U.S. patent application number 10/454160 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-23 for system and method for representing the information technology infrastructure of an organization.
This patent application is currently assigned to Electronic Data Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation. Invention is credited to Hill, Thomas L., Rammage, Kevin J..
Application Number | 20030197743 10/454160 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29215854 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030197743 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hill, Thomas L. ; et
al. |
October 23, 2003 |
System and method for representing the information technology
infrastructure of an organization
Abstract
A computer program for representing the information technology
infrastructure of an organization includes an interactive display
module and an output module. The interactive display module can
generate a hierarchical list of information technology elements and
organizational elements in the information technology
infrastructure of the organization and can generate an interactive
user interface that presents the hierarchical list. The output
module can generate a hierarchical graph of the information
technology infrastructure of the organization. The hierarchical
list and the hierarchical graph each represent the information
technology infrastructure of the organization.
Inventors: |
Hill, Thomas L.; (Dallas,
TX) ; Rammage, Kevin J.; (Plano, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.
2001 ROSS AVENUE, 6TH FLOOR
DALLAS
TX
75201
US
|
Assignee: |
Electronic Data Systems
Corporation, a Delaware corporation
|
Family ID: |
29215854 |
Appl. No.: |
10/454160 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10454160 |
Jun 4, 2003 |
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09342481 |
Jun 29, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/853 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/063 20130101;
H04L 41/12 20130101; H04L 41/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/853 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Information technology infrastructure management software,
embodied in a computer-readable medium and operable, when executed,
to: generate a hierarchical representation of information
technology elements categorized according to one or more
organizational elements of a business entity with which each
information technology element is associated; wherein the
hierarchical representation represents the information technology
infrastructure of the business entity.
2. The software of claim 1, wherein the organizational elements
comprise departments of the business entity.
3. The software of claim 1, further operable to generate an
interactive user interface that presents the hierarchical
representation to a user, wherein the hierarchical representation
comprises a hierarchical list.
4. The software of claim 3, further operable to: receive user input
via the interactive user interface relating to modifications of the
relationships between the information technology elements and the
organizational elements in the hierarchical list; and modify the
relationships between the information technology elements and the
organizational elements in the hierarchical list based on the user
input.
5. The software of claim 3, further operable to: receive user input
via the interactive user interface relating to a search of the
hierarchical list for multiple occurrences of an information
technology element; and search the hierarchical list for multiple
occurrences of an information technology element.
6. The software of claim 3, further operable to: generate a listing
of at least some of the information technology elements for
presentation by the interactive user interface in a first section;
generate the first section of the interactive user interface that
presents the listing; generate a copy of one of the information
technology elements in the listing presented by the interactive
user interface in the first section; and insert the copy in the
hierarchical list presented by the interactive user interface in a
second section.
7. The software of claim 3, wherein the interactive user interface
is a graphical user interface.
8. The software of claim 1, further operable to: maintain a
dependency relationship between a first information technology
element and a second information technology element; and connect
the second information technology element to each occurrence of the
first information technology element.
9. The software of claim 1, wherein the information technology
elements comprise applications and databases.
10. The software of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical
representation comprises a hierarchical graph.
11. A system for representing the information technology
infrastructure of a business entity, comprising: a memory operable
to store data representing information technology elements of the
business entity, organizational elements of the business entity
with which each information technology element is associated, and
relationships between the information technology elements and the
organizational elements; a processor coupled to the memory and
operable to: access the data in the memory; and generate a
hierarchical representation of the information technology elements
categorized according to one or more organizational elements of the
business entity with which each information technology element is
associated; and a display device coupled to the processor, the
display device operable to display the hierarchical representation,
wherein the hierarchical representation represents the information
technology infrastructure of the business entity.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the organizational elements
comprise departments of a business entity.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further
operable to generate an interactive user interface that presents
the hierarchical representation to the user, wherein the
hierarchical representation comprises a hierarchical list.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the display device is operable
to display the interactive user interface that presents the
hierarchical list to a user.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the interactive user interface
is a graphical user interface.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further
operable to: receive user input via the interactive user interface
relating to modifications of the relationships between the
information technology elements and the organizational elements in
the hierarchical list; and modify the relationships between the
information technology elements and the organizational elements in
the hierarchical list based on the user input.
