Multifunctional icon in icon-driven computer system

• US 20070157097A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Peters, Johan
• Granted Patent: US 7,503,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

An icon-driven computer system collects a plurality of data files under a common graphical icon. Commands entered into the computer system with respect to the icon may be interpreted as a command to repeat the same action on each of the data files linked to the icon. Related commands provide for simple maintenance of the grouped icon—by adding files to or removing files from the icon—and selection of one data file from within the group for special treatment. In this regard, the grouped icon represents a selection of multiple data files wherein the selection has persistence and may be revised over time.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising a graphical user interface displaying a workspace of the computer system, the workspace display including an icon that, when acted upon by an operator command, causes the command to be executed upon a plurality of data files.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface includes a context menu associated with the icon that, when displayed, displays names of a plurality of the data files associated therewith.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the context menu displays all of the data files associated with the icon.

4. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the context menu displays a subset of the data files associated with the icon.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the context menu displays commands that may be executed upon all data files associated with the icon.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the command includes opening all the data files associated with the icon.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the command includes sending all the data files associated with the icon in a communication.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the command includes compressing all the data files associated with the icon.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the command includes printing all the data files associated with the icon.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the command includes deleting all the data files associated with the icon.

11. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the command includes a copy/paste operation performed on all the data files associated with the icon.

12. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the command includes scanning the data files associated with the icon for viruses.

13. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface further includes a displayable properties record of the icon that, when displayed, lists file system locations of all data files associated with the icon.

14. A method of creating a group icon, comprising, responsive to an operator command entered via a graphical user interface that drags and drops a source icon upon a target icon, replacing the source and target icons in the graphical user interface with a group icon, the group icon containing data representing locations of data files formerly represented by the source and target icons.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, responsive to another command that drags and drops a second source icon upon the group icon, adding a location of another data file formerly represented by the second source icon to the group icon.

16. A method of executing a command upon a plurality of data files in a computer system, comprising:

responsive to a command entered via a graphical user interface upon an icon displayed therein, identifying a plurality of data files referenced by the icon,

executing the command upon all data files referenced by the icon.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the command includes opening all the data files associated with the icon.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the command includes sending all the data files associated with the icon in a communication.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the command includes compressing all the data files associated with the icon.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the command includes printing all the data files associated with the icon.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the command includes deleting all the data files associated with the icon.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the command includes a copy/paste operation performed on all the data files associated with the icon.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the command includes scanning the data files associated with the icon for viruses.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising, responsive to another command, displaying a context menu that displays names of the data files associated with the icon.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising, responsive to another command, displaying a context menu that displays commands that may be performed upon the data files associated with the icon.

26. The method of claim 16, further comprising, responsive to another command, displaying a properties record that displays file system locations of the data files associated with the icon.

27. Computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon that, when executed, causes a computer system to:

display icons in a workspace via a graphical user interface, and

when a command is entered upon an icon, executing the command on a plurality of data files associated with the icon.

28. The medium of claim 27, wherein the command includes opening all the data files associated with the icon.

29. The medium of claim 27, wherein the command includes sending all the data files associated with the icon in a communication.

30. The medium of claim 27, wherein the command includes compressing all the data files associated with the icon.

31. The medium of claim 27, wherein the command includes printing all the data files associated with the icon.