Storage Resource View Mode Icons for Table Filtering

The patent segments the hierarchical tree display by allowing users to filter and display only specific types of resources (e.g., storage devices, volumes, hosts) while maintaining the ability to view other resource types when needed. This segmentation enables focused viewing of particular resource categories without permanently hiding other information, thus improving ease of operation while preserving access to complete resource information.

The patent implements dynamic display modes that allow the hierarchical tree to adapt between showing all resources and showing filtered resource types based on user selection. The system dynamically adjusts the displayed content according to the selected view mode, enabling users to switch between comprehensive views and focused views of specific resource types, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of viewing specific types and maintaining information completeness.

The patent extracts and separates specific resource types from the complete hierarchical tree display by implementing filter views. When a user selects a particular resource type (e.g., only storage devices), the system extracts and displays only those resources, removing unrelated entries from the view. This extraction significantly reduces the number of entries users must scroll through, thereby increasing productivity in locating specific resources while reducing time loss.

The patent applies preliminary action by allowing users to pre-select filter criteria and view modes before navigating the resource list. The system prepares and displays filtered resource sets in advance based on user preferences and common management tasks, so users don't need to manually scroll through entire resource inventories. This preliminary filtering action speeds up resource location and reduces scrolling time.

The patent segments the resource display into separate, selectable categories (storage devices, volumes, hosts, etc.). Instead of mixing all resource types in a single complex view, the system divides resources into distinct segments that can be viewed independently. This segmentation simplifies resource comparison by ensuring that only homogeneous resource types appear together in the display, making it easier to compare like-with-like while maintaining manageable interface complexity.

The patent applies local quality by providing different display characteristics for different resource types. Each resource type segment can be customized with appropriate attributes and display formats specific to that type (e.g., capacity information for storage devices, volume mappings for volumes). This localized optimization of display quality for each resource segment improves comparability within each type while the overall interface remains structured and manageable.