Context-aware tree manager

Abstract

A method is provided, including: (1) displaying a plurality of tree elements (TEs) representing objects within a hierarchical tree structure, the TEs including a first TE representing a first object having a first characteristic and a second TE representing a second object having a second characteristic and not having the first characteristic; (2) displaying a first icon correlated to the first TE; (3) displaying a second icon correlated to the second TE separate from the first icon; (4) receiving a user selection of the first icon; (5) in response, initiating a first editor configured to modify a first property of the first object associated with the first characteristic; (6) receiving a user selection of the second icon; and (7) in response, initiating a second editor configured to modify a second property of the second object associated with the second characteristic, the second editor not configured to modify the first property.

Description

CONTEXT-AWARE TREE MANAGERCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 573,866, titled “CONTEXT- AWARE TREE MANAGER,” filed on April 3, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.BACKGROUND

[0001] Large scale deployments of computing devices and other computing resources can be difficult to manage and visualize. Tree managers are software applications that provides an interface for working with hierarchical data, where elements are organized in a parent-child relationship, forming a hierarchical trcc-likc structure. A tree manager may be used to visualize and manage large scale deployments of computing devices and other computing resources in a tree structure, also allowing a user to add, delete, or modify records or properties of one or more elements of the deployment.SUMMARY

[0002] According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, in one embodiment, a computer program product is disclosed. The computer program product includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, which when performed by processing circuitry of a computing device, cause the computing device to: (a) display a plurality of tree elements representing objects within a hierarchical tree structure, the plurality of tree elements including a first tree element representing a first object having a first characteristic and a second tree element representing a second object having a second characteristic and not having the first characteristic; (b) display a first icon correlated to the first tree element; (c) display a second icon correlated to the second tree element, the second icon being separate from the first icon; (d) receive a user selection of the first icon; (e) in response to receiving the user selection of the first icon, initiate a first editor configured to modify a first property of the first object, the first property associated with the first characteristic; (f) receive a user selection of the second icon; and (g) in response to receiving the user selection of the second icon, initiate a second editorconfigured to modify a second property of the second object, the second property associated with the second characteristic, the second editor not configured to modify the first property.

[0003] In one embodiment of the computer program product, any object having the first characteristic is capable of having one or more other objects placed therein, the first icon indicates the first characteristic, any object having the second characteristic is incapable of having one or more objects placed therein, the second icon is visually different from the first icon and indicates the second characteristic, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects, and the second property of any object includes definition information relating to that object, the definition information being prerequisite to receiving placement of any other object therein.

[0004] In one embodiment of the computer program product, the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: (h) display a third icon correlated to a third tree element of the plurality of tree elements, the third tree element representing a third object and being different from the first tree element, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the third object has the first characteristic;(i) receive a user selection of the third icon; and (j) in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiate the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.

[0005] In another embodiment of the computer program product, the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: (h) display a third icon correlated to a third tree element of the plurality of tree elements, the third tree element representing a third object, the third icon being not selectable and visually different from the first icon and the second icon and indicating that the third object has a third characteristic, wherein the third characteristic is different from the first characteristic and the second characteristic; (i) detect a pointer hovering event over the third icon; and (j) in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, display information indicating that the third icon is not selectable for at least a reason that the third object has the third characteristic.

[0006] In one embodiment of the computer program product, the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: (h) detect a pointer hovering event over one of the first icon or the second icon; and (i) in response to detecting the pointerhovering event, display information relating to a corresponding editor that would be initiated by selecting the one of the first icon or the second icon.

[0007] In another embodiment of the computer program product, the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: (h) receive updated definition information relating to the second object via the second editor; (i) replace the second icon with a third icon in response to receiving the updated definition information, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the second object now has the first characteristic; (j) receive a user selection of the third icon; and (k) in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiate the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.

[0008] In one embodiment of the computer program product, the first icon and the second icon share a common visual feature indicating a common status of being capable of having one or more objects placed therein, the first characteristic is a first type of object, the second characteristic is a second type of object different from the first type of object, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a third type of object, the third type of object being different from the first type of object, and the second property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a fourth type of object, the fourth type of object being different from the first, second, and third types of object. In one embodiment of the computer program product, the first icon is visually identical to the second icon. In another embodiment of the computer program product, the common visual feature is a common color. In another embodiment of the computer program product, the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: (h) detect a pointer hovering event over one of the first icon or the second icon; and (i) in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, display information relating to a corresponding editor that would be initiated by selecting the one of the first icon or the second icon.

[0009] In one embodiment of the computer program product, the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: (h) detect a pointer location being within a vicinity of the first tree element, wherein displaying the first icon is performed in response to detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element; (i)after detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element, detect a pointer location being outside the vicinity of the first tree element; and (j) in response to detecting the pointer location being outside the vicinity of the first tree clement, stop displaying the first icon. In one embodiment of the computer program product, the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: (k) detect a pointer location being within a vicinity of the second tree element, wherein displaying the second icon is performed in response to detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the second tree element; (1) after detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the second tree element, detect a pointer location being outside the vicinity of the second tree element; and (m) in response to detecting the pointer location being outside the vicinity of the second tree element, stop displaying the second icon.

[0010] According to at least another aspect of the present disclosure, in one embodiment, a computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes a display screen; an input device configured to receive input from a user; and processing circuitry coupled to a memory configured to: (a) display a plurality of tree elements representing objects within a hierarchical tree structure, the plurality of tree elements including a first tree element representing a first object having a first characteristic and a second tree element representing a second object having a second characteristic and not having the first characteristic, (b) display a first icon correlated to the first tree element, (c) display a second icon correlated to the second tree element, the second icon being separate from the first icon, (d) receive a user selection of the first icon, (e) in response to receiving the user selection of the first icon, initiate a first editor configured to modify a first property of the first object, the first property associated with the first characteristic, (f) receive a user selection of the second icon, and (g) in response to receiving the user selection of the second icon, initiate a second editor configured to modify a second property of the second object, the second property associated with the second characteristic, the second editor not configured to modify the first property.

