Unified Patents Inc. v. Vilox Technologies LLC
`Ex. 1007 / Page 1 of 16
`
`

`

`US 7,168,039 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`6,356,920 B1*
`6,854,642 B1*
`2001/0013032 Al*
`2005/0193337 Al*
`
`3/2002 Vandersluis .... w 715/501.1
`
`2/2005 Metcalf et al. 0... 235/375
`
`8/2001 Kobayashi et al... 707/1
`9/2005 Noguchi et al.
`....0.... 715/542
`
`IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Abbreviated Typing for Word.
`Processing, Feb. 1979, p. 3796-3797.*
`Mostert et al., Omni-font character recognition using templates and.
`neural networks, IEEE, Sep. 1992, pp. 249-257.*
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 2 of 16
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 2 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 23, 2007
`
`Sheet 1 of6
`
`US 7,168,039 B2
`
`
`
`22
`
`20
`
`24
`
`26
`
`FIG. 1B
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 3 of 16
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 3 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan, 23, 2007
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 7,168,039 B2
`
`31
`
`32
`
`38
`
`FIG. 2
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`72
`
`76
`
`80
`
`FIG. 4
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`210
`
`220
`
`230
`
`200
`
`250
`
`260
`
`FIG. &
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 4 of 16
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 4 of 16
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 23, 2007
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 7,168,039 B2
`
`COLUMN
`WIDTH GREATER WIDTH
`GREATER THAN SET
`
`S&~TRUNCATE COLUMN TO SET WIDTH
`
` RETRIEVE COLUMN
`
`
`
`
`ANOTHER COLUMN?
`
`62
`
`DISPLAY COLUMNS
`IN TABLE
`
`FIG. 3
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 5 of 16
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 5 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 23, 2007
`
`Sheet 4 of6
`
`US 7,168,039 B2
`
`100
`
`RETRIEVE COLUMN
`
`
`
`
`ANOTHER COLUMN?
`
`104
`
`108
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 6 of 16
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 6 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 23, 2007
`
`Sheet 5 of6
`
`US 7,168,039 B2
`
`154~J
`
`oOo
`
`ABBREVIATION
`ON?
`
`SYSTEM TURNS ON ABBREVIATION
`
`
`166
`
`DISPLAY COLUMNS
`IN TABLE
`
`
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 7 of 16
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 7 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 23, 2007
`
`Sheet 6 of6
`
`US 7,168,039 B2
`
`FIRST CHARACTER TYPE
`
`162
`
`169
`
`170
`
`CHARACTER TYPE?
`
`72
`
`TEST 1S FOR
`CHARACTER
`TYPE ONE
`
`TEST 1S FOR
`CHARACTER
`
`TEST IS FOR
`CHARACTER
`
`TYPE TWO
`
`
`
`
`190~]GO TO PREVIOUS
`CHARACTER
`
`
`
`
`
`NEXT CHARACTER TYP
`
`FIRST CHARACTER?
`
`F
`
`YES
`
`192
`
`
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 8 of 16
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 8 of 16
`
`

`

`US 7,168,039 B2
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING
`THE HORIZONTAL SPACE REQUIRED FOR
`DISPLAYING A COLUMN CONTAINING
`TEXT DATA
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to graphically displaying
`data and more particularly to a method and system for
`reducing the horizontal space used to display a column
`containing text data.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`To allow a user to easily understand data relating to a
`variety of objects, data is often displayed in a table organized
`into rows and columns. Columns in the table may have
`entries containing text data. Columnswith entries containing
`text data may take up more horizontal space than is desir-
`able. For example, each column typically includes a column
`heading describing the data in the column. Thus, the column
`heading typically contains text data. In many cases,
`the
`column heading is significantly longer than the data in the
`other column entries. This can cause several problems such
`as wasting space on the display or forcing a user to scroll
`horizontally to view data for some of the columns.
