,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`but then not be able to locate a problem. A history of status
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`changes of critical network indicators during the time
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`elapsed since the failure could help in comparing the situ-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ation at the time of the failure and that at the time of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`diagnosis attempt.
`In an embodiment of the methods
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`described herein, the above-described representation of criti-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cal indicator status using a reference shape is combined with
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`storage of information relating to each crossing of a moni-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tored variable between its higher-interest and lower-interest
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ranges. The information may include, for example, the time
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and direction of each crossing, and/or a description of a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`particular event associated with the crossing. The stored
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`information may then be displayed as a history of the status
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`changes of a given monitored variable. Such a history is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`typically displayed in response to a user selection of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`corresponding icon.
`
`
`An embodiment of a system for transferring information
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`within a client/server network includes a display controller
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`operably coupled to a display screen. The display controller
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`is adapted to display a reference shape on the display screen,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`as well as a superimposed present status icon corresponding
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to the present status of a monitored variable. The display
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`controller is further adapted to position the present status
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`icon over a first portion of the reference shape when the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`present value of the monitored variable is within a higher-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`interest range, or over a second portion of the reference
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`shape when the present value of the variable is within a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lower-interest range. The system may further include a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`storage medium operably coupled to the display controller,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`where the storage medium is adapted to store information
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`relating to the higher-interest and lower-interest ranges. The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`display controller, storage medium and display screen may
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`or may not all be associated with the same computational
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`device. In an embodiment, the display controller and storage
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`medium are associated with one device, while the display
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`screen is on a different device.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In embodiments of the system, the display controller may
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`be further adapted to change the appearance of the present
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`status icon for a predetermined time interval after a crossing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of the corresponding variable between the higher-interest
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`range and lower-interest range has occurred. Alternatively or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in addition, the display controller may be adapted to display
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`information regarding the time of such a crossing, and the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`storage medium may be adapted to store this time-related
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`information. In some embodiments, the display controller
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`may be further adapted to display a history of status changes
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of the monitored variable, where the history includes a time
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of each crossing between the higher-interest and lower-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 9 of 16
`
`
`
`
`
`US 6,661,434 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`5
`
`interest range. In such an embodiment, the display controller
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`may be further adapted to store this history information.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In addition to the method and system described above, a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computer-usable carrier medium is contemplated herein.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The carrier medium may be a storage medium, such as a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`magnetic or optical disk, a magnetic tape, or a memory. In
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`addition, the carrier medium may be a transmission medium,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`such as a wire, cable, or wireless medium along which data
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`or program instructions are transmitted, or a signal carrying
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the data or program instructions along such a wire, cable or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wireless medium. The carrier medium may contain program
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`instructions executable for carrying out embodiments of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`methods described herein. Alternatively or in addition to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`such program instructions, the carrier medium may contain
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`data used in implementing the methods described herein,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`such as data defining higher-interest and lower-interest
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ranges for variables, or time and direction data for crossings
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of a variable between these ranges.
`
`
`
`
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Other objects and advantages of the invention will
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`become apparent upon reading the following detailed
`
`
`
`
`
`
`description and upon reference to the accompanying draw-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ings in which:
`
`
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a system for displaying information;
`
`
`
`
`
`FIGS. 2(a)—2(c) illustrate embodiments of the informa-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion display described herein;
`
`
`
`
`FIGS. 3(a)—3(c) illustrate exemplary reference shape and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`icon embodiments suitable for the information display meth-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ods described herein;
`
`
`
`FIGS. 4(a)—4(c)
`illustrate embodiments of indicating
`
`
`
`
`
`when a monitored variable has crossed between its higher-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`interest and lower-interest ranges;
`
`
`
`
`
`FIGS. 5(a)—5(b) illustrate embodiments of displaying a
`
`
`
`
`
`history of status changes of a monitored variable; and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`method for displaying information.
`
`
`
`
`While the invention is susceptible to various modifica-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tions and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`are shown by way of example in the drawings and will
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`herein be described in detail.
`It should be understood,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`appended claims.
`
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`
`
`
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`
`Ablock diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a system which may be used to implement the methods
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`described herein is shown in FIG. 1. Computational device
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`10 includes processor 12, display controller 14, and storage
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`medium 16. Display controller 14 configures data for dis-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`play on a display screen such as display screen 26, and may
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`provide an interface between computational device 10 and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`display screen 26. Storage medium 16 may take many
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`forms, such as volatile or nonvolatile memory, a magnetic
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`disk such as a hard drive or floppy drive, an optical disk,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and/or a magnetic tape. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, storage
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`medium 16 includes variable range data 18, crossing time
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`data 20, crossing history data 22 and program instructions
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`24, also referred to as program executables. The program
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`6
`instructions may be stored as “executable files” in a direct
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`access storage device such as a disk and loaded into memory
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`during execution. Variable range data 18 identifies higher-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`interest and lower-interest ranges for the values of each
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`variable to be monitored on the display screen. Crossing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`time data 20 typically includes the time at which the value
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of a variable has most recently crossed between its higher-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`interest and lower-interest ranges. Crossing history data 22
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`may include times for multiple range crossings of each
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`variable, as well as the direction of each crossing (from
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`higher-interest to lower-interest, or vice versa). Other infor-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mation may also be included in crossing history data 22,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`such as a value of the monitored variable at the time of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`crossing, or information on an event associated with the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`crossing. Program instructions 24 may include various pro-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`gram instructions used to implement functions of computa-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tional device 10, such as program instructions used to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`implement the methods described herein.
`
`
`
`
`
`Transmission medium 28 may be used to connect com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`putational device 10 to peripheral devices or networked
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`devices. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, display controller 14
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`is connected to display screen 26 using medium 28. Trans-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mission medium 28 may include, for example, a wire, cable,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`circuit board trace, wireless transmission path, or a combi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nation of these. Display screen 26 may be formed using
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`various technologies, including liquid crystal display (LCD)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`technology, cathode ray tube (CRT) technology or projec-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion technologies. Furthermore, display screen 26 may have
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`any of the various sizes and capabilities typically found in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`displays on diver