Support Mechanisms for Improved Group Policy Management User Interface

Abstract

Provided are support mechanisms for a user interface mechanism that performs group policy management. The support mechanisms include a context menu map that provides a consistent and efficient way to generate interactive context menus for nodes using only straightforward declarations. The declarations are processed to invoke code with corresponding parameters that in turn generates a data structure corresponding to a context menu that is to be displayed. The data structure is processed into another data structure, from which data is extracted to meet the requirements of a hosting management application. An intermediary communications object is provided to separate the user interface into multiple components which each exchange data. A progress dialog is also provided to update the user as to the progress of lengthy operations performed on various managed objects, and to drive those operations. Refresh logic replicates changes made at one location in the user interface to other nodes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 410,887, filed on Apr. 9, 2003, entitled “Support Mechanisms for Improved Group Policy Management User Interface,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The present application is related to the following United States patent applications: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 410,883, entitled “Method and System for Representing Group Policy Object Topology and Relationships” filed on Apr. 9, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,614,015; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 410,865, entitled “Method and System for Implementing Group Policy Operations”, filed on Apr. 9, 2003; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 411,876, entitled “Interfaces and Methods for Group Policy Management”, filed on Apr. 9, 2003. Each of these related applications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides support mechanisms for a user interface that facilitates group policy management. The support mechanisms include a context menu map that allows for quick and efficient creation of interactive context menus for nodes displayed on the user interface, using simple declarative programming. Another support mechanism is an intermediary communications object that separates the user interface into multiple components and allows them to exchange data with a host of the user interface via the intermediary object. A multi-purpose progress dialog is also provided to update the user as to the progress of lengthy operations performed on various managed objects, and to drive those operations. Refresh logic keeps the user interface data consistent by replicating changes made at one location in the user interface to other nodes for updating their data accordingly. The context menu map includes a simple set of declarations corresponding to context menu items for a node, which can be quickly produced for a large number of nodes. Overall, the invention simplifies the process of managing group policies and improves the user experience.

Problems solved by technology

However, the toolset for managing group policy is difficult to use, yet fairly limited, making it difficult for administrators to understand the group policy environment and thus make effective use of group policy.

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