`One context in which column entries containing text data
`require a great deal of horizontal space is in capacity
`management. Capacity managementis of increasing interest
`for a network containing a plurality of systems. Capacity
`managementrefers to the monitoring of and upkeep of the
`network. The network may contain servers, computer sys-
`tems for individual users of the network, mainframes, print-
`ers, or other systems. Depending on the size of the network,
`the network could be made up of only a few systems or
`thousands of systems. A network administrator is typically
`responsible for ensuring that
`individual portions of the
`network function and that the network as a whole functions.
`In order to ensure that the network functions, the network
`administrator keeps track of monitors for each system. A
`monitor is an attribute of a particular system. For example,
`monitors include central processing unit (“CPU”) utiliza-
`tion, disk space available, disk work load, the number of
`bytes sent by the system, and the numberof bytes received
`by the system.
`Applications allow a user such as a system administrator
`to query the systems within the network and receive infor-
`mation relating to each system’s monitors. Once the data
`relating to the monitors are received, a network administra-
`tor typically displays the data on a display for the network
`administrator’s system. One way of displaying this data is in
`the form of a table. Typically, a column ofthe table includes
`entries for a monitor and a row ofthe table has data relating
`to monitors for one system within the network. Typically,
`each column has a column heading indicating the monitor
`displayed for that monitor. Thus, each column hasan entry,
`the heading, containing text data. Similarly, each row may
`have a row heading indicating the system within the network
`from which the monitors are received.
`
`The heading for each column describing the monitor is
`typically significantly longer than the data in another entry
`for the monitor. Because of the large number of monitors
`that may have been queried and the width of the column
`heading, a conventional table may extend beyondthe dis-
`play of the network administrator’s system. In order to view
`entries for some of the monitors, the network administrator
`scrolls horizontally to bring data relating to additional
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`monitors into view. Many users do not wish to perform
`horizontal scrolling or do notrealize that horizontal scrolling
`is available. In addition, because of the difference in length
`between some column headings and the other entries in
`these columns, there is a great deal of wasted space on the
`display. Thus, it is difficult for a network administrator to
`work with the information displayed in the table.
`In orderto allow the user to avoid horizontal scrolling and
`to more efficiently display information, some conventional
`applications truncate the column width or allow a user to edit
`column headings or other entries containing text data. For
`example, in a table displaying monitors, the column heading
`“CPU Utilization” might be truncated to be “CPU Ut’.
`However, information important in identifying the monitor
`may belost by truncating the column heading.
`Another conventional method for shortening column
`headings is to allow the user to edit individual column
`headings or other entries containing text data. However,
`editing the column headings may be time consuming. For
`example, if there is a large number of monitors which the
`network administrator wants to view, the network adminis-
`trator may needto edit the heading for each column.If there
`is a large numberof other entries containing text data, the
`task of editing the column entries becomes even more time
`consuming. In addition, each time the network administrator
`generates a new table to receive an update on the monitors,
`the network administrator must edit these column headings.
`This consumes the network administrator’s time.
`
`If the number of column headings is very limited, a
`conventional application might store a shortened heading for
`each column to allow the table to occupy less horizontal
`space. However,storing shortened headings for each column
`may be problematic: where there are a large number of
`columns or where new columns may be provided. For
`example, a network administrator may wish to view data
`regarding a large number of monitors. In addition,
`the
`language in which the monitors are to be displayed may
`change. Moreover, the network administrator may want to
`view data for a new monitor not previously supplied. The
`network administrator may then write an application to
`provide information for a new monitor. Different applica-
`tions could also be used to query the monitors for the
`systems in the network. These applications could place the
`monitors in a different order or provide data for different
`monitors. If the column contains other entries having text
`data,
`it become even more difficult
`to store shortened
`headings in advance. Consequently, it may be difficult to
`determine in advance the shortened headings which should
`be stored and to which column the shortened heading
`corresponds.
`Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for
`reducing the horizontal space required by a column heading.
