Processing method and processing apparatus for processing a plurality of files stored on storage medium

• US 20030105747A1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ishida, Tessho, Tomizawa, Kenji, Awai, Shoichi, Kihara, Nobuyuki, Sakamoto, Ichiro, Tambata, Ippei
• Granted Patent: US 7,239,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a processing method and a processing apparatus for processing a plurality of files stored on a storage medium. The processing method comprises the steps of: retrieving from the storage medium management data used to manage the files stored on the storage medium; storing the retrieved management data in association with information representing selection status, in terms of processing, of each of the files managed by use of the management data; displaying on a display device the management data and the information representing the selection status in association with the management data; giving an indication, on the display device, to one of items constituting the displayed information about the files, the indication indicating that the file denoted by the information item is an object of operation apart from the other files; and if a predetermined operation is detected, then causing the selection status of the other files to coincide with the selection status of the file indicated as the object of operation.

Claims

1. A processing method for processing a plurality of files stored on a storage medium, said processing method comprising the steps of:

retrieving from said storage medium management data used to manage said files stored on said storage medium;

storing the retrieved management data in association with information representing selection status, in terms of processing, of each of said files managed by use of said management data;

displaying on a display device said management data and said information representing said selection status in association with said management data;

giving an indication, on said display device, to one of items constituting the displayed information about said files, said indication indicating that the file denoted by the information item is an object of operation apart from the other files; and

if a predetermined operation is detected, then causing the selection status of said other files to coincide with the selection status of the file indicated as said object of operation.

2. A processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of performing a predetermined process on a file selected for processing based on the stored selection status.

3. A processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of updating the stored information so as to reflect the coincidence of said selection status of said files before storing the updated information again.

4. A processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of indicating a file as said object of operation by use of an information item which indicates on said display device the file in question when displayed in a predetermined area as part of said displayed information.

5. A processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying up to a predetermined number of information items representative of said files if the number of said information items to be displayed on said display device is so large that a predetermined area on said display device will not accommodate said information items displayed as a whole.

6. A processing method according to claim 5, wherein, if said predetermined area on said display device is exceeded by said information items representative of said files, then said information items are scrolled for selective display by means of a specific operation.

7. A processing apparatus for processing a plurality of files stored on a storage medium, said processing apparatus comprising:

inputting means for inputting management data retrieved from said storage medium, said management data being used to manage said files stored on said storage medium;

storing means for storing the input management data in association with information representing selection status, in terms of processing, of each of said files managed by use of said management data;

outputting means for outputting to a display device said management data and said information representing said selection status in association with said management data;

operation data inputting means for inputting operation data from an operation device for selecting one of said files for processing apart from the other files; and

controlling means for changing the selection status of one of said files highlighted as an object of operation into selection status reflecting said operation data input through said operation data inputting means, said controlling means further causing the selection status of said other files to coincide with the selection status of the file highlighted as said object of operation in accordance with said operation data input through said operation data inputting means.

8. A processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said controlling means gives an indication, on said display device, to one of items constituting the displayed information about said files, said indication indicating that the file represented by the information item is said object of operation.

9. A processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the number of said files stored on said storage medium is greater than the largest possible number of information items that may be displayed on said display device, said information items being representative of said files.

10. A processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a predetermined process is performed on a file selected for processing based on said selection status stored by said storing means.

11. A processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said controlling means causes information reflecting the coincidence of said selection status of said files to be stored into said storing means.

12. A processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a file is indicated as said object of operation by use of an information item which represents on said display device the file in question when displayed in a predetermined area as part of said displayed information.

13. A processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein up to a predetermined number of information items representative of said files are displayed if the number of said information items to be displayed on said display device is so large that a predetermined area on said display device will not accommodate said information items displayed as a whole.

14. A processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, if said predetermined area on said display device is exceeded by said information items representative of said files, then said information items are scrolled for selective display by means of a specific operation.