Abstract: A method of automatically and intelligently maintaining business systems, including information technology assets. A management system automatically maintains a business system based on relationships among resources within the business system and/or on a priority rank that establishes the value or importance of a particular resource. The management system, and optionally the user, can also create rules for maintaining relationships among resources and for maintaining relationships among different business systems. The management system automatically adapts to a change in rules by maintaining relationships among resources and business systems based on a change in the rules.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for the prioritized distribution of application components based upon computing process impact. An application component distribution system which has been configured in accordance with the present invention can include a resource management system configured to manage communicatively coupled client computing devices over a computer communications network. A data store can be arranged to store prioritization data specifying which of the client computing devices are to first receive distributions of specified application components. Finally, a selective deployment processor can be programmed to selectively deploy application components to the client computing devices based upon the prioritization data.

Abstract: A method is provided in association with a managed system having a substantial number of resources. The method includes the step of selecting an attribute that is common to all of the resources, wherein each resource has a status in regard to the selected attribute that is one of a plurality of prespecified statuses that are available for the attribute. The method further includes compressing the group of resources into a set of subgroups, wherein each subgroup corresponds to a different prespecified status of the plurality, and each resource having a given status is placed into the subgroup that corresponds to the given status. Each of the subgroups is represented by a display element on a single computer display screen, and specified information is displayed with each display element, wherein the specified information for a display element pertains to all of the resources placed into the subgroup that are represented by the display element.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for the prioritized distribution of application components based upon computing process impact. An application component distribution system which has been configured in accordance with the present invention can include a resource management system configured to manage communicatively coupled client computing devices over a computer communications network. A data store can be arranged to store prioritization data specifying which of the client computing devices are to first receive distributions of specified application components. Finally, a selective deployment processor can be programmed to selectively deploy application components to the client computing devices based upon the prioritization data.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for the prioritized distribution of application components based upon computing process impact. An application component distribution system which has been configured in accordance with the present invention can include a resource management system configured to manage communicatively coupled client computing devices over a computer communications network. A data store can be arranged to store prioritization data specifying which of the client computing devices are to first receive distributions of specified application components. Finally, a selective deployment processor can be programmed to selectively deploy application components to the client computing devices based upon the prioritization data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for selecting among a plurality of alert conditions for processing by a resource management system. A priority indication is associated with at least some resources in a computer system. Resources that are associated with the alert conditions are identified. An alert condition is selected from among the alert conditions based on the priority indication that is associated with the identified resources.

Abstract: A multi-ownership tree-map visualization system can include a tree-map configured to visualize a set of interrelated nodes in which at least one individual node in the set is related to at least two parent nodes in the set. The system further can include an event handler programmed to process a proximity event associated with a specific portion of the tree-map by highlighting multiple portions of the tree-map in which the portions represent a single node in the set. In this regard, the proximity event can include a mouse-over event, a mouse-click event, or a keyboard selection event, to name a few. The system yet further can include logic for displaying a call-out box for each portion of the tree-map associated with the single node in the set.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for selecting links in a page using an enhanced mouse pointer. The page is displayed in a data processing system that includes a mouse that includes a scroll wheel. Multiple links are included in the page. A standard mouse pointer is displayed in the page. An enhanced mouse pointer state is then invoked causing the standard mouse pointer to become an enhanced mouse pointer. In response to invoking the enhanced mouse pointer state, a closest one of the links in the page to the enhanced standard mouse pointer is determined. An enhanced mouse pointer indicator is displayed that extends from the enhanced mouse pointer to the determined closest one of the links. The links may be scrolled through by rotating the scroll wheel.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for determining approximate locations of network devices. Information is received concerning last known locations of portable network devices that attach to a network, and used to compute an approximate location of an obscured network device attached to the network. In some embodiments, the last known locations of the portable network devices may be determined using information from GPS satellites. The approximate location of the obscured network device may be used as the approximate location of other stationary network devices connected to the same network.

Abstract: A method is provided in association with a managed system having a substantial number of resources. The method includes the step of selecting an attribute that is common to all of the resources, wherein each resource has a status in regard to the selected attribute that is one of a plurality of prespecified statuses that are available for the attribute. The method further includes compressing the group of resources into a set of subgroups, wherein each subgroup corresponds to a different prespecified status of the plurality, and each resource having a given status is placed into the subgroup that corresponds to the given status. Each of the subgroups is represented by a display element on a single computer display screen, and specified information is displayed with each display element, wherein the specified information for a display element pertains to all of the resources placed into the subgroup that are represented by the display element.