`The present invention addresses such a need.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a method and system for
`reducing an amount of horizontal space required when
`displaying a plurality of columns on a display screen. At
`least one column ofthe plurality of columnshasat least one
`entry containing text data. The method and system comprise
`obtaining the at least one entry from the at least one column,
`abbreviating a width of the at least one entry, and determin-
`ing if there is another entry containing text data. The method
`and system further comprise repeating the steps of obtaining
`the at least one entry, abbreviating the at least one entry and
`determining if there is another entry until all of the at least
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 9 of 16
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 9 of 16
`
`

`

`US 7,168,039 B2
`
`3
`one entries are abbreviated. The method and system further
`comprise displaying the at least one column having the at
`least one abbreviated entry.
`According to the system and methoddisclosed herein, the
`present invention can display information in a format more
`easily viewed by a user.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a computer system.
`FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a network in which the
`computer system mayreside.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a table containing
`information relating to a variety of monitors.
`FIG.3 is a flow chart depicting one conventional method
`for truncating a column heading.
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a table after column headings
`have been truncated.
`
`FIG. 5 is a high level flow chart depicting one method in
`accordance with the present
`invention for reducing the
`horizontal space required by a column heading.
`FIG.6 is a more detailed flow chart depicting one method
`in accordance with the present invention for reducing the
`horizontal space required by a column heading.
`FIG. 7 is a detailed flow chart depicting one method in
`accordance with the present invention for abbreviating a
`column heading.
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a table after column headings
`have been abbreviated using a method in accordance with
`the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to an improvementin dis-
`playing data in tables which use horizontal space more
`efficiently. The following description is presented to enable
`one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention
`and is provided in the context of a patent application andits
`requirements. Various modifications
`to
`the preferred
`embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the
`art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other
`embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to
`be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded
`
`the widest scope consistent with the principles and features
`described herein.
`
`FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a computer system 10 in
`which the present invention can be used. The computer
`system 10 includes a central processing unit (“CPU”) 12
`coupled to a system bus 11. Also coupled to the system bus
`11 are a user interface 14, a memory 16, and a display 18.
`Through the userinterface 14, the user can input information
`to the computer system 10. The display 18 allows the user
`to view information, for example in table form.
`FIG. 1B depicts a network 20 in which the computer
`system 10 might reside. The network 20 also includes
`systems 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28. The systems 22, 24, 26, and
`28 could include other computer systems, servers, printers,
`or other apparatus. Although depicted as including five
`systems 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28, the network 20 could include
`any number of systems, from one system to thousands of
`systems, or more.
`Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a user of the system 10
`may wish to view data on the display 18. To allow a user to
`easily understand data relating to a variety of objects, data
`is often shown on the display 18 in a table. The data
`displayed in the table could relate to a variety of subjects.
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`Data in the table is typically arranged in rows and columns.
`Each columnhas entries which could include text data. Text
`
`data in entries of a column could require a great deal of
`horizontal space.
`For example, tables with columns having entries contain-
`ing text data are used in capacity management. Capacity
`managementis of increasing interest for a network contain-
`ing a plurality of systems, such as the network 20. Capacity
`management allows a network administrator using the sys-
`tem 10 to monitor the network 20 and ensure that the
`
`network 20 functions properly. In order to ensure that the
`network 20 functions, the network administrator keeps track
`of monitors for each system 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28. A
`monitor is an attribute of a particular system 10, 22, 24, 26,
`or 28. For example, monitors include CPU utilization, disk
`space available, the numberof bytes sent by the system, and
`the numberof bytes received by the system.
`Applications, not shown, allow a user to query each
`system 10, 22, 24, 26, or 28 and receive informationrelating
`to each system’s monitors. Once the data relating to the
`monitors are received, a network administrator typically
`desires to view the data on the display 18. One way of
`displaying this data is in the form ofa table.