17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further
operable to: receive user input via the interactive user interface
relating to a search of the hierarchical list for multiple
occurrences of an information technology element; and search the
hierarchical list for multiple occurrences of an information
technology element.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further
operable to: generate a listing of at least some of the information
technology elements for presentation by the interactive user
interface in a first section; generate the first section of the
interactive user interface that presents the listing; generate a
copy of one of the information technology elements in the listing
presented by the interactive user interface in the first section;
insert the copy in the hierarchical list presented by the
interactive user interface in a second section; and generate a new
hierarchical list of the information technology elements and the
organizational elements with which each information technology
element is associated for presentation by the interactive user
interface in the second section.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the information technology
elements comprise applications and databases.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein the hierarchical representation
comprises a hierarchical graph.
21. The system of claim 20, further comprising an output device
coupled to the processor, the output device operable to generate a
hard copy output that presents the hierarchical graph.
22. The system of claim 11, wherein: the memory is further operable
to store a dependency relationship between a first information
technology element and a second information technology element; and
the processor is further operable to connect the second information
technology element to each occurrence of the first information
technology element.
23. A method performed on a computer for representing the
information technology infrastructure of a business entity,
comprising: storing data representing information technology
elements of the business entity, organizational elements of the
business entity with which each information technology element is
associated, and relationships between the information technology
elements and the organizational elements; accessing the data in a
memory; generating a hierarchical representation of the information
technology elements categorized according to one or more
organizational elements of the business entity with which each
informational technology element is associated; and displaying the
hierarchical representation on a display device; wherein the
hierarchical representations represents the information technology
infrastructure of the business entity.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the organizational elements
comprise departments of a business entity.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein generating the hierarchical
representation comprises generating an interactive user interface
that presents a hierarchical list.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the interactive user interface
is a graphical user interface.
27. The method of claim 23, wherein displaying the hierarchical
representation comprises displaying a hierarchical list to a
user.
28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: receiving user
input via the interactive user interface relating to modifications
of the relationships between the information technology elements
and the organizational elements in the hierarchical list; and
modifying the relationships between the information technology
elements and the organizational elements in the hierarchical list
based on the user input.
29. The method of claim 27, further comprising: receiving user
input via the interactive user interface relating to a search of
the hierarchical list for multiple occurrences of one of the
informational technology elements; and searching the hierarchical
list for multiple occurrences of one of the information technology
elements.
30. The method of claim 27, further comprising: generating a
listing of at least some of the information technology elements for
presentation by the interactive user interface in a first section;
displaying the first section of the interactive user interface that
presents the listing on the display device; generating a copy of
one of the information technology elements in the listing presented
by the interactive user interface in the first section; and
inserting the copy in the hierarchical list presented by the
interactive user interface in a second section.
31. The method of claim 23, wherein the information technology
elements comprise applications and databases.
32. The method of claim 23, wherein generating a hierarchical
representation comprises generating a hierarchical graph.
33. The method of claim 23, further comprising: maintaining a
dependency relationship between a first information technology
element and a second information technology element; and connecting
the second information technology element to each occurrence of the
first information technology element.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/342,481 entitled "System and Method for
Representing the Information Technology Infrastructure of an
Organization" filed Jun. 29, 1999.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to information technology, and more
particularly to a system and method for representing the
information technology infrastructure of an organization.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Organizations typically have a large number and variety of
information technology elements, such as software applications,
subsystems, and databases, which together make up the information
technology system of the organization. Moreover, many of these
information technology elements are used by various elements in the
organization, such as sales, accounting, and engineering
departments.
[0004] Unfortunately, the relationships between the various
information technology elements and their uses by different
organizational elements, which together constitute the information
technology infrastructure of the organization, are normally hidden
from decision-makers. A time consuming review of source code may be
undertaken to determine the relationships between the information
technology elements and their usage in each organizational element.
This review may reveal that the information technology
infrastructure is quite complex and difficult to characterize or
represent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention substantially reduces or eliminates at
least some of the disadvantages and problems associated with
representing the information technology infrastructure of an
organization. To accomplish this, the present invention provides
representations of the information technology infrastructure of an
organization in interactive and graphical formats that are readily
discernible and technically useful.
[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, a computer
program embodied in a computer readable media for representing the
information technology infrastructure of an organization includes
an interactive display module and an output module. The interactive
display module is operable to generate a hierarchical list of
information technology elements and organizational elements in the
information technology infrastructure of an organization and to
generate an interactive user interface that presents the
hierarchical list. The output module is operable to generate a
hierarchical graph of the information technology infrastructure of
the organization. The hierarchical list and the hierarchical graph
each represent the information technology infrastructure of the
organization.
