Stack icons representing multiple objects

• US 20050283742A1
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cummins, Charles, Lam, Jenny T., Ivanovic, Relja B., De Vorchik, David G., Banks, Richard M., Gusmorino, Paul A., Moore, Jason F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,694,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/839
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

The features described herein are directed to a method and system for use in a computing environment for representing files stored in stacks. The method includes providing a set of stack icons, each icon in the set having a stack height representing a range of stack sizes. The method additionally includes determining a stack size for a selected stack and selecting and displaying an appropriate stack icon from the set of stack icons based on the determined stack size. The selected stack may be stored within one of multiple libraries. Accordingly a distinct set of icons relevant to each library may be stored for each library. The icons may visibly convey information pertaining to the relevant library. Accordingly, the method may include representing a selected stack by determining an appropriate library and an appropriate stack height and displaying a corresponding icon. The stack icon may include multiple thumbnail images as top elements, and may use common characteristics among the files to define the appearance of the stack. The system may also use metadata or file characteristics (e.g., time of last edit, size, etc.) to identify one file for top representation in the stack icon. The system may additionally include an empty stack icon, a generic stack icon, property based icons, and custom thumbnail icons.

Claims

1. A method for visually representing a plurality of computer data objects with a stack icon on a computer display, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a first plurality of computer data objects to be visually represented by said stack icon;

generating a stack icon to represent said first plurality of computer data objects, said stack icon having a second plurality of distinct elements corresponding to said first plurality of computer data objects;

identifying a common characteristic among said first plurality of computer data objects; and

displaying said stack icon on a computer display, wherein said stack icon includes a top element corresponding to said common characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second pluralities correspond by an integer ratio.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said top element depicts the contents of one of said computer data objects in visual form.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said top element is a thumbnail image.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said second plurality of distinct elements are arranged in a layered, stacked orientation in said stack icon.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said distinct elements are rotated with respect to each other.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said top element is arranged horizontally.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said second plurality of distinct elements are superimposed over one or more thumbnail images in said stack icon.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said data objects are computer files, and said common characteristic is a file type.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said data objects are audio song files, and said common characteristic is an artist of the songs.

11. A method for visually representing a plurality of computer data objects with a stack icon on a computer display, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a first plurality of computer data objects to be visually represented by said stack icon;

generating a stack icon to represent said first plurality of computer data objects, said stack icon having a second plurality of distinct elements corresponding to said first plurality of computer data objects; and

displaying said stack icon on a computer display, wherein said stack icon includes, as top elements in the stack, thumbnail images for two or more of said computer data objects, said thumbnail images depicting the contents of two of said computer data objects in visual form.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first and second pluralities correspond by an integer ratio.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a plurality of said distinct elements are arranged in a layered, stacked orientation in said stack icon.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said distinct elements are rotated with respect to each other.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of replacing said thumbnail images with a single image corresponding to a common characteristic among two or more of said data objects.

16. A method for visually representing a plurality of computer data objects with a stack icon on a computer display, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a first plurality of computer data objects to be visually represented by said stack icon;

determining which of said plurality of data objects was most recently modified; and

generating a stack icon to represent said first plurality of computer data objects, said stack icon having a second plurality of distinct elements corresponding to said first plurality of computer data objects, wherein a top one of said elements corresponds to the determined one of the data objects that was most recently modified.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said top one of said elements is a visual representation of the contents of the most recently modified object.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said visual representation of the contents of the most recently modified object is a thumbnail image.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein a plurality of said distinct elements have a layered relationship in said stack icon.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a plurality of said distinct elements have a fanned, layered relationship in said stack icon.