`FIG. 2 depicts a table 30 displaying monitors for the
`systems 22, 24, 26, and 28. The table 30 includes columns
`31, 32, 34, 36, and 38. The first column 31 indicates the
`system 22, 24, 26, or 28 for which the remaining columns
`32, 34, 36, and 38 contain monitors. The columns32, 34, 36,
`and 38 include entries for a monitor for each system. A row
`of the table 30 has data relating to monitors for one system
`10, 22, 24, 26, and 28 within the network 20. Each column
`31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 has a column headingindicating the
`monitor displayed for that monitor. Thus, each column has
`an entry,
`the column heading, containing text data. The
`column 31 has a heading “System.” The heading for the
`column 32 is “Bytes Received.” The column 34 has a
`heading “Bytes Sent.” The heading for the column 36 is
`“CPU Utilization.” The heading for the column 38 is “Disk
`I Work Load.” Other columns, not shown, may have other
`column headings.
`As depicted in FIG. 2, the text data in the headings for
`columns31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 occupies a significant amount
`of horizontal space. In the table 30 shown,
`the column
`heading describing columns31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 is often
`significantly longer than the data in an entry for the column
`31, 32, 34, 36, and 38. Because of the large number of
`monitors that may have been queried and the length of the
`heading for each column 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38, the table 30
`may extend beyondthe display 18. In order to view columns,
`not shown, for some of the monitors, the network adminis-
`trator scrolls horizontally to bring data relating to additional
`monitors into view. Many users do not wish to perform
`horizontal scrolling or do notrealize that horizontal scrolling
`is available. In addition, because of the difference in length
`between some column headings and the entries in these
`columns 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38, there is a great deal of
`wasted space on the display 18.
`In order to reduce the horizontal space occupied by text
`data in an entry, such as a column heading, some conven-
`tional methods truncate the width of the column. For
`example, to allow the user to avoid horizontal scrolling and
`more efficiently display information, some conventional
`applications truncate headings for a column 31, 32, 34, 36,
`and 38. FIG. 3 depicts a conventional method 50 for
`truncating column headings.
`The user enters the desired width of the column heading
`via step 52. A column is then retrieved via step 54. It is then
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 10 of 16
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 10 of 16
`
`

`

`US 7,168,039 B2
`
`5
`determined via step 56 if the columnis wider than the width
`set by the user. If the column is wider, then the column is
`truncated via step 58. If the column is not wider, then the
`step 58 is omitted. It is then determined if there are any
`columns remaining. If there are columns remaining, then
`step 54 through 60 are repeated for the next column.If no
`columns remain, then the table is displayed via step 62. The
`method then terminates via step 64.
`FIG.4 depicts a table 70 displayed after the conventional
`method 50 has been used to truncate the columnsto be five
`characters in width. The table 70 contains the same infor-
`mation as the table 30. Thus, the column 71 has a column
`heading for the “Syste” for the system. The column 72 has
`a heading “Bytes”for the bytes received. The column 74 has
`a information relating to the bytes sent and has a heading
`“Bytes.” The heading for the column 76 is “CPU U” and
`contains data relating to CPU utilization. The column head-
`ing for the column 78 is “Disk” and contains information
`relating to the “Disk 1 ” work load. The heading for the
`column 80 is “Disk ” for the “Disk 2 ” work load. Other
`columns, not shown, may have other column headings.
`Because each column 71, 72, 74, 76, 78, and 80 has been
`truncated, column 80 can be displayed to the system admin-
`istrator without horizontal scrolling.
`Althoughthe table 70 has more narrower columns 71, 72,
`74, 76, 78, and 80, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily
`realize that important information in the headings for the
`columns 71, 72, 74, 76, 78, and 80 has been lost. Referring
`to FIGS. 2 and 4, the second column in both tables 30 and
`70 refers to bytes received. The third column in both tables
`30 and 70 refers to bytes sent. However, as shown in FIG.
`4, because the headings for columns 72 and 74 have been
`truncated,
`it cannot be determined from the headings for
`columns 72 and 74 which column 72 or 74 contains bytes
`received and which column 72 or 74 contains bytes sent.
