Context-based management user interface supporting extensible subtractive filtering

A method of processing definitions of user interface elements at runtime of a management user interface, the method comprising:

• receiving a definition of a management user interface surface comprising a plurality of zones, at least two of the zones having different respective categories specified therefor;
• determining a user role of a current user;
• determining at least one user selection from the management user interface;
• for respective zones of the plurality of zones of the management user interface surface, determining a current context using the user role and the at least one user selection from the management user interface;
• applying a first filter for filtering management-related user interface element definitions before a query to a store of management-related user interface element definitions;
• for the respective zones of the plurality of zones, applying a second filter for filtering management-related user interface element definitions after querying the store of management-related user interface element definitions, the second filter being associated with the store of management-related user interface element definitions;
• and
• applying a third filter for filtering management-related user interface element definitions after receiving the definition of the management user interface surface, the third filter being associated with the definition of the management user interface surface;
• wherein the filtering of the first, second, and third filters is based upon the current context of a given zone to produce filtered management-related user interface element definitions, the user interface element definitions comprising trouble ticket functionality for a managed item;
• and
• rendering, in the respective zones of the plurality of zones of the management user interface surface, management-related user interface elements according to the filtered management-related user interface element definitions chosen based upon the current context for the respective zones and using logic contained in one or more management element definitions associated with the filtered management-related user interface element definitions;
• wherein the store of management-related user interface element definitions is codeless such that no code need be stored in the store to determine when and how to render the management-related user interface elements.

A computer system comprising:

• a display;
• a central processing unit;
• computer memory;
• a user interface service stored in computer memory and executable using the central processing unit, the user interface service comprising:
• a set of management element definitions, the management element definitions comprising respective metadata indications comparable against a current context to determine whether a respective user interface element definition is to be chosen for display and further comprising logic for retrieving data to be displayed, the respective user interface element definition comprising trouble ticket functionality for a managed item;
• and
• a first management element definition context-based filter operable to filter before a query to a management element store;
• a second management element definition context-based filter operable to filter after a query to the management element store, the second management element definition context-based filter being associated with the management element store;
• a third management element definition context-based filter operable to filter after receiving a definition of a user interface surface, the third management element definition context-based filter being associated with the definition of the user interface surface;
• wherein the first, second, and third management element definition context-based filters are further operable to compare the current context against the respective metadata indications of the set of management element definitions to determine whether the respective user interface element definition is to be chosen for display;
• wherein the user interface service supports a hierarchy of user element definition types and wherein the first, second, and third management element definition context-based filters are operable to filter out parent user element types while allowing child user element types to pass through for display.

A computer system comprising:

• a display;
• a central processing unit;
• computer memory having computer-executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:
• receiving definitions of at least two user interface surfaces;
• associating filters with the interface surface definitions;
• defining a set of management elements, the defining comprising a respective appropriate indication comparable against a current context to determine whether a respective user interface element is to be chosen for display;
• loading the associated filters with their interface surface definitions;
• filtering the set of management elements, wherein the filtering comprises using the loaded filters for the associated interface surfaces to compare the current context of each associated interface surface against the respective indications of the management elements to determine whether the respective user interface element is to be chosen for display, wherein at least one respective indication of the management elements comprises a user role factor comprising at least one user responsibility out of a plurality of responsibilities and at least one permitted user functionality;
• wherein the filtering further comprises:
• applying a first subtractive filter before querying a management element store;
• applying a second subtractive filter after querying the management element store, the second subtractive filter being associated with the management element store;
• and
• applying a third subtractive filter after receiving at least one of the interface surface definitions, the third subtractive filter being associated with at least one of the interface surface definitions;
• and
• displaying, using logic defined in one or more management element definitions, one or more respective user interface elements chosen for display, the one or more respective elements chosen for display comprising a user interface element for creating a trouble ticket.