[0011] In one embodiment of the computer system, any object having the first characteristic is capable of having one or more other objects placed therein, the first icon indicates the first characteristic, any object having the second characteristic is incapable of having one or more objects placed therein, the second icon is visually different from the first icon and indicates thesecond characteristic, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects, and the second property of any object includes definition information relating to that object, the definition information being prerequisite to receiving placement of any other object therein. In one embodiment of the computer system, the processing circuitry is further configured to: (h) receive updated definition information relating to the second object via the second editor, (i) replace the second icon with a third icon in response to receiving the updated definition information, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the second object now has the first characteristic, (j) receive a user selection of the third icon, and (k) in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiate the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.

[0012] In another embodiment of the computer system, the first icon and the second icon share a common visual feature indicating a common status of being capable of having one or more objects placed therein, the first characteristic is a first type of object, the second characteristic is a second type of object different from the first type of object, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a third type of object, the third type of object being different from the first type of object, and the second property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a fourth type of object, the fourth type of object being different from the first, second, and third types of object.

[0013] According to at least another aspect of the present disclosure, a method, performed by a computing device, is disclosed. The method includes (a) displaying a plurality of tree elements representing objects within a hierarchical tree structure, the plurality of tree elements including a first tree clement representing a first object having a first characteristic and a second tree clement representing a second object having a second characteristic and not having the first characteristic; (b) displaying a first icon correlated to the first tree element; (c) displaying a second icon correlated to the second tree element, the second icon being separate from the first icon; (d) receiving a user selection of the first icon; (e) in response to receiving the user selection of the first icon, initiating a first editor configured to modify a first property of the first object, the first property associated with the first characteristic; (f) receiving a user selection of the second icon; and (g) in response to receiving the user selection of the second icon, initiating a second editor configured to modify a second property of the second object, the second propertyassociated with the second characteristic, the second editor not configured to modify the first property.

[0014] In one embodiment of the method, any object having the first characteristic is capable of having one or more other objects placed therein, the first icon indicates the first characteristic, any object having the second characteristic is incapable of having one or more objects placed therein, the second icon is visually different from the first icon and indicates the second characteristic, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects, and the second property of any object includes definition information relating to that object, the definition information being prerequisite to receiving placement of any other object therein. In one embodiment, the method further includes (h) receiving updated definition information relating to the second object via the second editor; (i) replacing the second icon with a third icon in response to receiving the updated definition information, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the second object now has the first characteristic; (j) receiving a user selection of the third icon; and (k) in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiating the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.

[0015] In one embodiment of the method, the first icon and the second icon share a common visual feature indicating a common status of being capable of having one or more objects placed therein, the first characteristic is a first type of object, the second characteristic is a second type of object different from the first type of object, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a third type of object, the third type of object being different from the first type of object, and the second property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a fourth type of object, the fourth type of object being different from the first, second, and third types of object.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Various aspects of at least one embodiment are discussed below with reference to the accompanying figures, which may not be drawn to scale. The figures are included to provide an illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and embodiments, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, but are not intended as a definition ofthe limits of any particular embodiment. The drawings, together with the remainder of the specification, serve to explain principles and operations of the described and claimed aspects and embodiments. In the figures, each identical or substantially similar component that is illustrated in various figures may be represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every figure. In the figures:

[0017] Fig. 1 illustrates an example computer system, apparatus, computer program product, and associated data structures for use in connection with various embodiments;

[0018] Fig. 2 illustrates an example method in accordance with various embodiments;

[0019] Fig. 3 illustrates another example method in accordance with various embodiments;

[0020] Fig. 4 illustrates another example method in accordance with various embodiments;

[0021] Fig. 5 illustrates another example method in accordance with various embodiments;

[0022] Fig. 6 illustrates another example method in accordance with various embodiments;

[0023] Fig. 7 illustrates another example method in accordance with various embodiments;

[0024] Fig. 8 illustrates an example method and associated screenshots in accordance with various embodiments;

[0025] Fig. 9 illustrates an example method and associated screenshots in accordance with various embodiments;

[0026] Fig. 10 illustrates an example method and associated screenshots in accordance with various embodiments;

[0027] Fig. 11 illustrates an example method and associated screenshots in accordance with various embodiments;

[0028] Fig. 12 illustrates an example method and associated screenshots in accordance with various embodiments;

[0029] Fig. 13 illustrates an example method and associated screenshots in accordance with various embodiments;

[0030] Figs. 14A and 14B are screenshots that illustrate an example method in accordance with various embodiments; and

[0031] Figs. 15A and 15B are screenshots that illustrate an example method in accordance with various embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Examples of the methods and systems discussed herein are not limited in application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The methods and systems may be capable of implementation in other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Examples of specific implementations are provided herein for illustrative purposes and are not intended to be limiting. Acts, components, elements, and features discussed in connection with any one or more examples may be configured to operate and / or be implemented in a similar role in any other examples.

[0033] The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description. References to examples, embodiments, components, elements, or acts of the systems and methods herein referred to in the singular may also embrace embodiments including a plurality. Similarly, references in plural to embodiments, components, elements, or acts may be implemented as a singularity. References in the singular or plural form may therefore not be intended to limit the presently disclosed systems or methods, their components, acts, or elements. The use herein of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations so forth, may encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

[0034] References to “or” may be constmed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. For example, the phrase “at least one of A or B” may refer A and / or B — that is, A only, B only, or A and B together. In addition, in the event of inconsistent usages of terms between this document and documents incorporated herein by reference, the term usage in the incorporated documents is supplementary to this document. For irreconcilable differences, the term usage in this document controls.

[0035] Conventional tree managers do not provide, in an upfront manner, some of the critical status information about the tree elements necessary for managing those tree elements. This deficiency leads to user confusion because it isn’t clear to the user right away what actions are needed or available to be performed on those tree elements. For example, when a user of a conventional tree manager attempts to act on a lower-level object associated with acorresponding higher-level object, there are no indicators provided by the conventional tree manager to immediately inform the user about whether the lower-level object is suitable for such an action based on the context that includes the statuses of both the lower-level object and the higher-level object.