`Sinilarly, although columns 78 and 80 both have heading
`stating “Disk ,” the column 78 and80 refer to different disks.
`Thus, it cannot be determined from the headings for columns
`78 and 80 which column contains information relating to
`“Disk 1,” and which contains information relating to “Disk
`2.” Consequently, truncating the headings for the columns
`71, 72, 74, 76, 78, and 80 in the table 70 does not adequately
`display information to the user or system administrator.
`Referring back to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, another conven-
`tional method for shortening headings for columns is to
`allow the user to edit individual column headings for the
`columns 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38. However, one of ordinary
`skill in the art will readily realize that editing the column
`headings may be time consuming. For example,if there are
`a large numberof monitors which the network administrator
`wants to view, the network administrator may need to edit
`the column heading for each column 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38.
`In addition, each time the network administrator generates a
`new table 30 to receive an update on the monitors for the
`systems 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28 in the network 20,
`the
`network administrator must edit these column headings.
`This consumes the network administrator’s time. Moreover,
`for a table, not shown, having columns with multiple entries
`containing text data, a user may need to edit each entry
`containing text data. Where there are a large number of
`entries, editing each entry is even more time consuming.
`Thus, allowing a user to edit the column headings does not
`adequately address how informationis displayed in the table
`30.
`
`If the number of column headings is very limited, a
`conventional application might store a shortened heading for
`each column 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 to allow the table 30 to
`
`20
`
`25
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`occupyless horizontal space. However, one of ordinary skill
`in the art will readily realize that storing a shortened heading
`for each column 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 may be problematic
`wherethere are a large number of columns 31, 32, 34, 36,
`and 38 or where new columns31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 may be
`provided. Providing shortened text data is also problematic
`where each column 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 has manyentries
`with text data.
`For example, a network administrator may wish to view
`data regarding a large number of monitors in the table 30. In
`addition,
`the language in which the monitors are to be
`displayed may change. Moreover, the network administrator
`may want to view data for a new monitor not previously
`supplied. The network administrator may then write an
`application to provide information for a new monitor. Dif-
`ferent applications, not shown, could also be used to query
`the monitors for the systems 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28 in the
`network 20. These applications could place the monitors in
`a different order, query different monitors, or even provide
`the information in a different language. Consequently, it may
`be difficult to determine in advance the shortened headings
`which should be stored and to which column 31, 32, 34, 36,
`or 38 the shortened heading corresponds.
`The present invention provides a method and system for
`reducing an amount of horizontal space required when
`displaying a plurality of columnson a display screen. Theat
`least one column ofthe plurality of columnshasat least one
`entry containing text data. The method and system include
`obtaining the at least one entry from the at least one column,
`and abbreviating a width of the at least one entry, determin-
`ing if there is another entry containing text data. The method
`and system further include repeating the steps of obtaining
`the at least one entry, abbreviating the at least one entry and
`determining if there is another entry until all of the at least
`one entries are abbreviated. The method and system further
`include displaying the at least one column havingtheatleast
`one abbreviated entry.
`The present
`invention will be described in terms of
`abbreviating column headings. However, the present inven-
`tion can be used to abbreviate another entry havingtext data.
`The present invention will be described in terms of a table
`used to display monitors relating to systems in a network.
`However, one of ordinary skill
`in the art will readily
`recognize that this method and system will operate effec-
`tively for othertables storing other types of information. The
`method and system will also be described in terms of
`particular sources for data to be displayed in a table, using
`the English language to display data, and performing the
`method for a plurality of columns in a table. However, one
`ofordinary skill in theart will readily realize that the method
`and system could be used with other sources for data, with
`tables displaying information in other languages, and for a
`single column or a number of columns less than the total
`number of columnsin a particular table.
`To more particularly illustrate the method and system in
`accordance with the present invention, refer now to FIG. 5
`depicting a flow chart of one embodiment of a method 100
`for reducing the horizontal space used to display data in a
`table. The method 100 could be used with the system 10 and
`the network 20. Thus,
`the method 100 is useful when
`displaying monitors for each system 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28
`in the network 20.
