Systems, methods, and user interfaces for storing, searching, navigating, and retrieving electronic information

• US 20060242164A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McKee, Timothy P., Hoefnagels, Stephan, Parlin, David R., Ivanovic, Relja B., Dart, Scott E., Moore, Jason F., Evans, Christopher A., Wong, Lyon K. F., Williams, Samuel Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,195,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/14 Details of searching files based on file metadata
• 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

Abstract

Computer system navigation tools provide “links” to various different files, lists, folders, and/or other storage elements and allow users to organize files, e.g., by hierarchical properties, lists, auto lists, folders, and the like. Such systems and methods allow users to assign properties to a file (optionally in a hierarchical manner), to change assigned properties, to search, view, and retrieve information based on the assigned properties, and the like.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon, the data structure comprising:

a first data set containing at least some of content of an electronic file; and

a second data set containing property data associated with the electronic file, wherein the second data set includes a first flat path string indicating a first property associated with the electronic file, wherein the first flat path string indicates a hierarchical structure of the property data.

2. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set constitutes metadata included in or associated with the first data set.

3. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set includes data in the format:

parent property value-delimiter-child property value.

4. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set includes data in the format:

parent property value-delimiter-child property value-delimiter-grandchild property value.

5. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the data structure further includes:

a third data set containing additional property data associated with the electronic file, wherein the third data set includes a second flat path string indicating a second property associated with the electronic file, wherein the second flat path string indicates a hierarchical structure of the property data in the third data set.

6. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set includes a second flat path string indicating a second property associated with the electronic file.

7. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set includes data in the format:

child property value-delimiter-parent property value.

8. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set includes data in the format:

child property value-delimiter-parent property value-delimiter-grandparent property value.

9. A method for storing electronic data, comprising:

creating an electronic file including electronic data for storage on a computer-readable medium;

receiving input data indicating a first property value to be included as part of the electronic file or associated with the electronic file, wherein the first property value includes a first data set including a first flat path string indicating the first property value, wherein the first flat path string indicates a hierarchical structure of the first property value; and

storing the electronic file with the first flat path string included therein or associated therewith.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the input data indicating the first property constitutes metadata included in or associated with the electronic file.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the input data indicating the first property value includes data in the format:

parent property value-delimiter-child property value.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the input data indicating the first property value includes data in the format:

parent property value-delimiter-child property value-delimiter-grandchild property value.

13. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving input data indicating a second property value to be included as part of the electronic file or associated with the electronic file, wherein the second property value includes a second data set including a second flat path string indicating the second property value, wherein the second flat path string indicates a hierarchical structure of the second property value, and

wherein the storing of the electronic file includes storing the electronic file with the second flat path string included therein or associated therewith.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the input data indicating the first property value includes data in the format:

child property value-delimiter-parent property value.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the input data indicating the first property value includes data in the format:

child property value-delimiter-parent property value-delimiter-grandparent property value.

16. A method for processing electronic data, comprising:

receiving data on a computer system or network indicating a hierarchical structure of plural defined property values, wherein each defined property value has an unique flat path data string associated with it as compared with all other defined property values in the hierarchical structure;

receiving user input indicating a new property value to be included at a user desired location in the hierarchical structure; and

based on the user desired location in the hierarchical structure, determining whether the new property value would have a flat path data string that differs from all other flat path data strings existing in the hierarchical structure.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the flat path data string for the new property value includes a first parent property portion and a first child property portion, and wherein at least one of the first parent property portion or the first child property portion is identical to a portion of at least one defined property value in the hierarchical structure.

18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

adding the new property value to the hierarchical structure at the user desired location when the flat path data string for the new property value is determined to differ from all other flat path data strings for properties existing in the hierarchical structure.

19. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating a search query, wherein the search query includes selection of a first search property, wherein the first search property includes a first property value in the hierarchical structure; and

determining which electronic files stored on stored on or available through a computer system or network meet the search query, wherein the electronic files determined to meet the search query include the first search property stored therein or associated therewith.

20. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating a search query, wherein the search query includes selection of a first search property including a first property value in the hierarchical structure and selection of a second search property including a second property value in the hierarchical structure; and

determining which electronic files stored on or available through a computer-system or network meet the search query, wherein the electronic files determined to meet the search query include at least one of the first search property or the second search property stored therein or associated therewith.