[0007] In another embodiment, a method performed on a computer for
representing the information technology infrastructure of an
organization includes storing data representing information
technology elements of an organization, organizational elements of
the organization, and relationships between the information
technology elements and the organizational elements. The method
also includes generating a hierarchical list of the information
technology elements and the organizational elements for
presentation by an interactive user interface, wherein the
hierarchical list represents the information technology
infrastructure of the organization. The method further includes
displaying the interactive user interface that presents the
hierarchical list on a display device.
[0008] The present invention has several important technical
features and advantages. First, by generating the interactive user
interface that presents the hierarchical list of the information
technology elements and the organizational elements of the
organization, the relationships between the information technology
elements and the organizational elements in the information
technology infrastructure are readily discernible and modifiable.
Modifications can include rearranging the hierarchical order of the
information technology elements in the hierarchical list, moving
the information technology elements between different
organizational elements in the hierarchical list, adding
information technology elements to the hierarchical list, and
deleting information technology elements from the hierarchical
list. Second, by generating a hierarchical graph of the information
technology infrastructure, the information technology
infrastructure of the organization is placed in a format that is
readily presentable to and usable by others.
[0009] In a particular embodiment, the hierarchical graph will
include a label for each occurrence of an information technology
element that occurs more than once in the hierarchical graph. Each
label will locate each occurrence of the information technology
element in the hierarchical graph. The hierarchical graph will also
include cross-references at each occurrence of the information
technology element to the other occurrences of the information
technology element in the hierarchical graph. This
cross-referencing allows ready identification of high dependency
sectors in the information technology infrastructure of the
organization, and identifying high dependency sectors assists in
determining which sectors to focus on during compliance testing,
upgrades and enhancements, and general flow testing.
[0010] Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one
skilled in the art from the following figures, description, and
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
and for further features and advantages, reference is now made to
the following description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals represent like
parts, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 provides an overview of a system for representing the
information technology infrastructure of an organization;
[0013] FIG. 2 provides an example of a data file for use in the
system;
[0014] FIG. 3A illustrates an interactive user interface that
presents a hierarchical list of the information technology
infrastructure;
[0015] FIG. 3B illustrates an entry screen for adding an
information technology element or an organizational element to the
interactive user interface;
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a hierarchical graph of the information
technology infrastructure of the organization; and
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method for representing the
information technology infrastructure of an organization.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] FIG. 1 provides an overview of a system 10 for representing
the information technology infrastructure of an organization.
System 10 includes a display device 20, a processing device 22, and
an output device 50. Processing device 22 generates a hierarchical
list 62 and a hierarchical graph 54, each of which represents the
information technology infrastructure of the organization, and can
be a personal computer (PC), a workstation, a mainframe, an
integrated circuit (IC), or any other device that can
electronically process data. Display device 20 displays
hierarchical list 62 and/or hierarchical graph 54 and can be a
cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a
flat-panel display (FPD), or any other device that can display an
electronic image. Output device 50 generates a hard copy output 52
that presents hierarchical graph 54 and can be a laser printer, an
ink jet printer, a fax machine, a plotter, or any other type of
device that can generate a hard copy output of an electronic
image.
[0019] To generate hierarchical list 62 and hierarchical graph 54,
processing device 22 includes a processor 24 and a memory 26.
Memory 26 stores representations of the information technology
elements of the organization, the organizational elements of the
organization, and the relationships between the information
technology elements and the organizational elements. The
information technology elements, the organizational elements, and
the relationships between them form the information technology
infrastructure of the organization. Memory 26 can be random access
memory (RAM), a hard drive, a diskette, a CD-ROM, another type of
magnetic or optical storage device, or any other volatile or
non-volatile memory.
[0020] Memory 26 includes a computer program 42 and a database 46,
which processor 24 uses in generating hierarchical list 62 and
hierarchical graph 54. Computer program 42, executable by processor
24, includes a data collection module 32, a data importation module
34, a data entry module 36, an interactive display module 38, and
an output module 40. Database 46 includes data files 48, each of
which contains data representing the information technology
elements, the organizational elements, and the relationships
between them for an information technology infrastructure. Database
46 can have any type, format, or arrangement of information, as
described above with respect to memory 26. Also, data files 48 may
be one or more flat files, relational files, or other suitable
arrangement of information.
[0021] In operation, data collection module 32, data importation
module 34, and/or data entry module 36 allow computer program 42 to
obtain data that represents the information technology elements,
the organizational elements, and the relationships between them.