[0036] Thus, it would be desirable to enhance a tree manager with context awareness. This may be accomplished by allowing the tree manager to display contextually appropriate icons that indicate allowable actions on individual tree elements. Further context awareness may also be provided by allowing icons to directly launch context-aware applications upon selection and / or by providing tooltips upon other pointer events either explaining what applications would launch upon selection or explaining what actions the user needs to perform prior to an executable icon being displayed.

[0037] In a conventional tree manager, a user may attempt to place a first tree element representing a server under the scope of a second tree element representing a rack. However, the user may have no knowledge of whether the server has the right characteristic (for example, physical dimensions) to fit inside the rack or whether the rack has the right characteristic (for example, being at an accessible location). For example, the server might have a dimension that is too big to fit inside the rack or that the rack might not have been placed in a floor space that can be accessed by the user. Thus, such unpractical placement of the first tree element cannot be avoided, unless the tree manager informs the user of the status of the server and that of the rack before the user takes such an action.

[0038] Therefore, it would be desirable to implement a context-aware tree manager (CATM) which displays widgets or icons that indicate the statuses of the corresponding objects along with the tree elements that represent those objects. It would also be desirable if these widgets or icons could receive user input and, upon the user input, perform different functions based on the statuses of the corresponding objects.

[0039] Fig. 1 illustrates an example computer system 100 for use in connection with various embodiments. The system 100 includes at least one computing device 110, which may be any kind of computing device, such as a personal computer, laptop, workstation, server, enterprise server, tablet, smartphone, router, etc. In an embodiment, the computing device 110 is a personal computer or laptop.

[0040] The computing device 110 includes processing circuitry 120, user interface (UI) circuitry 130, and memory 140. The computing device 110 may also include various additional features (not illustrated) well-known in the art, such as, for example, network interface circuitry, interconnection traces and buses, etc. The network interface circuitry may be configured to connect the computing device 110 to an external network (for example, the Internet) with or without connecting wires for accessing a cloud server.

[0041] The processing circuitry 120 may include any kind of processor or set of processors configured to perform operations, such as, for example, a microprocessor, a multi-core microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a system on a chip (SoC), a collection of electronic circuits, a similar kind of controller, or any combination of the above.

[0042] The UI circuitry 130 may include any circuitry needed to communicate with and connect to one or more user input devices 192 and a display screen 180. The UI circuitry 130 may include, for example, a keyboard controller, a mouse controller, a touch controller, a serial bus port and controller, a universal serial bus (USB) port and controller, a wireless controller and antenna (for example, Bluetooth), a graphics adapter and port, etc.

[0043] The display screen 180 may be any kind of display including, for example, a CRT, LCD screen, LED screen, OLED screen, etc. The input devices 192 may include a keyboard, keypad, mouse, trackpad, trackball, pointing stick, joystick, touchscreen (for example, embedded within display screen 39), microphone / voice controller, etc. In some embodiments, instead of being external to the computing device 110, the input devices 192 and / or display screen 180 may be embedded within the computing device 110 (for example, a cell phone or tablet with an embedded touchscreen).

[0044] Memory 140 may include any kind of digital system memory, such as random access memory (RAM). Memory 140 may store an operating system (OS, not depicted, e.g., a Linux, UNIX, Windows, MacOS, or similar operating system) and various drivers and other applications and software modules including a CATM 142, configured to be executed on the processing circuitry 120, as well as various data.

[0045] The CATM 142 includes at least two types of icons 150 (depicted as icons 150A, 150B, . . .), a floor editor 160, a rack editor 162, a rack definition editor 164, a data center definitioneditor 166, and a hierarchical tree structure 175. The hierarchical tree structure 175 includes at least two tree elements 176 (depicted as tree elements 176A, 176B, . . .), each of which represents an underlying object, such as a data center, a server rack, a server, etc. The CATM 142 also stores a graphic user interface (GUI) 170 configured to display on the display screen 180 and to interact with a user 194 via the input device(s) 192.

[0046] In operation, the user 194 operates the input devices 192 to manipulate the CATM 142 to manage the tree structure 175. In some embodiments, the CATM 142 instructs the display screen 180 to display a context-aware tree window 190, in which a tree with graphical and / or textual representations of multiple tree elements 176 is displayed. In association with (for example, adjacent to) one or more of the tree elements 176, an icon 150 is displayed which the user 194 may observe and interact with for context information. When the context of the tree element 176 permits an action on the tree element 176, the associated icon 150 may be selectable to launch an editor (for example, the floor editor 160, the rack editor 162, the rack definition editor 164, the data center definition editor 166, etc.) for executing the action. It should be understood that although only four types of editors 160, 162, 164, 166 have been depicted and described, other types of editors may be used instead of or in addition to these.

[0047] Memory 140 may also store various other data structures used by the OS, CATM 142, editors 160, 162, 164, 166, GUI 170, and / or various other applications and drivers. In some embodiments, memory 140 may also include a persistent storage portion. The persistent storage portion of memory 140 may be made up of one or more persistent storage devices, such as, for example, magnetic disks, flash drives, solid-state storage drives, or other types of storage drives. The persistent storage portion of memory 140 may be configured to store programs and data even while the computing device 110 is powered off. The OS, CATM 142, editors 160, 162, 164, 166, GUI 170, and / or various other applications and drivers are typically stored in this persistent storage portion of memory 140 so that they may be loaded into a system portion of memory 140 upon a system restart or as needed. The OS, CATM 142, editors 160, 162, 164, 166, GUI 170, and / or various other applications and drivers, when stored in non-transitory form either in the volatile or persistent portion of memory 140, each form a computer program product. The processing circuitry 120 running one or more applications thus forms a specialized circuit constructed and arranged to carry out the various processes described herein.

