Abstract: Upon identification of an information category by the user, a set of windows is automatically identified based on predetermined associations with the user's input as stored in the database. Based on the selected set of window definitions, requests are transmitted to equipment associated with the computer system to obtain data related to the window definitions. The computer system receives the responses from the equipment and applies a stored set of rules to rank the importance of each window definition of the selected set. The window having the highest importance is displayed to the user.

Abstract: A group of rules is stored in memory of a computer system wherein each rule defines an allowable combination of configurable parameters that are controllable by command message. Inputs are received from the user indicating the specific ones of the configurable parameters to be controlled. The selected parameters are compared to the rules to determine sets of configurable parameter communications which are allowed; a first list of such parameters is generated. One of the sets of parameters from the first list is entered on a second list. The first list is modified to exclude sets of configurable parameters which include a control parameter included in the set entered on the second list. This process is repeated until all selected parameters by the user are contained on the second list. The second list of parameters each have a corresponding command message and thus, a group of command messages are automatically generated to control the selected parameters.