Once obtained, computer program 42 can store the data in database
46 as one of data files 48. Data collection module 32 performs
auto-discovery of the information technology system of the
organization to locate and identify the information technology
elements. Data collection module 32 can perform this function
autonomously and automatically by searching the information
technology system for information technology elements, polling the
information technology elements, and gathering information about
the information technology elements. Data collection module 32 can
use any network management protocol to perform this function, such
as, for example, simple network management protocol (SNMP), remote
monitoring (RMON) protocol, or common management information
protocol (CMIP). Data importation module 34, on the other hand,
imports data from a pre-existing database or data file into
computer program 42. Data importation module 34 may perform this
function by accessing a preformatted database or data file or by
automatically parsing an unformatted database and placing the data
into the proper format. Data entry module 36 accepts data directly
entered by a user of computer program 42.
[0022] After computer program 42 acquires and stores the
representations of the information technology elements, the
organizational elements, and the relationships between them for the
particular information technology infrastructure, interactive
display module 38 generates hierarchical list 62 of the information
technology elements and organizational elements of the organization
for presentation by an interactive user interface 60 on display
device 20. Interactive user interface 60 can be a graphical user
interface (GUI), a command-driven user interface, a textual
character-based user interface, or any other type of user interface
that can present data to a user and allow the user to manipulate
the data. Interactive user interface 60 allows a user of computer
program 42 to modify the relationships between the information
technology elements and the organizational elements, as well as the
elements themselves.
[0023] Once interactive display module 38 finishes performing the
modifications to hierarchical list 62 and saves any modifications
of the data used to form hierarchical list 62 to one of data files
48, output module 40 can generate hierarchical graph 54 of the
information technology infrastructure of the organization in memory
location 44. After this, output module 40 can display hierarchical
graph 54 on display device 20 and/or cooperate with output device
50 to generate hard copy output 52 that presents hierarchical graph
54.
[0024] Note, although computer program 42 is shown as having
several modules, the modules may be combined or further subdivided
in numerous manners while still providing the same functionality in
system 10. Also, data files 48 may be one or more flat files,
relational files, or other suitable arrangement of information.
[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 1, system 10 has several features and
advantages. Because interactive user interface 60 can present
hierarchical list 62 of the information technology elements and the
organizational elements of the organization, system 10 allows ready
discernment and modification of the relationships between the
information technology elements and the organizational elements in
the information technology infrastructure. Moreover, interactive
user interface 60 allows insertion of information technology
elements into and deletion of information technology elements from
hierarchical list 62. In addition, because display device 20 can
display and/or hard copy output 52 can present hierarchical graph
54 of the information technology infrastructure of the
organization, system 10 provides a view of the information
technology infrastructure of the organization that is readily
discernible and usable by others.
[0026] FIG. 2 provides an example of one of data files 48 stored in
database 46 for use in system 10. As illustrated, data file 48 is a
text file in which the fields in each record are tab delimited.
Also, data file 48 uses five levels to represent the information
technology infrastructure of the organization--organization,
organization function, application, subsystem, and database. The
first two levels correspond to organizational elements, and the
last three levels correspond to information technology elements.
Thus, each level corresponds to a different element type.
[0027] The records in data file 48 are collated into four groups:
an organization group 80, a properties group 85, an element group
90, and a dependency group 95. Organization group 80 includes a
record that contains identification information about the
organization. Properties group 85 includes records that specify
labels for the different properties associated with each element
type--organization, organization function, application, subsystem,
and database. For example, if the number of users needs to be
associated with each application, the label "NUMBER OF USERS" would
be inserted in properties group 85 in the record for applications
("APPLICATION FIELDS"). Note, the first fields of the records,
except for the last record, in properties group 85 define the
levels used to represent the information technology infrastructure.
Thus, for data file 48, there are five levels, but in other
embodiments, more or fewer levels could be used to represent the
information technology infrastructure. Further note, the records in
properties group 85 could be in any order. Element group 90
includes records that specify the organizational elements, the
information technology elements, and the relationships between
them, as well as any properties of each information technology
element and organizational element. The order of the records in
element group 90 specifies the relationships between the
organizational elements and the information technology elements,
and the labels in properties group 85 define the properties that
can be specified for each element type. Finally, dependency group
95 includes records that specify dependencies between information
technology elements and between information technology elements and
organizational elements.