Abstract: A treemap visualization system can include a treemap configured to visualize a set of nodes. The treemap visualization system also can include an event handler programmed to process a proximity event associated with a specific portion of the treemap. The event handler can process the proximity event by visually coupling selected nodes which are inter-related to a node associated with the proximity event. The system further can include logic for displaying a direction for each inter-relationship between the selected nodes and the node associated with the proximity event. In this regard, the proximity event can include a mouse-over event, a mouse-click event, and a keyboard selection event.

Abstract: A system and method for using event management root cause analysis to depict resource dependencies are provided. With the system and method, since the root cause analysis of known event management systems provides a mechanism for defining interactions of enterprise components for root cause analysis purposes, this information is used as a basis for obtaining enterprise component relationship information that may be used by other management applications. That is, the system and method monitor the application of correlation rules to event notifications from various enterprise components and determine relationships of the various enterprise components based on the results of the application of the correlation rules. These relationships may then be stored in a data structure representing the system environment and may be used by other management systems or displayed to the user in a graphical format that graphically represents the system environment.

Abstract: Monitoring silent installation of a subordinate program on one or more data processing systems. While the subordinate program is being installed silently, at least one activity associated with the installation is monitored. As each activity is performed, a status report regarding the progress of the installation is updated. The process of updating the status report is performed independently of any installation program associated with the subordinate program. The status report is displayed to a user so that the user knows that the installation of a primary target program has not hung during installation of the subordinate program.

Abstract: A multi-ownership tree-map visualization system can include a tree-map configured to visualize a set of interrelated nodes in which at least one individual node in the set is related to at least two parent nodes in the set. The system further can include an event handler programmed to process a proximity event associated with a specific portion of the tree-map by highlighting multiple portions of the tree-map in which the portions represent a single node in the set. In this regard, the proximity event can include a mouse-over event, a mouse-click event, or a keyboard selection event, to name a few. The system yet further can include logic for displaying a call-out box for each portion of the tree-map associated with the single node in the set.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for determining approximate locations of network devices. Information is received concerning last known locations of portable network devices that attach to a network, and used to compute an approximate location of an obscured network device attached to the network. In some embodiments, the last known locations of the portable network devices may be determined using information from GPS satellites. The approximate location of the obscured network device may be used as the approximate location of other stationary network devices connected to the same network.

Abstract: A multi-ownership tree-map visualization system can include a tree-map configured to visualize a set of interrelated nodes in which at least one individual node in the set is related to at least two parent nodes in the set. The system further can include an event handler programmed to process a proximity event associated with a specific portion of the tree-map by highlighting multiple portions of the tree-map in which the portions represent a single node in the set. In this regard, the proximity event can include a mouse-over event, a mouse-click event, or a keyboard selection event, to name a few. The system yet further can include logic for displaying a call-out box for each portion of the tree-map associated with the single node in the set.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for determining approximate locations of network devices. Information is received concerning last known locations of portable network devices that attach to a network, and used to compute an approximate location of an obscured network device attached to the network. In some embodiments, the last known locations of the portable network devices may be determined using information from GPS satellites. The approximate location of the obscured network device may be used as the approximate location of other stationary network devices connected to the same network.

Abstract: An audible indicator such as an audio tone is associated with the importance of data elements displayed on a visual display screen of data processing apparatus such as a personal computer or work station. At least one characteristic of the audible indicator, for example its pitch or frequence of a tone, is associated with the importance of the data elements. When a user selects a particular date element on the screen, for example using a computer mouse, the audible indicator conveys the importance of the selected data element to the user. This enables visually impaired users to readily locate important data elements on a display screen without reading the entire screen using a screen reader.

Abstract: A multi-ownership tree-map visualization system can include a tree-map configured to visualize a set of interrelated nodes in which at least one individual node in the set is related to at least two parent nodes in the set. The system further can include an event handler programmed to process a proximity event associated with a specific portion of the tree-map by highlighting multiple portions of the tree-map in which the portions represent a single node in the set. In this regard, the proximity event can include a mouse-over event, a mouse-click event, or a keyboard selection event, to name a few. The system yet further can include logic for displaying a call-out box for each portion of the tree-map associated with the single node in the set.

Abstract: A treemap visualization system can include a treemap configured to visualize a set of nodes. The treemap visualization system also can include an event handler programmed to process a proximity event associated with a specific portion of the treemap. The event handler can process the proximity event by visually coupling selected nodes which are inter-related to a node associated with the proximity event. The system further can include logic for displaying a direction for each inter-relationship between the selected nodes and the node associated with the proximity event. In this regard, the proximity event can include a mouse-over event, a mouse-click event, and a keyboard selection event.