[0048] Fig. 2 illustrates an example method 200 performed by the computing device 110 for managing the tree 175 with the tree elements 176 representing underlying objects. It should be understood that any time a piece of software (for example, the OS, CATM 142, editors 160, 162, 164, 166, GUI 170, etc.) is described as performing a method, process, step, or function, what is meant is that a computing device (for example, the computing device 110, etc.) on which that piece of software is running performs that method, process, step, or function when executing that piece of software on its processing circuitry 120. It should be understood that one or more steps or sub-steps of method 200 (especially those indicated by dashed lines) may be omitted in some embodiments. Similarly, in some embodiments, one or more steps or sub-steps may be combined or performed in a different order.

[0049] It should be understood that a first embodiment of method 200 includes sub- steps / conditions 212, 252, and 272, and a second embodiment of method 200 includes sub- steps / conditions 214, 254, and 274. The first embodiment is further illustrated by Figs. 8, 9, and 10. The second embodiment is further illustrated by Figs. 11, 12, and 13.

[0050] Referring to Fig. 2, Fig. 8, and Fig. 11, step 210 of method 200 includes displaying multiple tree elements 176 representing underlying objects within the hierarchical tree structure 175, 801, 1101. In the first embodiment (indicated by sub-step 212), two of the multiple tree elements 176 represent the same type of objects (for example, racks). Specifically, in example arrangement 800, tree element 802 represents a rack “RacklnRow” which is capable of (or suitable for) receiving internal placements of other objects, and tree element 804 represents a rack “R2_SUMX_621_40G_EEM” which is incapable of (or unsuitable for) receiving internal placements of other objects. In the second embodiment (indicated by sub-step 214), two of the multiple tree elements 176 represent different types of objects (for example, rack and data center). Specifically, in example arrangement 1100, tree element 802 represents the rack “RacklnRow” which is capable of (or suitable for) receiving internal placements of other objects, and tree element 1107 represents a data center “FloorTest” which is capable of (or suitable for) receiving internal placements of other objects.

[0051] In step 220 (and panels 803, 1103), method 200 includes displaying an icon 806 correlating to (for example, adjacent to) the tree element 802. In this example, the icon 806 has a first (“blue”) color (depicted by diagonal hatching) which indicates that the rack “RacklnRow”has a certain characteristic, that is, being capable of (or suitable for) receiving internal placements of other objects. The blue color of the icon 806 also indicates that the icon 806 is executable or clickable. In step 230 (and panels 805, 1105), method 200 includes displaying another icon 808,1109, depending on the embodiment, correlating to (for example, adjacent to) the tree element 804, 1107), respectively. In the first embodiment, a second (“red”) color (depicted by vertical hatching) of the icon 808 indicates that the rack ‘R2JSUMX_621_40G_EEM” has a different characteristic, that is, being incapable of (or unsuitable for) receiving internal placements of other objects. The red color also indicates that the icon 808 is executable or clickable. In the second embodiment, the blue color of the icon 1109 indicates that the data center “FloorTest” is capable of (or suitable for) receiving internal placements of other objects and that the icon 1109 is executable or clickable.

[0052] Referring to Fig. 2, Fig. 9, and Fig. 12, in step 240 (and panel 901 of example arrangement 900 and panel 1201 of example arrangement 1200), method 200 includes receiving a user selection of the icon 806 via a clicking event 909 of a pointer (for example, a cursor, mouse, finger, stylus, etc.) by the user 194 over the icon 806. In either the first or second embodiment, in step 250 (illustrated by panels 903, 1203), in response to receiving the user selection of the icon 806, method 200 initiates an editor (for example, rack editor 162, 904). The rack editor 904 is configured to allow the user 194 to place a server 908 into one of the slots inside the rack 906, which is represented by the tree element “RackinRow” 802.

[0053] Referring to Fig. 2, Fig. 10, and Fig. 13, in step 260 (and panel 1001 of example arrangement 1000 and panel 1301 of example arrangement 1300), method 200 includes receiving a user selection of icon 808, 1109, depending on the embodiment, via a user clicking event 1002, 1303 of a pointer over icon 808, 1109, respectively. Referring specifically to Fig. 10, in the first embodiment, in step 270 (and panel 1003), in response to receiving the user selection of the icon 808, method 200 initiates a rack definition editor 164, 1004 configured to edit definition information about the corresponding object, that is, the rack “R2_SUMX_621_40G_EEM.” The rack definition editor 162, 1004 allows the user 194 to verify or modify the definition information items (for example, a pail number 1010, manufacturer 1012, form factor 1014, width 1016, depth 1018, etc.) and submit some or all of those items to complete the definition information of the rack “R2_SUMX_621_40G_EEM” by checking a checkbox 1006 andclicking a submit button 1019 in the rack definition editor 1004. Referring specifically to Fig. 13, in the second embodiment, in response to receiving the user selection event 1303 of the icon 1109 corresponding to the tree element 1107 representing the data center “FloorTcst,” a data center (or floor) editor 160, 1304 is initiated in step 270. The data center editor 1304 is configured to allow the user 194 to place racks 1306, 1308 at respective locations within the data center “FloorTest” represented by the tree element 1107.

[0054] It is to be understood that, in the first embodiment, at least one of the first and second tree elements may instead represent a data center (for example, the data center “FloorTest” represented by the tree element 1107) and the corresponding icon and editor may be the icon 1109 and the editor 1304, respectively. Also, in the second embodiment, the first tree element may instead represent a data center, and the second tree element may then represent a rack.

[0055] Referring again to Fig. 2, step 270 of method 200 may be followed by one of at least four alternative series (depicted by arrows A, B, C, and D) of various additional steps, which will be described as alternative embodiments in detail below.

