System and method for filtering and organizing items based on common elements

• US 20050283476A1
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Tubbs, Kenneth M., Miner, Patrice L., De Vorchik, David G., Banks, Richard M., Kaasten, Shaun A., Moore, Jason F., Ivanovic, Relja
• Granted Patent: US 9,361,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/192 Implementing virtual folder structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for filtering and organizing items from computer memories based on common elements. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, filters are provided for manipulating the items. The filters are essentially tools for narrowing down a set of items. In one embodiment, the filters are dynamically generated based on the properties of the separate items. The system utilizes virtual folders. The virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, quick links are provided. In one embodiment, quick links are a set of predefined links (e.g., located on the left side of the display) that can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, libraries are provided. Libraries consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a display and a memory for storing items, a method of viewing selected items, the method comprising:

navigating to a view of a desired collection of items;

saving a link to the desired collection of items;

providing a name for the link; and

presenting the link on the display such that by clicking on the link a user can return to the view of the desired collection of items.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigating to a view of a desired collection of items comprises filtering groups of items.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired collection of items comprises one or more virtual folders.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the name of the link on the display is presented along with a plurality of names of additional links that are configured to be selected by a user to return to views of desired collections of items.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired collection of items includes items that are stored in different physical folders.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the different physical folders are stored in different physical locations comprising a present computer and at least one of a different computer, a location on a network, and an external storage device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired collection of items comprises both file items and non-file items.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the non-file items comprise at least one of contacts or e-mails.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the non-file items comprise an electronic communication.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer executable components for implementing a method for viewing items, the method comprising:

navigating to a view of a desired collection of items;

saving a link to the desired collection of items;

providing a name for the link; and

presenting the link on the display such that by clicking on the link a user can return to the view of the desired collection of items.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the navigating to a view of a desired collection of items comprises filtering groups of items.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the desired collection of items comprises one or more virtual folders.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the desired collection of items includes items that are stored in different physical folders.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the desired collection of items comprises both file items and non-file items.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the different physical folders are stored in different physical locations.

16. A system for viewing selected items, comprising:

means for navigating to a view of a desired collection of items;

means for saving a link to the view of the desired collection of items; and

means for presenting the link on the display such that by selecting the link a user can return to the view of the desired collection of items.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for filtering groups of items as part of the navigation to the desired collection of items.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for providing virtual folders that are included in the collection of items.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for drawing items from different physical locations to be included in the desired collection of items.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for drawing both file items and non-file items to be included in the desired collection of items.