Systems and methods for storing information to allow users to manage files

• US 20040003002A1
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Adelmann, Todd Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,562,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Systems and methods for storing information to allow users to manage files are provided. One method embodiment comprises determining whether there is communication between a storage device and a first appliance; determining whether the storage device has any information stored in it, if there is communication; and generating the information, if there is no information stored on the storage device, the information comprising the type of an initial modification made to a file.

Claims

1. A method for storing information to allow users to manage files, comprising:

determining whether there is communication between a storage device and a first appliance;

determining whether the storage device has any information stored in it, if there is communication; and

generating the information, if there is no information stored on the storage device, the information comprising the type of an initial modification made to a file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating information further comprises generating at least one of name of the file, day when the initial modification was made, date when the initial modification was made, and time when the initial modification was made.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of the initial modification is at least one of creating, editing, and moving the file.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the information if there is some information stored on the storage device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of updating comprises:

allowing the first appliance to read the information so that a user operating the first appliance can access the file;

determining whether a further modification is made to the file; and

updating the information, if the further modification is made.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the further modification is at least one of editing, moving, and deleting the file.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of generating comprises:

determining if the initial modification is made to the file;

determining whether the file is stored on the storage device, if the initial modification is made; and

generating the information, if the file is stored on the storage device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of updating comprises:

allowing the first appliance to read the information so that a user operating the first appliance can access the file;

determining whether a further modification is made to the file; and

updating the information, if the further modification is made.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the storage device has any information stored in it comprises determining whether a storage device that is portable so that it can be transferred from the first appliance to a second appliance has any information stored in it.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating comprises:

determining if the initial modification is made to the file;

determining whether the file is stored on the storage device, if the initial modification is made; and

generating the information, if the file is stored on the storage device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is comprised in the storage device and executed by a microprocessor also comprised in the storage device.

12. A system for storing information to allow users to manage files, comprising:

means for determining whether there is communication between a storage device and a first appliance;

means for determining whether the storage device has any information stored in it, if there is communication; and

means for generating the information, if there is no information stored on the storage device, the information comprising the type of an initial modification made to a file.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the information further comprises at least one of name of the file, day when the initial modification was made, date when the initial modification was made, and time when the initial modification was made.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the type of the initial modification is at least one of creating, editing, and moving the file.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

means for updating the information, if there is some information stored on the storage device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for updating comprises:

means for allowing the first appliance to read the information so that a user operating the first appliance can access the file;

means for determining whether a further modification is made to the file; and

means for updating the information, if the further modification is made.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the further modification is at least one of editing, moving, and deleting the file.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for generating comprises:

means for determining if the initial modification is made to the file;

means for determining whether the file is stored on the storage device, if the initial modification is made; and

means for generating the information, if the file is stored on the storage device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for updating comprises:

means for allowing the first appliance to read the information so that a user operating the first appliance can access the file;

means for determining whether a further modification is made to the file; and

means for updating the information, if the further modification is made.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the storage device is portable so that it can be transferred from the first appliance to a second appliance.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for generating comprises:

means for determining if the initial modification is made to the file;

means for determining whether the file is stored on the storage device, if initial the modification is made; and

means for generating the information, if the file is stored on the storage device.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the storage device comprises at least one of a memory card, a solid state disk, a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a compact disk (CD).

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the memory card comprises at least one of a compact flash memory card, a multimedia memory card, and a secure digital memory card.

24. A computer program for storing information to allow users to manage files stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer program comprising:

logic configured to determine whether there is communication between a storage device and a first appliance;

logic configured to determine whether the storage device has any information stored in it, if there is communication; and

logic configured to generate the information, if there is no information stored on the storage device, the information comprising the type of an initial modification made to a file.

25. The computer program of claim 24, wherein the information further comprises at least one of name of the file, day when the initial modification was made, date when the initial modification was made, and time when the initial modification was made.

26. The computer program of claim 24, wherein the type of the initial modification is at least one of generating, editing, and moving the file.

27. The computer program of claim 24, further comprising:

logic configured to update the information, if there is some information stored on the storage device.

28. The computer program of claim 27, wherein the logic configured to update comprises:

logic configured to allow the first appliance to read the information so that a user operating the first appliance can access the file;

logic configured to determine whether a further modification is made to the file; and

logic configured to update the information if the further modification is made.

29. The computer program of claim 28, wherein the further modification is at least one of moving, editing, and deleting the file.

30. The computer program of claim 27, wherein the logic configured to generate comprises:

logic configured to determine if the initial modification is made to the file;

logic configured to determine whether the file is stored on the storage device, if the initial modification is made; and

logic configured to generate the information, if the file is stored on the storage device.

31. The computer program of claim 30, wherein the logic configured to update comprises:

logic configured to allow the first appliance to read the information so that a user operating the first appliance can access the file;

logic configured to determine whether a further modification is made to the file; and

logic configured to update the information, if the further modification is made.

32. The computer program of claim 24, wherein the logic configured to generate comprises:

logic configured to determine if the initial modification is made to the file;

logic configured to determine whether the file is stored on the storage device, if the initial modification is made; and

logic configured to generate the information, if the file is stored on the storage device.

33. A system for storing information to allow users to manage files, comprising:

a memory module configured to determine whether there is communication between a storage device and a first appliance;

a memory module configured to determine whether the storage device has any information stored in it, if there is communication; and

a memory module configured to generate the information, if there is no information stored on the storage device, the information comprising the type of an initial modification made to a file.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the information further comprises at least one of name of the file, day when the initial modification was made, date when the initial modification was made, and time when the initial modification was made.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the type of the initial modification is at least one of creating, editing, and moving the file.

36. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

a memory module for updating the information, if there is some information stored on the storage device.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the memory module for updating comprises:

a memory module for allowing the first appliance to read the information so that a user operating the first appliance can access the file;

a memory module for determining whether a further modification is made to the file; and

a memory module for updating the information, if the further modification is made.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the further modification is at least one of moving, editing, and deleting the file.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the memory module for generating comprises:

a memory module for determining if the initial modification is made to the file;

a memory module for determining whether the file is stored on the storage device, if the initial modification is made; and

a memory module for generating the information, if the file is stored on the storage device.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the memory module for updating comprises:

a memory module for allowing the first appliance to read the information so that a user operating the first appliance can access the file;

a memory module for determining whether a further modification is made to the file; and

a memory module for updating the information, if the further modification is made.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the storage device is portable so that it can be transferred from the first appliance to a second appliance.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the first appliance is at least one of a digital camera, a computer, a printer, a digital telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), and wherein the second appliance is at least one of a digital camera, a computer, a printer, a digital telephone and a PDA.

43. The system of claim 33, wherein the memory module for generating comprises:

a memory module for determining if the initial modification is made to the file;

a memory module for determining whether the file is stored on the storage device, if the initial modification is made; and

a memory module for generating the information, if the file is stored on the storage device.

44. The system of claim 33, wherein the storage device comprises at least one of a memory card, a solid state disk, a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a compact disk (CD).

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the memory card comprises at least one of a compact flash memory card, a multimedia memory card, and a secure digital memory card.