Patent Application
20090287317
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-126913, filed on May 14, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The embodiments discussed herein are related to a display control apparatus and method and a display control program.
A design of an electronic apparatus such as a computer largely depends on CAD (Computer Aided Design). In processing of the design, inner connections of the electronic apparatus which is an object of the design is displayed on a screen. In such display, it is required to represent to easily understand connections in devices on the screen, and facilitate the editing operation of the connections.
For example, a network structure diagram displaying method is discussed in which connections between a network apparatus and a plurality of connection ports on a network relay device can be easily recognized on a screen in displaying network structure (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-308873).
Further, displaying of a logical circuit diagram having a representing structure for multiple bits is discussed in which the logical circuit diagram is represented by a symbol indicating a circuit function, a connection line called a bundle line which represents multiple bits, and a bus symbol which is drawn nearly perpendicular to the connection line and can represent bundling of lines into the bundle line and selection of a line out from the bundle line (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 62-272367).
Further, a diagram editing apparatus is discussed that describes connection lines overlapping with each other as a connection line and, when first connection line is overlapped with an end of second connection line or a pin which is a parts of the second connection line, separates the first connection line and determines dynamically the first connection line based on a property of the first connection line and a relation of positions of the connection lines (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 09-153070).
According to an aspect of the embodiment, a display control apparatus includes a storage unit storing a plurality of connection information each of which is associated at least with one property information, an extraction unit extracting connection information from the plurality of connection information, the extracted connection information including property information which partially correspond with each other, and a display unit performing display control to distinguish the extracted connection information extracted by the extraction unit from the other connection information.
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, as claimed.
We study a display control processing for a network apparatus illustrated in
The network apparatus illustrated in
As it is apparent from
According to the display control apparatus and method and the display control program, the connection information which have at least a part of property information in common are extracted from a plurality of connection information and displayed as distinguished from the other connection information. Thus, a group of connection lines can be displayed as distinguished from the other connection lines. That enables a designer to recognize the group of connection lines at sight without reading the group name like a network name on the screen. That means the designer can recognize a group of connection lines regardless of any limitation on the display region between the circuit elements such as a HUB and a server on the screen. Accordingly, connections in the display object device can be represented to easily understand on the screen, and accordingly, the designer can easily edit the connection in the display object device.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to accompanying drawings.
The drawing data processing apparatus includes a drawing file 1, a file access unit 2, a drawing data memory 3, and a display control apparatus 4. The display control apparatus 4 includes a display device 5 and a storage unit 6. The display device 5 is actually a terminal device having an input device such as a keyboard. It may also be considered that the drawing file 1, the file access unit 2, and the drawing data memory 3 form a part of the display control apparatus 4.
The drawing file 1 is a file (or a file device) which stores data of a display object drawing (drawing data). The file access unit (or a file access device) 2 reads drawing data, which is indicated or instructed in an input, from the drawing file 1 according to the input from the input device, and stores the drawing data in the drawing data memory 3. The drawing data memory 3 is a memory (storage device) used by the display control apparatus 4, and stores the drawing data which is read by the file access unit 2 and is to be an object of a display processing by the display control apparatus 4.
The display control apparatus 4 displays the drawing data stored in the drawing data memory 3 on the display device 5. In the displaying process, the display control apparatus 4 generates various information, which is necessary to a display control, according to an input from the input device, stores the generated information in the storage unit 6, and performs the display control based on the information in the storage unit 6. The storage unit 6 is a memory (storage device) which is used by the display control apparatus 4.
The display control apparatus 4 is a computer having a connection processing unit 41, a group processing unit 42, a property information processing unit 43, and a graphic display processing unit 44.
The connection processing unit 41 reads the drawing data from the drawing data memory 3, generates connection information 61 based on the drawing data, and stores the connection information 61 in the storage unit 6. The group processing unit 42 generates group information 62, and stores the group information 62 in the storage unit 6. The property information processing unit 43 generates property information 64, and stores the property information 64 in the storage unit 6. The group information 62, group graphic information 63, and property information 64 are associated with the connection information 61, respectively, as indicated by dotted lines in
The graphic display processing unit 44 generates group graphic information 63 based on the drawing data in the drawing data memory 3, and the connection information 61, the group information 62, and the property information 64, which are stored in the storage unit 6. Also, the graphic display processing unit 44 performs predetermined display control of the drawing data stored in the drawing data memory 3 based on the group graphic information 63, and displays the drawing data on the display device 5.
