Abstract: Described is a method and system providing a dynamic, live (active) surface and/or model elements to complement and enhance what is being modeled or visualized, enabling the addition of new features and functionality to visualization and modeling tools. A dynamic surface is accomplished by extending traditional HTML, rendering APIs and/or components to enable visualization and modeling functionality. The surface background and model elements may comprise HTML elements, and the surface can include a Web site. The model elements are HTML elements layered dynamically atop the surface, as the user interacts with them, and completed designs may be saved in a non-proprietary format, (e.g., HTML). The live surface bases its services on HTML rendering engine services, and further provides a visualization and modeling engine that wraps and extends the rendering engine through multiple interfaces.

Abstract: A method and system for representing an object in a network environment. The system uses web technology, preferably XML-technology, to receive and store information related to back-end resources and the objects managed by the resources. Initially a first schema document conforming to a property sheet definition, such as an XML document type definition, is used to define a property sheet, the property sheet having object-type information. Next, the two or more schema documents that conform to a property page definition, such as an XML document type definition, to thereby define a plurality of property pages are incorporated into the property sheet and the different property pages may originate from different resources. Using the property sheet and its associated property pages, a representation of the object may then be displayed.

Abstract: A method and system for management of a plurality of resources in a network environment. The system uses web technology, preferably XML-technology, to receive and store information related to back-end resources and to provide a framework by which client computer systems can manage the plurality of back-end resources in a uniform manner. Using these communications, the management system uniformly associates information from the various resources via various multi-step, scenario-based functions, such as, for example, searches, monitoring, scripting, software deployment, etc. That is, the management system is able to provide easier, higher-level operation options to the administrator based on the associated information related to the various resources.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying information related to a plurality of resources in a network environment. The system uses web technology to receive and store information related to back-end resources and to provide a framework by which client computer systems can manage the plurality of back-end resources in a uniform manner. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is employed in a computer system for selecting the visual arrangement of workspaces and modules in a network management console GUI. The console includes a first zone and a second zone. The method involves receiving a list of workspace names and, in response, displaying an explorer tool including the list of workspace names in the first zone. Upon indication from a user that a first workspace name from the list of workspace names has been selected, a first workspace associated with the first workspace name is displayed in the second zone.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying information related to a plurality of resources in a network environment. The system uses web technology to receive and store information related to back-end resources and to provide a framework by which client computer systems can manage the plurality of back-end resources in a uniform manner. In accordance with one method, a request is received to display object information from different network resources. In response, attribute and task information is retrieved from the appropriate different network resources and this information is displayed. A graphical user interface (GUI) displays information related to network resource objects. The GUI includes a console displaying a tool zone and a work zone. A module is displayed in the work zone having an object zone displaying a list of objects and a task zone displaying a list of tasks.

Abstract: A method and system for query-based management of a plurality of resources in a network environment. The system uses web technology, preferably XML-technology, to receive and store information related to back-end resources and to provide a framework by which client computer systems can manage the plurality of back-end resources in a uniform manner. The system and method associates a search components to an object type, wherein the search components may come from different resources. Consequently, in a network environment having multiple resources, search information may be shared between different resources. Additionally, searching for a known objects retrieves information, both task and otherwise, associated with all shared resources. Thus a user can perform many different tasks just by searching for and locating the proper object. Furthermore, each of the resources may include a dedicated search engine for performing searches on dedicated resources.

Abstract: A method and system for task-based management of a plurality of resources in a network environment. The system uses web technology, preferably XML-technology, to receive and store information related to back-end resources and to provide a framework by which client computer systems can manage the plurality of back-end resources in a uniform manner. The method for managing a plurality of resources relates to receiving information from a resource related to a task for an object type and then receiving information from another resource related to a different task, but where the different task is associated with the same object type. The method then stores the information received from the second resource in association with the information received from the first resource.

Abstract: Described is a method, system and data structures to logically separate the notations from the semantics of model element objects into separate code components, and to enable subsequent re-association of a selected notation with a selected semantic. Various notations and semantics from different providers may be combined. The invention may be implemented in a Visual Modeling Framework which defines the API set and/or interfaces to which the semantic and notation objects conform, and allows a notation and a semantic to be plugged into each other to create a model element, thereby allowing pluggable notations and pluggable semantics. A paradigm server may load a selected semantic and notation component, combine them, and present the combination to the framework as a model element. The paradigm server may be a pluggable component, having specialized knowledge for validating whether a semantic object can be used in a paradigm and combined with a notation.