`A column is first retrieved via step 102. Preferably,
`retrieving a columnrefers to obtaining the column heading
`and, perhaps, other information used in the method 100. The
`column heading is abbreviated via step 104. In an embodi-
`ment abbreviating another entry having text data, the other
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 11 of 16
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 11 of 16
`
`

`

`US 7,168,039 B2
`
`7
`entry having text data is abbreviated in step 100. It is then
`determined if another column which has not had its column
`
`heading abbreviated is available via step 106. In an embodi-
`ment in which another entry having text data is abbreviated,
`it
`is determined if another column which has an entry
`containing text data that has not been abbreviated is avail-
`able in step 106. If so, then step 102 is returned to for the
`next column.If no unabbreviated columns remain, then the
`table is displayed via step 108. Note that although the
`method 100 depicts the step of displaying the columnsas
`occurring after abbreviations are completed for all columns,
`nothing prevents a column from being displayed earlier.
`Abbreviating the column heading rather than truncating
`the column heading allows certain information to be pre-
`served. In addition, the actual algorithm for abbreviating the
`column heading can vary. For example, the abbreviation step
`104 could include eliminating lower case vowels, eliminat-
`ing spaces, eliminating certain other characters, or any
`combination thereof. Moreover, because the user need not
`enter the abbreviations by hand, reducing the horizontal
`space required using the method 100 is not time consuming.
`In addition, the method 100 can adapt to new monitors or
`columns, new sources of data, new languages, and other
`changes.
`FIG.6 depicts a more detailed flow chart of a method 150
`for abbreviating column headings in accordance with the
`present invention. The method 150 has the advantages of the
`method 100. In one embodiment, the method 150 can be
`used for abbreviating another entry containing text data in a
`column. In such an embodiment, steps discussed as being
`performed on a column heading are performed on the entry
`containing text data.
`The system 10 turns on the abbreviation via step 154. In
`one embodiment, the system 10 turns on the abbreviation in
`response to the user turing on or off the abbreviation or
`setting the column heading width. A column is then retrieved
`via step 156. Thus, the first column is initially retrieved. Step
`156 is analogousto step 102 in the method 100. The column
`heading maythen beset to its full text description, via step
`158. It is then determined whether the abbreviation is on via
`
`step 160. If the user has turned abbreviation on, then the
`column heading is abbreviated via step 162. Thus, step 162
`is analogous to the step 104 of the method 100. If abbre-
`viation has not been activated, then the step 162 is skipped.
`It is then determined if another, unabbreviated column is
`available, via step 164. if there is another column available,
`then the method 150 returns to step 156 in orderto retrieve
`the next column. Thus, steps 156 through step 164 are
`repeated. If there are no other columnsavailable, then the
`columnsare displayed via step 166. Note that although the
`method 150 depicts the step of displaying the columnsas
`occurring after abbreviations are completed for all columns,
`nothing prevents a column from being displayed earlier.
`FIG. 7 depicts another more detailed flow chart of one
`method for performing the abbreviation step 162 of the
`method 150 or the step 104 of the method 100. The first
`character type is retrieved via step 169. It is then determined
`which character type will undergo abbreviation for a par-
`ticular pass through a column heading via step 170. Thus,
`step 170 determines a current character type. In a preferred
`embodiment,
`there are three character types:
`lower case
`vowels (type two), lowercaseletters (type three), and spaces
`(type one). In another embodiment, other character types can
`be chosen. For example, letters other than vowels could be
`chosen as type two, the second character type. In addition,
`the character types could be in another order. For example,
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`in an alternate embodiment, the type one character could be
`designated as lower caseletters, etc.