[0056] Fig. 3 and Fig. 8 illustrate another example method 300 performed by the computing device 110 for managing the tree 175. In addition to the steps included in method 200, method 300 may further include a series (A) of steps 310, 320, and 330. If step 220 includes displaying the icon 806 in association with the tree element 802 representing the rack “RacklnRow” and step 230 includes displaying the icon 808 in association with the tree element 804, representing the rack “R2_SUMX_621_40G_EEM” (that is, the first embodiment), then step 310 may include, for example, displaying, in panel 803, an icon 818 correlating to (for example, adjacent to) a tree clement 816 representing a different rack, for example, a rack “Rack3.” The icon 818 is visually identical to that of the icon 806, which indicates that the rack “Rack3” also has the characteristic of the rack “RacklnRow” as being capable of (or suitable for) receiving internal placements of other objects. Method 300 may further include step 320 of receiving a user selection of the icon 818 by detecting a pointer clicking event (not shown) over the icon 818. Method 300 may further include step 330 which, in response to receiving the user selection of the icon 818, initiates a rack editor 162 (identical to the rack editor 904, but configured to edit the rack “Rack3” rather than the rack “RacklnRow”) configured to allow the user 194 to place servers into slots of rack “Rack3.”

[0057] Fig. 4 and Fig. 8 illustrate another example method 400 performed by the computing device 110 for managing the tree 175. In addition to the steps included in method 200, method 400 may further include a scries (B) of steps 410, 420, and 430. In step 410, method 400 includes displaying an icon 810 correlating to (for example, adjacent to) a tree element 811 representing a server “idrac-496F482.” In this example, the icon 810 has a third (“yellow”) color (depicted by stippling) which indicates that it is not selectable or clickable at all. The yellow color also indicates that the represented server “idrac-496F482” has a characteristic different from the characteristic indicated by either the blue icon 806, 818, 1109 or the red icon 808. In step 420, method 400 includes detecting, in panel 805, a pointer hovering event 812 (for example, a cursor pausing for at least a certain period, for example, 300 milliseconds) over the icon 810. In response to detecting the pointer hovering event 812, step 430 of method 400 may include displaying information 814 (for example, a tooltip) to indicate that the server “idrac-496F482” has the characteristic of being placeable but not yet placed into a rack.

[0058] Figs. 5, 9, and 10 illustrate another example method 500 performed by the computing device 110 for managing the tree 175. In addition to the steps included in method 200, method 500 may further include a series (C) of steps 510 and 520. As Fig. 9 illustrates, in step 510, method 500 includes detecting, in panel 901, a pointer hovering event 905 over the icon 806 which is executable or clickable. Fig. 10 illustrates another use case of step 510, including, for example, detecting, in panel 1003. a pointer hovering event 1020 over the icon 808 which is also executable or clickable. In response to the pointer hovering event 905, step 520 of method 600 may include displaying information 907 (for example, a tooltip) to indicate that selecting the icon 806 would initiate the rack editor 162, 904. Alternatively, in response to the pointer hovering event 1020, step 520 of method 500 may instead include displaying information 1030 (for example, a tooltip) to indicate that selecting the icon 808 would initiate the rack definition editor 164, 1004. Displaying information in step 520 of method 500 may also include changing the color of the icon 806, 808, such as by highlighting or deepening the color to indicate the icon 806, 808 being selectable in response to receiving the hovering event 905, 1020.

[0059] Fig. 6 and Fig. 10 illustrate another example method 600 performed by the computing device 110 for managing the tree 176. In addition to the steps included in method 200, method 600 may further include a series (D) of steps 610, 620, 630, and 640. In step 610, method 600includes receiving updated definition information (for example, the part number 1010, manufacturer 1012, form factor 1014, width 1016, depth 1018, etc.) about the rack “R2_SUMX_621_40G_EEM” via the rack definition editor 164, 1004. In step 620, method 600 includes replacing the previous red icon 808 with a new blue icon (not shown, appearing identical to the icon 806 in some embodiments), which indicates that the rack “R2_SUMX_621_40G_EEM” has now changed its characteristic to be capable of (or suitable for) receiving internal placements of other objects. In step 630, method 600 includes receiving a user selection of the new blue icon. In response to the user selection of the new blue icon, step 640 of method 600 includes initiating a corresponding rack editor 162 (for example, the editor 904) configured to place servers into various slots of the rack “R2_SUMX_621_40G_EEM.”

[0060] Fig. 7 and Figs. 14A-15B illustrate another example method 700 as a variation on method 200 of Fig. 2 performed by the computing device 110 for managing the tree 176. In one embodiment, method 700 includes steps 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, and 760 in addition to the steps of method 200 to manage a tree 176. Method 700 includes, prior to step 220, a step 710 which includes detecting a pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element. For example, as depicted in Fig. 14A, step 710 includes detecting a pointer location 1420 to be within a box 1410 close to a tree element 1450 representing a rack (“Generic RACK A”) within tree 1400. In some examples, the boundaries of the box 1410 may be invisible. In response to detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element 1450, method 700 proceeds to step 220 to display a first icon 1430 correlating to (for example, adjacent to) the first tree element 1450. In step 720, method 700 includes detecting the pointer location being outside the vicinity of the first tree clement 1450 after detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element 1450. For example, as depicted in Fig. 14B, when the user 194 moves the pointer outside the box 1410, a new pointer location 1440 is detected to be outside the box 1410. In response to detecting the pointer location 1440 now being outside the vicinity (box 1410) of the first tree element 1450, in step 730, method 700 includes stopping displaying the first icon 1430 (as illustrated in Fig. 14B).

[0061] In step 740, method 700 includes detecting a pointer location being within the vicinity of the second tree element. Referring to Fig. 15A, step 230 of method 700 includes displaying a second icon 1530 correlated to the second tree element 1550 (“Generic Rack B”) in response todetecting (in step 740) the pointer location 1520 being within the vicinity (box 1510) of the second tree element 1550 of tree 1400. In some examples, the boundaries of the box 1510 may be invisible. In step 750, as depicted in Fig. 15B, method 700 includes, after detecting the pointer location 1520 being within the vicinity (box 1510) of the second tree element 1550, detecting a pointer location 1540 being outside the vicinity (box 1510) of the second tree element. In step 760, method 700 includes stopping displaying the second icon (as illustrated in Fig. 15B) in response to detecting the pointer location 1540 being outside the vicinity (box 1510) of the second tree element 1550. Method 700 then proceeds to step 240, followed by the remainder of method 200.