[0028] In organization group 80, an organization field 81 of the
record includes the title for the data, which is usually the name
of the organization. Organization information fields 82 of the
record of organization group 80 include additional information
about the organization. As illustrated, a number and a name are in
organization information fields 82, the context of which depends on
the labels in properties group 85.
[0029] Properties group 85 includes records that specify labels for
the different properties associated with each type of information
technology element and organizational element--organization,
organization function, application, subsystem, and database. Note,
each element type corresponds to a level used to represent the
information technology infrastructure. An element field 86 of each
record in properties group 85 associates the labels with a type of
information technology element or organizational element, except
for the last ("UNIVERSAL FIELDS"), which can be used for all
element types. For example, "ORGANIZATION FIELDS" corresponds to
the element type "organization," described in organization group
80. Label fields 87 specify the labels for the properties
associated with each element type in element field 86. Label fields
87 can allow any number of labels with which to denote the
properties for the information technology elements and
organizational elements. Continuing with the above example, the
labels for the first two fields of organization information fields
82 in organization group 80 are "YEAR" and "CEO." The next four
records in properties group 85 associate labels with organizational
elements and information technology elements in element group 90.
For example, the labels associated with the element type
"application" are "NUMBER OF USERS" and "PLATFORM." The last record
in properties group 85 contains labels for use with any element
type. Note, the records in properties group 85 could be in any
order.
[0030] Element group 90 includes records that specify the
information technology elements, the organizational elements, the
relationships between the elements, and the properties of the
elements. An element type field 91 in each record of element group
90 contains an element type--organization function, application,
subsystem and database. Note, as illustrated, the element types in
element type field 91 correspond with the entries in element field
86 for the second through fifth records of properties group 85.
After specifying an element type in element type field 91, an
element is given an element name in a name field 92. For example,
the first organization function is named "ACCOUNTING." Following
the name for the element type are the properties in properties
fields 93, corresponding to the labels in label fields 87 for that
element type. For example, the element type "ORGANIZATION FUNCTION"
in element group 90 corresponds with "ORGANIZATION FUNCTION FIELDS"
in properties group 85, and thus, the property specified in
properties fields 93 for an organization function is the number of
employees in that organization function, forty-two for the
organization function "ACCOUNTING." In a particular embodiment,
each field in properties fields 93 is unique to one of the labels
in label fields 87, except for the labels for "ORGANIZATION
FIELDS," used in organization group 80.
[0031] Following the specification of an organization function in
the first record of element group 90 are the information technology
elements in the organization function. For example, the
organization function "ACCOUNTING" may have an application that it
uses to compute payroll, as illustrated by the second record in
element group 90. Thus, the information technology elements in an
organization function can be broken down from the more general to
the more specific, which would be the database. Following the
records for the information technology elements associated with the
first organization function is the record for the second
organization function. The process continues for that organization
function.
[0032] Dependency group 95 includes records that specify
dependencies between certain information technology elements and
between certain information technology elements and organizational
elements. By specifying dependencies between certain elements, an
element that is dependent on another element will always have the
other element connected to it in hierarchical list 62 and
hierarchical graph 54, no matter where or how many times the
dependent element occurs.
[0033] Dependency group 95 provides two ways to associate elements.
The first way is by using the keyword "DEPENDENCY PAIR" in a
dependency type field 96. By specifying this keyword, the name
given to the higher level element, found in name field 92 of
element group 90, will be the first entry in dependency fields 97.
The name of the higher level element will be followed by the
element type associated with the higher level element, found in
element type field 91 of element group 90. The next entry in
dependency fields 97 will be the name of the lower level element,
found in name field 92, followed by the element type, found in
element type field 91. Thus, as illustrated, the first record of
dependency group 95 specifies a dependency relationship between
"Subsys 5" and "File 5." In a particular embodiment, this
dependency exists because "Subsys 5" uses "File 5" to perform its
functions.
[0034] A second way to associate two elements is enabled by using
the keyword "DEPENDENCY" in dependency type field 96. In this case,
dependency fields 98 contain the name of the organization function,
the name of the application, the name of the subsystem, and/or the
name of the database in the dependency chain. Inserting the names
of the elements in the dependency chain in dependency fields 98
specifies the dependency. As an example, the second record of
dependency group 95 shows an alternative way to create a dependency
relationship between "File 5" and "Subsys 5." Note, in other
embodiments, dependency group 95 could use only one of the ways
described, or a different way, to specify associated elements.