`Via steps 172, 174, 176, and 178 the test for the character
`type is set. If the character type was determined to be type
`one in step 170, then the system 100 will informed that the
`column heading should be tested for spaces in step 172. If
`the character type was determinedto be type twoin step 170,
`then the system 100 will informed that the column heading
`should be tested for lower case vowels in step 174. If the
`character type was determinedto be type three in step 170,
`then the system 100 will informed that the column heading
`should be tested for lower case characters in step 176. If the
`character type is not type one, type twoor type three, then
`step 178 is used. Thus, in a first pass through the column
`heading, the character type will be type one. In a second pass
`through the column heading, the character type will be type
`two. In a third pass through the column heading, the char-
`acter type will be type three. In the fourth pass, step 178 will
`be used. Even though the preferred embodiment uses four
`passes other number of passes could be used without devi-
`ating from the teachings of the present invention.
`The last character for the column headingis retrieved via
`step 18C. It is then determined if the width of the column
`headingis greater than the width set in step 52 of the method
`50, via step 182. Ifthe width is not greater than the widthset,
`the abbreviation is terminated via step 184. Thus, the abbre-
`viation method 162 can be terminated when the column
`heading reaches the set width regardless of the number of
`passes made for the heading.
`If the width is greater than the set width, then via step 186
`it is determined if the character is the same type as set in
`steps 172, 174, or 176. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, for
`a first pass through the column heading,it is determined if
`the character is a space via step 186. For a second pass
`through the heading determined using step 174, then in a
`preferred embodimentit is determined if the character is a
`lower case vowel via step 186. If it is the third pass through
`the heading, then in a preferred embodiment,
`it is deter-
`minedif the character is a lower case character step 186. As
`a result, step 186 determines if the character matches the
`character type for the appropriate pass via set step 186.
`If the character matches the current character type in step
`186, then the character is removed in step 188. If, however,
`the test in step 186 determines that the character does not
`match the current character type, then step 188 is skipped.
`The previous character is then retrieved via step 190. Via
`step 192 it is determinedif the characterretrieved in step 190
`is the first character. If the characteris not the first character,
`then step 182 through step 192 are repeated. Thus, each
`character in the column headingis tested to see if 1t matches
`the current character type and removed if a match is found.
`If in step 192 it is determined that the first character was
`retrieved,
`then in step 193 the next character type is
`retrieved. Step 170 is then returned to in order to determine
`the next character type for the next pass through the column
`heading. If the first three character types in step 172, 174,
`and 176 have been exhausted, then step 178 is used.
`Step 178 sets the test as being a truncation test. Thus, in
`the last pass through the column heading,
`the column
`heading maybetruncated.It is determinedvia step 194 if the
`width of the column headingis still greater than set in step
`152. If the width is greater, then the column heading is
`truncated to the appropriate number of characters via step
`196. If the width is not greater, then step 196 is omitted. The
`abbreviation method 162 is then terminated via step 184.
`FIG. 8 depicts a table 200 after abbreviation has been
`completed via the methods 100 or 150. The table 200
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 12 of 16
`
`Ex. 1007 / Page 12 of 16
`
`

`

`US 7,168,039 B2
`
`9
`contains columns 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, and 260. The
`table 200 contains the same information as in the tables 30
`
`and 70 of FIGS. 2 and4, respectively. Referring back to FIG.
`8, the column headings have been abbreviated as discussed
`with respect to the step 162. Thus, spaces, lower case vowels
`and lower case letters have been removed to limit
`the
`heading of each column 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, and 260 to
`five characters.
`The horizontal space used by the table 200 has been
`reduced without losing vital information. For example, in
`contrast to the table 70 of FIG. 4, the columns 220 and 230
`can be distinguished.In particular, it is clear that the column
`220 refers to bytes received (“BytsR”), while the column
`230 refers to bytes sent (“BytsS”). Similarly, it is clear that
`the column 250 refers to the first disk’s work load (“Dsk
`1W”), while the column 260 refers to the second disk’s work
`load (“Dsk 2W”’). Thus, a user can still distinguish between
`information contained in different columnsofthe table