[0062] While various embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0063] It should be understood that although various embodiments have been described as being methods, software embodying these methods is also included. Thus, one embodiment includes a tangible computer-readable medium (such as, for example, a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, computer memory, flash memory, etc.) programmed with instructions, which, when performed by a computer or a set of computers, cause one or more of the methods described in various embodiments to be performed. Another embodiment includes a computer which is programmed to perform one or more of the methods described in various embodiments.

[0064] Furthermore, it should be understood that all embodiments which have been described may be combined in all possible combinations with each other, except to the extent that such combinations have been explicitly excluded.

[0065] Finally, nothing in this Specification shall be construed as an admission of any sort. Even if a technique, method, apparatus, or other concept is specifically labeled as “background” or as “conventional,” Applicant makes no admission that such technique, method, apparatus, or other concept is actually prior art , such determination being a legal determination that depends upon many factors, not all of which are known to Applicant at this time.

[0066] The following are particular embodiments of interest:1. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium storing instructions, which when performed by processing circuitry of a computing device, cause the computing device to: display a plurality of tree elements representing objects within a hierarchical tree structure, the plurality of tree elements including a first tree element representing a first object having a first characteristic and a second tree element representing a second object having a second characteristic and not having the first characteristic; display a first icon correlated to the first tree element; display a second icon correlated to the second tree element, the second icon being separate from the first icon; receive a user selection of the first icon; in response to receiving the user selection of the first icon, initiate a first editor configured to modify a first property of the first object, the first property associated with the first characteristic; receive a user selection of the second icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the second icon, initiate a second editor configured to modify a second property of the second object, the second property associated with the second characteristic, the second editor not configured to modify the first property.2. The computer program product of embodiment 1, wherein: any object having the first characteristic is capable of having one or more other objects placed therein, the first icon indicates the first characteristic, any object having the second characteristic is incapable of having one or more objects placed therein, the second icon is visually different from the first icon and indicates the second characteristic, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects, and the second property of any object includes definition information relating to that object, the definition information being prerequisite to receiving placement of any other object therein.3. The computer program product of embodiment 2, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: display a third icon correlated to a third tree element of the plurality of tree elements, the third tree element representing a third object and being different from the first tree element, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the third object has the first characteristic; receive a user selection of the third icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiate the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.4. The computer program product of embodiment 2, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: display a third icon correlated to a third tree element of the plurality of tree elements, the third tree element representing a third object, the third icon being not selectable and visually different from the first icon and the second icon and indicating that the third object has a third characteristic, wherein the third characteristic is different from the first characteristic and the second characteristic; detect a pointer hovering event over the third icon; and in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, display information indicating that the third icon is not selectable for at least a reason that the third object has the third characteristic.5. The computer program product of embodiment 2, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: detect a pointer hovering event over one of the first icon or the second icon; and in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, display information relating to a corresponding editor that would be initiated by selecting the one of the first icon or the second icon.6. The computer program product of embodiment 2, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: receive updated definition information relating to the second object via the second editor; replace the second icon with a third icon in response to receiving the updated definition information, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the second object now has the first characteristic; receive a user selection of the third icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiate the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.7. The computer program product of embodiment 1, wherein: the first icon and the second icon share a common visual feature indicating a common status of being capable of having one or more objects placed therein, the first characteristic is a first type of object, the second characteristic is a second type of object different from the first type of object, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a third type of object, the third type of object being different from the first type of object, and the second property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a fourth type of object, the fourth type of object being different from the first, second, and third types of object.8. The computer program product of embodiment 7, wherein the first icon is visually identical to the second icon.9. The computer program product of embodiment 7, wherein the common visual feature is a common color.10. The computer program product of embodiment 7, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to:detect a pointer hovering event over one of the first icon or the second icon; and in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, display information relating to a corresponding editor that would be initiated by selecting the one of the first icon or the second icon.11. The computer program product of embodiment 1, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: detect a pointer location being within a vicinity of the first tree element, wherein displaying the first icon is performed in response to detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element; after detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element, detect a pointer location being outside the vicinity of the first tree element; and in response to detecting the pointer location being outside the vicinity of the first tree element, stop displaying the first icon.12. The computer program product of embodiment 11, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: detect a pointer location being within a vicinity of the second tree element, wherein displaying the second icon is performed in response to detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the second tree element; after detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the second tree element, detect a pointer location being outside the vicinity of the second tree element; and in response to detecting the pointer location being outside the vicinity of the second tree element, stop displaying the second icon.13. A computer system comprising: a display screen; an input device configured to receive input from a user; and processing circuitry coupled to a memory configured to: display a plurality of tree elements representing objects within a hierarchical treestructure, the plurality of tree elements including a first tree element representing a first object having a first characteristic and a second tree element representing a second object having a second characteristic and not having the first characteristic; display a first icon correlated to the first tree element; display a second icon correlated to the second tree element, the second icon being separate from the first icon; receive a user selection of the first icon; in response to receiving the user selection of the first icon, initiate a first editor configured to modify a first property of the first object, the first property associated with the first characteristic; receive a user selection of the second icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the second icon, initiate a second editor configured to modify a second property of the second object, the second property associated with the second characteristic, the second editor not configured to modify the first property.14. The computer system of embodiment 13, wherein; any object having the first characteristic is capable of having one or more other objects placed therein, the first icon indicates the first characteristic, any object having the second characteristic is incapable of having one or more objects placed therein, the second icon is visually different from the first icon and indicates the second characteristic, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects, and the second property of any object includes definition information relating to that object, the definition information being prerequisite to receiving placement of any other object therein.15. The computer system of embodiment 14, wherein the processing circuitry isfurther configured to: display a third icon correlated to a third tree element of the plurality of tree elements, the third tree clement representing a third object and being different from the first tree clement, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the third object has the first characteristic; receive a user selection of the third icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiate the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.16. The computer system of embodiment 14, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: display a third icon correlated to a third tree element of the plurality of tree elements, the third tree element representing a third object, the third icon being not selectable and visually different from the first icon and the second icon and indicating that the third object has a third characteristic, wherein the third characteristic is different from the first characteristic and the second characteristic; detect a pointer hovering event over the third icon; and in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, display information indicating that the third icon is not selectable for at least a reason that the third object has the third characteristic.17. The computer system of embodiment 14, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: