Graphical user interface for system and method for managing content

• US 20040133588A1
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mathon Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mathon Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Yost, David A., Mathon, John D., Kiessig, Rick
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,973 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A system and method for electronic file management includes an object-oriented file management database, a volume manager, and a coherency manager. The volume manager manages electronic files and metadata relating to the files of one or more volumes. Each volume may include folders, files, and/or other digital content. A user interface facilitates user interaction with the file management system. The user interface enables a user to view and manage, within the file management system, metadata associated with the electronic files by graphically displaying information about the files and the metadata and enabling the user to manipulate the files and the metadata.

Claims

1. A file management system for managing electronic files on one or more volumes, the file management system comprising:

a volume manager that manages the electronic files and metadata relating to such files on one or more volumes; and

a user interface that enables a user to view and manage, within the file management system, metadata associated with the electronic files, the user interface;

i) graphically displaying information about the files and the metadata; and

ii) enabling the user to manipulate the files and the metadata.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface includes a taxonomy for organizing and managing files.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface displays and organizes files based on one or more tags.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface displays one or more tags associated with the files.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface includes means for enabling a user to view or change tags.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface includes a show history feature.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said user interface includes a show history feature that enables a user to view what used to be in folder but was deleted or moved.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said user interface enables a user to open and explore what used to be in a folder but was deleted or moved and to Undelete or Bring Back changed content.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said user interface further includes an Undo feature.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the Undo feature includes a dialog box in the user interface that brings up changes to a file or folder and an option to undo one or more changes to a file, folder or folder hierarchies.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said user interface includes an As of View.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface includes a freeze feature to freeze files or folders.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a user cannot modify frozen files or folders, and wherein the user cannot modify tags associated with the frozen files or folders.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface comprising means for enabling a user to freeze files or folders.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface includes a Show Versions feature that displays all past versions of a file or folder.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface includes a Show Versions feature that displays all frozen files.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface includes a make current feature that makes a previous version of a file the current version.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface includes a version control feature, wherein the version control feature includes a Snapshot feature that copies, freezes and associates with past versions, who, when, and why changes were made.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface enable a user to create Smart Copies, Live Copies, and Deferred Copies.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface displays copies or versions of a file that reside on different volumes.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface displays a hierarchy of versions of files or folders, including modifications thereto.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface displays a hierarchy of copies of files or folders.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said interface conveys information regarding movement and use of files or folders to a user.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface enables earlier versions of files or folders to be selectably displayed.

25. The system of claim 3, wherein said user interface displays values for a tag in columns and displays values for files in rows.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said user interface displays a plurality of values for a file in a plurality of rows.

27. The system of claim 3, wherein a tag value is represented as an icon.