Information processing apparatus and method, and distribution medium

• US 20050015724A1
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Junichi Rekimoto
• Inventors: Rekimoto, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

The management of files, folders, and other data is facilitated. When a user inputs a character string (tag), which is desired to be retrieved, to a retrieval character input space and operates a retrieval button on a screen, retrieval is started, and a screen (file) corresponding to the input character string is displayed. This makes it possible for the user to fetch a desired file as required. That is, the user is able to manage and control files without using folders.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a display controlled by a processor;

an object displayed by the display, wherein said object includes a characteristic and represents data created or modified by a user; and

a processor operable to change said characteristic of said object based on a length of time that said object is displayed by said display device.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic includes a color.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic includes a color having a level of vividness, and wherein the level of vividness changes based on the length of time the object is displayed by the display device.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data is stored in at least one-of a file and an image, and wherein the object represents the file and/or image.

5. A computer system comprising:

a display;

a graphical user interface depicted on said display;

an object displayed on the graphical user interface, said object including a color, wherein said object represents data created or modified by a user; and

a processor operable to perform a weathering function applicable to said object, wherein the weathering function changes the color of the object over time.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the color includes a level of vividness, and wherein the level of vividness changes over time.

7. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the data is stored in at least one of a file and an image, and wherein the object represents the file and/or image.

8. A graphical user interface controlled by a processor, said graphical user interface comprising:

an object representing information displayed to a user,

wherein the processor is operable to change the object gradually over time based on the length of time that the object is displayed to the user.

9. The graphical user interface of claim 8, wherein the object includes a color, and wherein the processor is operable to change the color of the object gradually over time based on the length of time that the object is displayed to the user.

10. The graphical user interface of claim 9, wherein the color includes a level of vividness, and wherein the level of vividness changes over time.

11. The graphical user interface of claim 8, wherein the information is stored in at least one of a file and an image, and wherein the object represents the file and/or image.

12. The graphical user interface of claim 8, wherein the processor is operable to apply a weathering function to said object.

13. An computer system comprising:

a processor;

a display controlled by the processor;

a graphical interface depicted on said display;

at least one object created or modified by a user at a designated time, wherein the object includes a color and is displayed by said display at the designated time the object is created or modified by the user, and wherein the processor causes the color of the object to change over a length of time that the object is depicted on said display after said designated time.

14. A computer system comprising:

a display;

storage means for storing data when said data is created or changed, wherein said stored data includes time information corresponding to a time at which said data is stored; and

an object including a color displayed by said display, said object representing said stored data,

wherein the color of the object changes over time.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the color includes a level of vividness, and wherein the level of vividness changes over time.

16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the data is stored in at least one of a file and an image, and wherein the object represents the file and/or image.

17. A computer system comprising:

a display;

a graphical user interface depicted on said display;

an object representing information displayed in said graphical user interface; and

a processor for changing a characteristic of said object in said graphical user interface in response to said information being unchanged for greater than a predetermined period of time.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the object is an icon.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the characteristic includes a color.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the color includes a level of vividness, and wherein the processor changes the level of vividness in response to said information being unchanged for greater than a predetermined period of time.

21. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the information is stored in at least one of a file and an image, and wherein the object represents the file and/or image.