Abstract: Described is a method and system providing a dynamic, live (active) surface and/or model elements to complement and enhance what is being modeled or visualized, enabling the addition of new features and functionality to visualization and modeling tools. A dynamic surface is accomplished by extending traditional HTML, rendering APIs and/or components to enable visualization and modeling functionality. The surface background and model elements may comprise HTML elements, and the surface can include a Web site. The model elements are HTML elements layered dynamically atop the surface, as the user interacts with them, and completed designs may be saved in a non-proprietary format, (e.g., HTML). The live surface bases its services on HTML rendering engine services, and further provides a visualization and modeling engine that wraps and extends the rendering engine through multiple interfaces.

Abstract: A system for tracking the lineage of data in a database. Data within the tables are tracked by attaching lineage information to the data, preferably, by adding a lineage identifier to each row in a table. Data that share a common lineage can be identified by virtue of sharing a common lineage identifier. The lineage identifier can then be used to trace the source of the data, i.e., data having a common identifier share a common history. Preferably, the lineage data type is an identifier that is universally unique and is optimized to provide little impact on the performance of the database. For example, by providing a sufficient size identifier to ensure its uniqueness while minimizing storage size. More preferably, the data lineage data type is a sixteen-byte number.

Abstract: Described is a method and system that enables open, non-proprietary and extensible visualization and modeling tools by providing multiple-way negotiations between model element end points (nodes) and a connecting model element (arc). Based on these negotiations, a user is guided to make appropriate interconnections between model elements. A protocol is provided for intelligent model elements (objects) to communicate their information to one another, e.g., an arc communicates its capabilities and requirements to a node, and vice-versa, whereby the model element objects themselves decide whether they can interconnect, and if so, how they need to interconnect. The objects themselves enforce semantics and rules. According to the protocol, either object can reject the interconnection (break off the negotiation) with the other object if it determines it is not compatible with the other object, or is otherwise unable to connect to it.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for interacting with a modeling layout algorithm that enables incremental and interruptible automatic layout operations. A defined set of interfaces (e.g., of a COM object) are described for layout engines, and a modeling engine calls into these interfaces to start and stop the layout process, preserve and restore state information, and perform other functions. The layout engine, which is preferably a pluggable component, raises events through an interface with which it complies to indicate its progress, and to indicate when the engine may be safely interrupted. The modeling engine can call back into the layout engine to stop the layout if the user has requested that the layout be interrupted, providing interfaces to the layout engine for preserving and restoring its state, thereby enabling incremental layout operations that do not lose progress.

Abstract: A system for automatically generating table neighborhoods comprises a database designer which automatically generates a database diagram for a selected table. The database designer automatically compiles a set of tables having the desired relation to a selected table. The desired level of relation may be several levels removed from the selected table, in which case, the database designer searches multiple levels for tables to be included in the database diagram. Thereafter, the database designer gathers format data for the selected table and the set of tables having the desired relation to the selected table. Finally, the database designer displays the selected table, the tables in the set of tables having the desired relation to the selected table, and the relationships between these tables.

Abstract: A system for tracking the lineage of data in a database. Data within the tables are tracked by attaching lineage information to the data, preferably, by adding a lineage identifier to each row in a table. Data that share a common lineage can be identified by virtue of sharing a common lineage identifier. The lineage identifier can then be used to trace the source of the data, i.e., data having a common identifier share a common history. Additionally, the lineage identifier can provide details about transformations undergone by the data. For example, the lineage identifier can act as a pointer to a detailed history files of operations that were performed on the data to transform it into its current form. Preferably, the lineage identifier tracks program modules as well as specific versions of the program modules that transformed the particular data under consideration.

Abstract: A secure remote access computing system for executing tasks on a secure private network requested by an unsecured remote computing device connected to the secure private network by way of a public communication network, without exposing any device in the secure private network other than a designated network interface device to the public communication network. The network interface device dynamically generates a custom program containing the necessary network data and user interfaces and verifies the security privileges for the remote computing device, so that a remote user can define the task being executed on the private network by way of the secure network interface device surrogate. The unsecured remote computing device and the secure network interface device communicate by accepted conventions of protocols and commands that are well known and used by other users of the public communication network.