The connection information 61 is provided for each connection line (hereinafter, also referred to as line). The connection information 61 includes coordinates for each line name (connection line name), for example. The line name is uniquely specified or identified for each connection line L. The coordinates are those at both ends of the connection line L.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
For example, the both ends of the connection line L (or interfaces IF) are displayed together with the circuit elements on the display device 5. When the designer specifies either (or both) of the ends, the connection line L is drawn on the display device 5, and the connection information 61 is generated. That is, the line name which is uniquely determined is given to the connection line L, and the coordinates of the interfaces IF which are connected are obtained from the drawing data.
The property information 64 is provided for each interface IF. The property information 64 includes a net name, a subnet name, a net (network) address, a group name, and a technical name for each line name. The net name is a network name, and is uniquely specified for each network. The subnet name is a name of a subordinate network which forms a part of the network, and may be decided by the designer, for example. The net address is an address of the network. The technical name is a name such as “cluster”, for example. The technical name may be a technical code.
The group name is given to a group such as a clustered network, and is uniquely specified for the group. The “group (or group name)” is distinguished from an “extracted group” which is formed by a plurality of connection lines L, that are extracted by the present embodiment. The “extracted group” indicates a plurality of connection lines L that are extracted by the present embodiment.
For example, when the connection lines L are drawn and one of the connection lines L is selected, an input screen is displayed which is for inputting the property information 64 of the selected connection line L (or the line name). The designer inputs the net name and the like from the input screen. The property information 64 is associated with the connection information 61 by the line name, and associated with the group information 62 by the group name.
The property information 64 may be inputted before the connection lines L are drawn. The connection information 61 may be a part of the property information 64. The property information 64 may be provided for each connection line L.
There is a case that the property information 64 of a plurality of connection lines L (that is, interfaces IF) partially correspond with each other, which will be described later in detail. For example, when the plurality of connection lines L are connected with the clustered network “VLAN1”, both of the group name “VLAN1” and the technical name “cluster” in the property information 64 of the plurality of connection lines L correspond with each other. Then, the plurality of connection lines L are extracted to make an extracted group.
Here, the property information 64, which is used for extracting the plurality of connection lines L or connection information 61 (used for generating the extracted group) such as the above “group name” and “technical name”, are referred to as extracting conditions.
Further,
The property information 64 used for extracting the extracted group, or extracting conditions, are stored in explanatory characters in the group information 62 described below.
A group information 62 is provided for each group. The group information 62 includes a group ID, a type, a color, a line width, a font size, the explanatory characters, and (a pointer to) a group graphic data for each group name. The group ID is given to each group, and uniquely specifies the group. The type defines a type of means for indicating the extracted group, or defines an extraction grouping line. The color defines a color of the extraction grouping line and a color of (a frame of) the explanatory characters M. The line width defines a line width of the extraction grouping line and a line width of (a frame of) the explanatory characters M. The font size defines a size of the explanatory characters M. The explanatory characters define a content of an explanatory notes to be displayed with the extraction grouping line (explanatory characters M). For example, the explanatory notes includes the network name and the network address. A group graphic information pointer (denoted by P) is a pointer which points the group graphic information 63 corresponding to the group information 62.
When a group (group name) is selected, an input screen is displayed which is for inputting the group information 62 of the selected group. The designer inputs the type and the like from the input screen. Then, the group information 62 of the selected group is associated with one or more connection information 61 by the group name, and associated with the group graphic information 63 by the group graphic information pointer P.
By setting the group information 62, it is possible to control whether or not to draw the extraction grouping line, to draw a leader line, and to display (the frame of) the explanatory characters. In addition, by setting the items of the group information 62, it is possible to change the color, the line type, and the line width of the extraction grouping line, the leader line, and (the frame of) the explanatory characters.
By defining the type of the extraction grouping line, it is possible to select the means for indicating the extracted group. Normally, the type of the extraction grouping line is a straight line, as illustrated in
The type of the extraction grouping line is not limited to the straight line, and may be selected from various displaying way. For example, as illustrated in
A location and a size of the extraction grouping line may be changed. In such a case, the location and the size of the extraction grouping line may be set as the group information 62 in a same manner with the color and the line width.
The group graphic information 63 is provided so as to correspond to the group information 62, and is provided for each group. The group graphic information 63 includes leader line information (“leader line” in the figure), arrow segment information (“arrow segment” in the figure), and the connector information (“coordinates of intersection” in the figure). The leader line information is information for displaying (or drawing, which applies to the following description) a leader line H illustrated in
The group graphic information 63 is generated based on the group information 62 and a plurality of connection information 61, which is associated with the group information 62 via the property information 64. For example, a plurality of connection information 61 (or connection lines L) in which the group name and the net address partially correspond with each other are extracted. And, a group graphic information 63 is generated which is pointed by the group graphic information pointer P of the group information 62 having the group name partially corresponding.