[0035] Although data file 48 is tab-delimited, data file 48 could
be delimited by a comma, space, semi-colon, colon, or other
suitable character. In addition, the format illustrated in example
data file 48 is not rigid but merely illustrative. The records
could be arranged in different orders or collated in different
groups. Moreover, the information in each record could be modified.
Thus, system 10 generally contemplates any organization or
structure of data file 48 to specify one or more organizational
elements, one or more information technology elements, and their
relationships.
[0036] FIG. 3A illustrates interactive user interface 60 that
presents hierarchical list 62 of the information technology
elements and the organizational elements. In this illustration,
interactive user interface 60 is a GUI. Interactive user interface
60 includes a section 61 and a section 71.
[0037] Section 61 presents hierarchical list 62, which is
illustrated as a tree diagram. Each level in hierarchical list 62
corresponds to one of the element types of the
organization--organization, organization function, application,
subsystem, or database and, hence, is a level used to represent the
information technology infrastructure. To assist in presenting this
representation of the information technology information
infrastructure, hierarchical list 62 can expand and contract at
each information technology element and each organizational
element. Also, if hierarchical list 62 is too large to fit within
section 61, a toolbar 63 will allow scrolling through hierarchical
list 62.
[0038] Interactive user interface 60, through interactive display
module 38, allows modification of the relationships between the
information technology elements and the organizational elements in
hierarchical list 62 presented by section 61. Also, an information
technology element or organizational element can be disconnected
from hierarchical list 62 when one of the elements is selected and
a button 64 is activated. Note, disconnecting an element from
hierarchical list 62 that has elements connected below it in the
hierarchy will also disconnect the elements below the disconnected
element from hierarchical list 62.
[0039] Section 71 provides a listing 72 of all the information
technology elements and the organizational elements specified in
data file 48. Listing 72 presented by section 71 is grouped by
element type and arranged alphabetically in each group. Section 71
of interactive user interface 60 can present either all or some of
the information technology elements and the organizational elements
based on a pull-down menu 74. For example, pull-down menu 74 can
specify whether to display either a group of information technology
elements, based on element type, all of the information technology
elements, or all of the information technology elements and the
organizational elements, as illustrated. If section 71 does not
have enough space to present all of the information technology
elements and/or the organizational elements, a toolbar 73 will
allow scrolling through the elements in section 71. In a particular
embodiment, the, properties of the information technology elements
and the organizational elements may be presented to the side of
each element in section 71.
[0040] There are several ways to modify listing 72 presented by
section 71. Upon activation of a button 77, interactive user
interface 60 will allow the deletion of one of the information
technology elements or the organizational elements from listing 72.
In addition, interactive user interface 60 allows modification of
the properties of the information technology elements and the
organizational elements already presented by section 71 upon
activation of a button 78. The properties available for an
information technology element or an organizational element are
determined by the labels for that element type in properties group
85 in data file 48, as will be discussed with respect to FIG. 3B.
Thus, for the element type "APPLICATION" named "PAYROLL,"
interactive user interface 60 will allow modification of the number
of users or the platform used upon activation of button 78. Upon
activation of a button 76, interactive user interface 60 will allow
the addition of a new information technology element or a new
organizational element to section 71.
[0041] FIG. 3B illustrates an entry screen 100 for adding an
information technology element or an organizational element to
listing 72 presented by section 71 of interactive user interface
60. Note, entry screen 100 is itself an interactive user interface.
Entry screen 100 appears when computer program 42 detects
activation of button 76. A pull-down menu 102 dictates the element
type to be added to listing 72. Upon selection of an element type
in pull-down menu 102, computer program 42 displays a box 104 in
which to input the name of the new element, which corresponds to
name field 92 of data file 48, and boxes 106 in which to input the
properties of the element. Note, label fields 87 for the element
type specified in pull-down menu 102 determine the number of and
labels for boxes 106. Computer program 42 allows departure from
entry screen 100 when at least an element type and a name have been
specified in pull-down menu 102 and box 104, respectively, and a
button 108 is activated or when a button 109 is activated, whereby
no element will be added to listing 72.
[0042] Returning to FIG. 3A, system 10 will also allow insertion of
an information technology element or an organizational element
presented by interactive user interface 60 in section 71 into
hierarchical list 62 presented by interactive user interface 60 in
section 61. This may be accomplished, for example, using a drag and
drop technique with a pointing device, through keyboard commands,
or through any other type of command input technique. In a
particular embodiment, if the inserted element is now beneath an
element in hierarchical list 62 that has multiple occurrences in
hierarchical list 62, computer program 42 will copy the inserted
element to each occurrence of the higher level element in
hierarchical list 62.