detect a pointer hovering event over one of the first icon or the second icon; and in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, display information relating to a corresponding editor that would be initiated by selecting the one of the first icon or the second icon.18. The computer system of embodiment 14, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:receive updated definition information relating to the second object via the second editor; replace the second icon with a third icon in response to receiving the updated definition information, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the second object now has the first characteristic; receive a user selection of the third icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiate the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.19. The computer system of embodiment 13, wherein: the first icon and the second icon share a common visual feature indicating a common status of being capable of having one or more objects placed therein, the first characteristic is a first type of object, the second characteristic is a second type of object different from the first type of object, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a third type of object, the third type of object being different from the first type of object, and the second property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a fourth type of object, the fourth type of object being different from the first, second, and third types of object.20. The computer system of embodiment 19, wherein the first icon is visually identical to the second icon.21. The computer system of embodiment 19, wherein the common visual feature is a common color.22. The computer system of embodiment 19, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: detect a pointer hovering event over one of the first icon or the second icon; and in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, display information relating to acorresponding editor that would be initiated by selecting the one of the first icon or the second icon.23. The computer system of embodiment 13, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: detect a pointer location being within a vicinity of the first tree element, wherein displaying the first icon is performed in response to detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element; after detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element, detect a pointer location being outside the vicinity of the first tree element; and in response to detecting the pointer location being outside the vicinity of the first tree element, stop displaying the first icon.24. The computer system of embodiment 23, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: detect a pointer location being within a vicinity of the second tree element, wherein displaying the second icon is performed in response to detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the second tree element; after detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the second tree element, detect a pointer location being outside the vicinity of the second tree element; and in response to detecting the pointer location being outside the vicinity of the second tree clement, stop displaying the second icon.25. A method, performed by a computing device, the method comprising: displaying a plurality of tree elements representing objects within a hierarchical tree structure, the plurality of tree elements including a first tree element representing a first object having a first characteristic and a second tree element representing a second object having a second characteristic and not having the first characteristic; displaying a first icon correlated to the first tree element; displaying a second icon correlated to the second tree element, the second icon beingseparate from the first icon; receiving a user selection of the first icon; in response to receiving the user selection of the first icon, initiating a first editor configured to modify a first property of the first object, the first property associated with the first characteristic; receiving a user selection of the second icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the second icon, initiating a second editor configured to modify a second property of the second object, the second property associated with the second characteristic, the second editor not configured to modify the first property.26. The method of embodiment 25, wherein: any object having the first characteristic is capable of having one or more other objects placed therein, the first icon indicates the first characteristic, any object having the second characteristic is incapable of having one or more objects placed therein, the second icon is visually different from the first icon and indicates the second characteristic, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects, and the second property of any object includes definition information relating to that object, the definition information being prerequisite to receiving placement of any other object therein.27. The method of embodiment 26, further comprising: displaying a third icon correlated to a third tree element of the plurality of tree elements, the third tree element representing a third object and being different from the first tree element, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the third object has the first characteristic; receiving a user selection of the third icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiating the first editorconfigured to modify the first property of the third object.28. The method of embodiment 26, further comprising: displaying a third icon correlated to a third tree element of the plurality of tree elements, the third tree element representing a third object, the third icon being not selectable and visually different from the first icon and the second icon and indicating that the third object has a third characteristic, wherein the third characteristic is different from the first characteristic and the second characteristic; detecting a pointer hovering event over the third icon; and in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, displaying information indicating that the third icon is not selectable for at least a reason that the third object has the third characteristic.29. The method of embodiment 26, further comprising: detecting a pointer hovering event over one of the first icon or the second icon; and in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, displaying information relating to a corresponding editor that would be initiated by selecting the one of the first icon or the second icon.30. The method of embodiment 26, further comprising: receiving updated definition information relating to the second object via the second editor; replacing the second icon with a third icon in response to receiving the updated definition information, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the second object now has the first characteristic; receiving a user selection of the third icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiating the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.31. The method of embodiment 25, wherein:the first icon and the second icon share a common visual feature indicating a common status of being capable of having one or more objects placed therein, the first characteristic is a first type of object, the second characteristic is a second type of object different from the first type of object, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a third type of object, the third type of object being different from the first type of object, and the second property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a fourth type of object, the fourth type of object being different from the first, second, and third types of object.32. The method of embodiment 31, wherein the first icon is visually identical to the second icon.33. The method of embodiment 31, wherein the common visual feature is a common color.34. The method of embodiment 31, further comprising: detecting a pointer hovering event over one of the first icon or the second icon; and in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, displaying information relating to a corresponding editor that would be initiated by selecting the one of the first icon or the second icon.35. The method of embodiment 25, further comprising: detecting a pointer location being within a vicinity of the first tree element, wherein displaying the first icon is performed in response to detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element; after detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element, detecting a pointer location being outside the vicinity of the first tree element; and in response to detecting the pointer location being outside the vicinity of the first treeelement, stopping displaying the first icon.36. The method of embodiment 35, further comprising: detecting a pointer location being within a vicinity of the second tree element, wherein displaying the second icon is performed in response to detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the second tree element; after detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the second tree element, detecting a pointer location being outside the vicinity of the second tree element; and in response to detecting the pointer location being outside the vicinity of the second tree element, stopping displaying the second icon.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, which when performed by processing circuitry of a computing device, cause the computing device to: display a plurality of tree elements representing objects within a hierarchical tree structure, the plurality of tree elements including a first tree element representing a first object having a first characteristic and a second tree element representing a second object having a second characteristic and not having the first characteristic; display a first icon correlated to the first tree clement; display a second icon correlated to the second tree element, the second icon being separate from the first icon; receive a user selection of the first icon; in response to receiving the user selection of the first icon, initiate a first editor configured to modify a first property of the first object, the first property associated with the first characteristic; receive a user selection of the second icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the second icon, initiate a second editor configured to modify a second property of the second object, the second property associated with the second characteristic, the second editor not configured to modify the first property.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein: any object having the first characteristic is capable of having one or more other objects placed therein, the first icon indicates the first characteristic, any object having the second characteristic is incapable of having one or more objects placed therein, the second icon is visually different from the first icon and indicates the second characteristic,the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects, and the second property of any object includes definition information relating to that object, the definition information being prerequisite to receiving placement of any other object therein.

3. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: display a third icon correlated to a third tree element of the plurality of tree elements, the third tree element representing a third object and being different from the first tree element, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the third object has the first characteristic; receive a user selection of the third icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiate the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.

4. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: display a third icon correlated to a third tree element of the plurality of tree elements, the third tree element representing a third object, the third icon being not selectable and visually different from the first icon and the second icon and indicating that the third object has a third characteristic, wherein the third characteristic is different from the first characteristic and the second characteristic; detect a pointer hovering event over the third icon; and in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, display information indicating that the third icon is not selectable for at least a reason that the third object has the third characteristic.

5. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: detect a pointer hovering event over one of the first icon or the second icon; andin response to detecting the pointer hovering event, display information relating to a corresponding editor that would be initiated by selecting the one of the first icon or the second icon.

6. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: receive updated definition information relating to the second object via the second editor; replace the second icon with a third icon in response to receiving the updated definition information, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the second object now has the first characteristic; receive a user selection of the third icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiate the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein: the first icon and the second icon share a common visual feature indicating a common status of being capable of having one or more objects placed therein, the first characteristic is a first type of object, the second characteristic is a second type of object different from the first type of object, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a third type of object, the third type of object being different from the first type of object, and the second property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a fourth type of object, the fourth type of object being different from the first, second, and third types of object.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the first icon is visually identical to the second icon.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the common visual feature isa common color.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: detect a pointer hovering event over one of the first icon or the second icon; and in response to detecting the pointer hovering event, display information relating to a corresponding editor that would be initiated by selecting the one of the first icon or the second icon.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: detect a pointer location being within a vicinity of the first tree element, wherein displaying the first icon is performed in response to detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element; after detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the first tree element, detect a pointer location being outside the vicinity of the first tree element; and in response to detecting the pointer location being outside the vicinity of the first tree element, stop displaying the first icon.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when performed by the processing circuitry, further cause the computing device to: detect a pointer location being within a vicinity of the second tree element, wherein displaying the second icon is performed in response to detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the second tree element; after detecting the pointer location being within the vicinity of the second tree element, detect a pointer location being outside the vicinity of the second tree element; and in response to detecting the pointer location being outside the vicinity of the second tree element, stop displaying the second icon.

13. A computer system comprising:a display screen; an input device configured to receive input from a user; and processing circuitry coupled to a memory configured to: display a plurality of tree elements representing objects within a hierarchical tree structure, the plurality of tree elements including a first tree element representing a first object having a first characteristic and a second tree element representing a second object having a second characteristic and not having the first characteristic; display a first icon correlated to the first tree element; display a second icon correlated to the second tree element, the second icon being separate from the first icon; receive a user selection of the first icon; in response to receiving the user selection of the first icon, initiate a first editor configured to modify a first property of the first object, the first property associated with the first characteristic; receive a user selection of the second icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the second icon, initiate a second editor configured to modify a second property of the second object, the second property associated with the second characteristic, the second editor not configured to modify the first property.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein: any object having the first characteristic is capable of having one or more other objects placed therein, the first icon indicates the first characteristic, any object having the second characteristic is incapable of having one or more objects placed therein, the second icon is visually different from the first icon and indicates the second characteristic, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects, andthe second property of any object includes definition information relating to that object, the definition information being prerequisite to receiving placement of any other object therein.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: receive updated definition information relating to the second object via the second editor, replace the second icon with a third icon in response to receiving the updated definition information, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the second object now has the first characteristic, receive a user selection of the third icon, and in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiate the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein: the first icon and the second icon share a common visual feature indicating a common status of being capable of having one or more objects placed therein, the first characteristic is a first type of object, the second characteristic is a second type of object different from the first type of object, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a third type of object, the third type of object being different from the first type of object, and the second property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a fourth type of object, the fourth type of object being different from the first, second, and third types of object.

17. A method, performed by a computing device, the method comprising: displaying a plurality of tree elements representing objects within a hierarchical tree structure, the plurality of tree elements including a first tree element representing a first object having a first characteristic and a second tree element representing a second object having a second characteristic and not having the first characteristic;displaying a first icon correlated to the first tree element; displaying a second icon correlated to the second tree element, the second icon being separate from the first icon; receiving a user selection of the first icon; in response to receiving the user selection of the first icon, initiating a first editor configured to modify a first property of the first object, the first property associated with the first characteristic; receiving a user selection of the second icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the second icon, initiating a second editor configured to modify a second property of the second object, the second property associated with the second characteristic, the second editor not configured to modify the first property.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein: any object having the first characteristic is capable of having one or more other objects placed therein, the first icon indicates the first characteristic, any object having the second characteristic is incapable of having one or more objects placed therein, the second icon is visually different from the first icon and indicates the second characteristic, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects, and the second property of any object includes definition information relating to that object, the definition information being prerequisite to receiving placement of any other object therein.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: receiving updated definition information relating to the second object via the second editor; replacing the second icon with a third icon in response to receiving the updated definition information, the third icon being visually identical to the first icon and indicating that the secondobject now has the first characteristic; receiving a user selection of the third icon; and in response to receiving the user selection of the third icon, initiating the first editor configured to modify the first property of the third object.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein: the first icon and the second icon share a common visual feature indicating a common status of being capable of having one or more objects placed therein, the first characteristic is a first type of object, the second characteristic is a second type of object different from the first type of object, the first property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a third type of object, the third type of object being different from the first type of object, and the second property of any object includes placement, within that object, of one or more other objects of a fourth type of object, the fourth type of object being different from the first, second, and third types of object.

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