In the group graphic information 63, locations of the arrow segments Y are obtained, and are used as the arrow segment information. Also, coordinates K of the intersections of the arrow segments Y and the plurality of the connection lines L are obtained, and are used as the connector information. Based on locations of tops of the arrow segments Y, locations of the leader lines H are obtained, and are used as the leader line information. Based on locations of tops of the leader lines H, the locations of the explanatory characters M are obtained.
As described above, the storage unit 6 stores the plurality of connection information 61 each of which is associated with the group information 62 and the property information 64. The connection information 61 may be associated at least with one property information 64. The graphic display processing unit 44 extracts connection information 61 in which the property information 64 at least partially correspond with each other from the plurality of connection information 61, and performs the display control so as to distinguish the extracted connection information 61 from the other connection information 61.
The display control performed by the display control apparatus illustrated in
The file access unit 2 reads the drawing data indicated in an input from the drawing file 1 according to the input made by a designer via the input device, and stores the drawing data in the drawing data memory 3. In response, the graphic display processing unit 44 displays a screen in which the connection lines L are removed in
The designer looks the screen, specifies the interfaces IF, and instruct to input connection lines L (step S11). In response, the connection processing unit 41 inputs the connection lines (lines) L. Accordingly, the graphic display processing unit 44 displays the screen illustrated in
The designer looks the screen illustrated in
The designer looks the screen, and inputs a net name from the input device. In response, the property information processing unit 43 sets the net name in a field of the data after changing by the “connection names in block giving” function (step S13), and displays the screen illustrated in
Next, the designer activates an “properties in block giving” function of the property information processing unit 43, and inputs the other items of the property information 64 (step S14).
In other words, the property information processing unit 43 displays a screen in which the data after changing is not inputted in
Next, the property information processing unit 43 displays a screen in which the data after changing is not inputted in
Next, a group name and a technical name of the property information 64 are inputted in the same manner. Accordingly, completed property information 64 is generated, and stored in the storage unit 6.
Upon completion of the input of the property information 64, the graphic display processing unit 44 displays the screen illustrated in
The designer looks the screen, and inputs the color, the line width, and the type of the intersection. In response, the group processing unit 42 sets the color, the line width, and the type of the intersection (connector) in the screen illustrated in
Next, the remaining items of the group information 62 are inputted in the same manner. Accordingly, completed group information 62 is generated, and stored in the storage unit 6.
Further, the group processing unit 42 generates the group graphic information 63 based on the group information 62, and stores the group graphic information 63 in the storage unit 6.
Next, according to the property information 64 and the like, the graphic display processing unit 44 draws the leader line and the connectors for the plurality of connection lines L to be grouped together, and displays the net name and the net address, both of which are attached to the leader line (step S17). In other words, in the above display control processing, the graphic display processing unit 44 graphically represents on the screen the leader line information which crosses the extracted connection information 61, and connector information at the intersections of the connection information 61 and leader line information. The processing at the step S17 is detailed in
As illustrated in
Here, the extracting condition, or the group name and the technical name, is determined that they are same with each other only when the extracting condition correspond completely, and an extracting result is grouped together into one extracted group. However, in this embodiment, other than the case that the extracting condition correspond completely, the extracting condition may be determined that they are same with each other even when the extracting condition correspond partially, and an extracting result is grouped together into one extracted group. For example, when the technical name includes a dot “.”, connection lines L, in which parts before the dots of the technical names correspond with each other, are determined that they are same with each other. More concretely, in “cluster. 1” and “cluster. 2”, parts before the dots are “cluster” and correspond with each other. Thus, the extracting condition corresponds partially, and are same.
Further, instead of the extracting condition, the property information 64 other than the group name and the technical name may be used as the extracting condition. For example, when the subnet name and the net (network) address of the property information 64 correspond partially, the connection lines L may be grouped together into one extracted group.
The property information 64 used for extracting an extracted group, or extracting condition, is used as a content of “explanatory characters” in the group information 62. For this purpose, the graphic display processing unit 44 writes the extracting condition or the property information 64 into the “explanatory characters”.
A number of the property information 64 used as the extracting condition may be one or more than three. When single property information 64 is used, the group name is used. When one or more property information 64, which is the extracting condition, correspond completely or partially, the extracting result or the connection lines L may be grouped together into one extracted group. Any part of the plurality of property information 64 may be used as the extracting condition.
After the above processing, the graphic display processing unit 44 performs display control processing of the property information 64, which at least partially corresponds with each other. In the display control, the graphic display processing unit 44 displays a plurality of property information 64 in a state that each display position of the plurality of property information 64 is shifted with each other.