[0043] In certain embodiments, interactive display module 38 will
allow modifications to interactive user interface 60 according to
click, drag, and drop techniques. For example, when computer
program 42 detects a double click on one of the information
technology elements or the organizational elements in hierarchical
list 62, computer program 42 will contract or expand hierarchical
list 62 at that element. Also, when computer program 42 detects
highlighting of and a click upon one of the information technology
elements presented by section 71 of interactive user interface 60,
computer program 42 will copy the highlighted information
technology element, illustrated by an icon 75, and show the
movement of the copy in response to the movement of an input
pointing device, such as a mouse. When computer program 42 detects
that icon 75 is over one of the information technology elements or
organizational elements in hierarchical list 62, computer program
42 will highlight the information technology element or
organizational element in hierarchical list 62 if the connection is
proper. The connection is complete when computer program 42 detects
an unclick signal from the input device. Moreover, computer program
42 will allow the use of a similar technique to move information
technology elements and organizational elements already presented
by section 61 within hierarchical list 62. In addition, if computer
program 42 detects a right click on one of the elements, it will
present a menu of edit commands, such as for viewing the properties
of the element.
[0044] In embodiments where dependencies between information
technology elements are specified, if an information technology
element inserted into hierarchical list 62 is dependent on any
other information technology element, the other information
technology element will automatically be connected to the inserted
element in hierarchical list 62.
[0045] Interactive display module 38 provides shortcuts in a
toolbar 66 for many of the previously mentioned operations, such as
disconnecting elements in hierarchical list 62, deleting elements
in listing 72, and viewing the properties of the elements. Buttons
67 and 68 allow forward and backward searches through hierarchical
list 62 presented by section 61 to find multiple occurrences of an
element. Interactive display module 38 will perform such a search
when it detects selection of an element in hierarchical list 62 or
in listing 72 and activation of button 67 or button 68. Interactive
display module 38 will then find the previous or the next
occurrence of that element in hierarchical list 62, respectively.
It may also list (in a separate view) all dependencies for the
selected element.
[0046] Once hierarchical list 62 in interactive user interface 60
accurately represents relationships between the information
technology elements and the organizational elements of the
organization, computer program 42 saves the data presented by
interactive user interface 60 in data file 48, like the one shown
in FIG. 2. Then, computer program 42 can generate hierarchical
graph 54.
[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates hierarchical graph 54 of the information
technology infrastructure of the organization. As illustrated,
hierarchical graph 54 uses a five-level hierarchical order to
represent the information technology infrastructure of the
organization, corresponding to the five levels specified in data
file 48 in FIG. 2. A first level 110 and a second level 120
correspond to the organizational elements of the
organization--organization and organizational function,
respectively. A third level 130, a fourth level 140, and a fifth
level 150 correspond to the information technology elements of the
organization--application, subsystem, and database,
respectively.
[0048] In general, hierarchical graph 54 corresponds with
hierarchical list 62 in interactive user interface 60. However,
hierarchical graph 54 shows each information technology element and
organizational element in the information technology
infrastructure, whether visible in section 61 of interactive user
interface 60 or not. Note, the names of the information technology
elements and of the organizational elements in hierarchical graph
54 correspond with the names used in hierarchical list 62.
[0049] Output module 40 generates hierarchical graph 54 in memory
location 44. Output module 40 can then display hierarchical graph
54 on display device 20 or cooperate with output device 50 to
generate hard copy output 52, which presents hierarchical graph
54.
[0050] In certain embodiments, each occurrence of an information
technology element that has multiple occurrences in hierarchical
graph 54 has a unique label. In addition, each occurrence includes
cross-references to the other occurrences of the information
technology element in hierarchical graph 54. For example, in fifth
level 150, database "File 5" is shown to occur four times in the
information technology infrastructure of the organization. Each
occurrence of "File 5" is identified by a label 152 at the upper
left hand corner, which specifies the location of the occurrence in
hierarchical graph 54 in a two-dimensional grid. In the example,
each level of the information technology infrastructure corresponds
to a letter and each element on that level corresponds to a number.