First, the graphic display processing unit 44 sorts all of the connection information 61 by the group name, and obtains a number of different groups (a) having different group names (step S21). The connection information 61 may be sorted by the group ID or the like.
Next, the graphic display processing unit 44 obtains a distance (b), a rectangle (c), and a rectangle (d) based on the coordinates of the both ends of all connection lines L or interfaces IF (step S22). The distance (b), the rectangle (c), and the rectangle (d) are illustrated in
Next, the graphic display processing unit 44 subtracts a margin from the distance (b), and obtain the distance (b)′ (step S23). The margin is a difference between the distance (b) and the distance (b)′ in
Next, the graphic display processing unit 44 decides drawing locations of the leader lines H (extraction grouping lines) based on the number of groups (a) and the distance (b)′, and decides directions and length “d” of the leader lines H based on the rectangle (c) and the rectangle (d) (step S24). The drawing locations of the leader lines H are decided based on the distance (b)′ (or the distance (b)) and the number of groups (a) so as to make intervals of each of the leader lines H equal with each other. In this embodiment, the direction of the leader lines H is decided to a shorter one of the distance (d1) and the distance (d2), both of which are illustrated in
Further, the graphic display processing unit 44 decides drawing locations of the arrow segments Y based on the drawing locations of the leader lines H. The drawing locations of the arrow segments Y are decided to be on extension lines from the drawing locations of the leader lines H, to be between the circuit elements, and to connect the connection lines L which form the extracted groups. The graphic display processing unit 44 stores the locations of the arrow segments Y in the group graphic information 63.
Next, the graphic display processing unit 44 draws the leader lines H and the arrow segments Y at their drawing locations based on the leader line information and the arrow segment information of the group graphic information 63 (step S25). In this drawing, arrowheads are drawn to point the direction to which the leader lines H are drawn out. Then, the graphic display processing unit 44 obtains the coordinates K of the intersections of the arrow segments Y and the connection lines L which form the extracted groups, stores the coordinates K in the group graphic information 63, and draws the intersections based on the stored coordinates K (step S26). Accordingly, the screen illustrated in
Next, the graphic display processing unit 44 draws the contents of “explanatory characters” of the group information 62 at the edges of the leader lines H (step S27). Accordingly, the screen illustrated in
Subsequently, the graphic display processing unit 44 checks whether or not the above drawing processing of the leader lines H is repeated by the number of groups (a) (step S28). When the above drawing processing is repeated by the number of groups (a), processing of the step S25 and subsequent processings are repeated. When the above drawing processing is repeated by the number of groups (a), display processing ends.
The embodiment of the present invention is described. Various changes may be made within a scope of the invention.
For example, the graphic display processing unit 44 may update the property information 64 which is once created as described above. In this case, the graphic display processing unit 44 displays the screen illustrated in
The designer looks the screen illustrated in
Further, the leader line and the arrow segment may also be updated. This updating may be caused by updating the group name of the property information 64 in the above-described update processing, and may invite a result that a new leader line and a new arrow segment are added. For example, as illustrated in
In this case, the graphic display processing unit 44 also draws the existent extraction grouping line, which overlaps the new extraction grouping line, in a drawing processing of the new extraction grouping line. Accordingly, the graphic display processing unit 44 draws two extraction grouping lines in the display region between the HUB and the servers S1 to S6, which are the circuit elements. Thus, as illustrated in
Furthermore, the connection line L, the leader line H, the arrow segments Y, the intersection K, the explanatory characters M and the like may be drawn even when requests to do so is not inputted by the designer. In this case, the above described screen illustrated in
Further, for example, the type of the extraction grouping line may be set other than the “straight line”, and the means for indicating the extracted group may be set other than the “straight line”, as illustrated in
The screen illustrated in
This embodiment is applied to a case in which circuit elements having a same group name for RAID apparatuses, link aggregations, partitioning and the like are grouped together, and display with the group name and a technical name, thereby the display is easily understood. According to this embodiment, even when the enclosing rectangle is divided into some parts, the enclosing rectangle can be displayed as separate ones. Sizes, locations, and the leader lines may be corrected for each enclosing rectangles.
The screen illustrated in
This embodiment is applied to a case in which clusters and the like having a same group name are grouped together, and display with the group name and a technical name, thereby the display is easily understood. According to the embodiment, same products (circuit elements) can be displayed as one group with the group name and the technical name.
In order to display the screen illustrated in
Further, in a case of displaying the screen illustrated in
All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purpose to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation 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 the 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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-126913 | May 2008 | JP | national |