Each occurrence of "File 5" also has cross-references 154 at the
bottom to the other occurrences of "File 5." By providing
cross-references 154 between information technology elements that
have multiple occurrences in the information technology
infrastructure of the organization, high dependency sectors of the
information technology infrastructure are readily discernible
throughout the information technology infrastructure. The
identification of these high dependency sectors assists in
determining where to focus during compliance testing, upgrades and
enhancements, and general flow testing. Note, in other embodiments,
every occurrence of every element in hierarchical graph 54 has a
unique label. Also in other embodiments, label 152 may locate the
elements in hierarchical graph 54 by other manners than a
two-dimensional grid.
[0051] In a particular embodiment, output module 40 displays
hierarchical graph 54 on display device 20 in a graphics program
that allows the specification of the spacing, labeling, and other
display options. In addition, each element type may be given a
different icon, as illustrated in FIG. 4. System 10 may then
generate hard copy output 52 that presents modified hierarchical
graph 54.
[0052] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart 200 of a method for representing
the information technology infrastructure of an organization. At
step 204, computer program 42 displays a series of options. If
computer program 42 detects a termination request at step 208,
computer program 42 terminates. However, if computer program 42
does not detect a termination request at step 208, computer program
42 determines whether there is a request for a new data file at
step 212. If there is a request for a new data file at step 212,
computer program 42 obtains new data at step 216, using data
collection module 32, data importation module 34, and/or data entry
module 36. Then, at step 220, computer program 42 stores this data
as data file 48 in database 46. Once step 220 is complete, computer
program 42 proceeds to step 232. Returning to step 212, if there is
no request for a new data file, computer program 42 determines
whether there is a request to access an existing data file 48 in
database 46 at step 224. If there is no request to access an
existing data file 48 at step 224, computer program 42 proceeds to
step 204 to re-display options to the user. If, however, there is a
request to access an existing data file 48 at step 224, computer
program 42 accesses requested data file 48 in database 46 at step
228 and proceeds to step 232.
[0053] If computer program 42 detects a request for interactive
user interface 60 at step 232, computer program 42 generates
hierarchical list 62 of the information technology elements and the
organizational elements of the organization, generates interactive
user interface 60 that presents hierarchical list 62, and displays
interactive user interface 60 at step 236. If computer program 42
then detects a request for a modification to hierarchical list 62
at step 240, such as adding elements, deleting elements, or
modifying their properties and/or relationships, computer program
42 performs this modification at step 242. Computer program 42 will
then re-generate and re-display hierarchical list 62 of the
modified relationship between the information technology elements
and the organizational elements at step 236. This may continue
while the user performs modifications to hierarchical list 62. If
there is no request for a modification at step 240, computer
program 42 determines whether there is a request for closing
interactive user interface 60 at step 244. If there is no request
for closing interactive user interface 60 at step 244, computer
program 42 returns to step 240. Once there is a request for closing
interactive user interface 60 at step 244, computer program 42
updates accessed data file 48 at step 246 and determines whether
there is a request for hierarchical graph 54 at step 248. Step 248
will also occur if there is no request for interactive user
interface 60 at step 232.
[0054] At step 248, computer program 42 determines whether there is
a request for hierarchical graph 54. If there is no request for
hierarchical graph 54 at step 248, computer program 42 closes
accessed data file 48 at step 250 and returns to step 204. If,
however, there is a request for hierarchical graph 54 at step 248,
computer program 42 generates hierarchical graph 54 of the
information technology infrastructure of the organization at step
254. At step 258, computer program 42 displays hierarchical graph
54 on display device 20. Next, computer program 42 determines
whether there is a request for hard copy output 52 that presents
hierarchical graph 54 at step 262. If there is no such request,
computer program 42 proceeds to step 250. However, if there is such
a request, computer program 42 and output device 50 cooperate to
generate hard copy output 52, which presents hierarchical graph 54,
at step 266. After step 266, computer program 42 closes accessed
data file 48 at step 250 and returns to step 204.
[0055] Although the information technology infrastructure of the
organization has been illustrated as having five element types,
each element type representing a different level of the
infrastructure, system 10 can readily accommodate any number and
combination of element types to represent the information
technology infrastructure. For example, a new element type could be
inserted under the entry type "Application" to specify subprograms
of the application, thus creating six levels in the infrastructure.
Therefore, system 10 contemplates any number of levels for
representing the information technology infrastructure of an
organization.
[0056] Although the present invention has been described with
several embodiments, a myriad of changes, variations, alterations,
transformations, and modifications may be suggested to one skilled
in the art, and it is intended that the present invention encompass
such changes, variations, alterations, transformations, and
modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *