Multi-dimensional locating system and method

• US 20070214169A1
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Maya-Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Audet, Mathieu, Berthiaume, Yves
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/123 Storage facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method for organizing information elements in a system having a display capability which (a) generates a first information element vector based on a predetermined first characterization attribute, (b) generates a second information element vector based on a second characterization attribute, and (c) display on the display device the first information element vector non-parallel to the second information element vector. Furthermore, the method allows a user to select the characterization attributes and to visualize the information element vectors.

Claims

1. A method for organizing information elements in a system having a display device and being capable of manipulating a plurality of information elements, each information element having a least one characterization attribute, the method comprising:

(A) generating a first information element vector based on a first characterization attribute, the first information element vector comprising a group of information elements having the first characterization attribute and being selected from the plurality of information elements;

(B) causing the display device to display a representation of the first information element vector at a position;

(C) determining a second characterization attribute based at least in part on an action performed on the first information element vector;

(D) generating a second information element vector based on the second characterization attribute, the second information element vector comprising a group of information elements having the second characterization attribute and being selected from the plurality of information elements; and

(E) causing the display device to display a representation of the second information element vector non-parallel to the position of the representation of the first information element vector.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first information element vector and the second information element vector have at least one information element in common.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein causing the display device to display the representation of the second information element vector non-parallel to the presentation of the first information element vector comprises causing the display device to display the representation of the second information element vector non-parallel to and co-planar with the position of the representation of the first information element vector.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second characterization attribute is one selected from the group consisting of each of the characterization attributes of each of the information elements of the first information element vector.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second characterization attribute is selected by selecting an information element from the first information element vector.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second characterization attribute is selected without regard to the characterization attributes of the information elements of the first information element vector.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the information elements comprises a first version and a second version, and wherein a third information element vector is defined by the versions of the information element.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the representations displayed by the display device is graphical.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a graphical representation of the characterization attributes of at least one information element is displayed along with the at least one information element.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a vectorial space is defined by the first information element vector and the second information element vector.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein associating a score with at least one of the information elements.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the score is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of the characterization attributes of the information elements within the vectorial space, a number of information elements within the vectorial space, and time.

20. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the characterization attributes is an identifier code.

21. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of creating a new information element having at least one characterization attribute.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, further comprising displaying a representation of the new information element.

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24. A system for organizing a plurality of information elements comprising:

(A) a display device;

(B) a plurality of information elements;

(C) a storage device in which at least some of the plurality of information elements are stored;

(D) a processing unit which;

(i) generates a first information element vector based on a first characterization attribute, the first information element vector comprising a group of information elements having the first characterization attribute and being selected from the plurality of information elements;

(ii) causes a display of a representation of the first information element vector by the display device at a position;

(iii) determines a second characterization attribute based at least in part on an action performed on the first information element vector;

(iv) generates a second information element vector based on the second characterization attribute, the second information element vector comprising a group of information elements having the second characterization attribute and being selected from the plurality of information elements; and

(v) causes a display of a representation of the second information element vector non-parallel to the position of the representation of the first information element vector by the display device.

59. The system of claim 24, wherein the first information element vector and the second information element vector have at least one information element in common.

60. The system of claim 24, wherein the display device displays a representation of the second information element vector non-parallel to and co-planar with the position of the representation of the first information element vector.

61. The system of claim 24, wherein the second characterization attribute is one selected from the group consisting of each of the characterization attributes of each of the information elements of the first information element vector.

62. The system of claim 24, wherein the second characterization attribute is selected by selecting an information element from the first information element vector.

63. The system of claim 24, wherein the second characterization attribute is selected without regard to the characterization attributes of the information elements of the first information element vector.

70. The system of claim 24, wherein one of the information elements comprises a first version and a second version, and wherein a fourth third information element vector is defined by the versions of the information element.

71. The system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the representations displayed by the display device is graphical.

72. The system of claim 24, wherein a graphical representation of the characterization attributes of at least one information element is displayed along with the at least one information element.

73. The system of claim 24, wherein a vectorial space is defined by the first information element vector and the second information element vector.

75. The system of claim 73, wherein associating a score with at least one of the information elements.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein the score is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of the characterization attributes of the information elements within the vectorial space, and time.

77. The system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the characterization attributes is an identifier code.

78. The system of claim 24, further comprising creating a new information element having at least one characterization attribute.

79. The system of claim 78, further displaying a representation of the new information element.

84. The system of claim 24, wherein the first characterization attribute is a pre-determined ordering.

85. The system of claim 84, wherein the predetermined ordering is chronological.

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92. A method for organizing information elements in a system having a display device and being capable of manipulating a plurality of information elements and a plurality of characterization attributes, each information element having a least one characterization attribute, the method comprising:

(A) generating a first information element vector based on a first characterization attribute, the first information element vector comprising a group of information elements having the first characterization attribute and being selected from the plurality of information elements;

(B) causing the display device to display a representation of the first information element vector at a position;

(C) generating a second information element vector based on a second characterization attribute, the second information element vector comprising a group of information elements having the second characterization attribute and being selected from the plurality of information elements; and

(D) causing the display device to display a representation of the second information element vector non-parallel to the position of the representation of the first information element vector, wherein at least one of the information elements is selected from a group consisting of a text document, a spreadsheet, a database entry, an email, a web page, a drawing file, a PDF file, a music file, a picture file, an image file, a programming code, a screen shot, a video file, a hyperlink, a music album and a scanned document.

93. A method as recited in claim 92, wherein the first information element vector and the second information element have at least one information element in common.

94. A method as recited in claim 92, wherein causing the display device to display the representation of the second information element vector non-parallel to the representation of the first information element vector comprises causing the display device to display the representation of the second information element vector non-parallel to and co-planar with the position of the representation of the first information element vector.

95. A method as recited in claim 92, wherein the second characterization attribute is one selected from the group consisting of each of the characterization attributes of each of the information elements of the first information element vector.

96. A method as recited in claim 92, wherein the second characterization attribute is selected by selecting an information element from the first information element vector.

97. A method as recited in claim 92, wherein the second characterization attribute is selected without regard to the characterization attributes of the information elements of the first information element vector.

98. A method as recited in claim 92, wherein one of the information elements comprises a first version and a second version, and wherein a third information element vector is defined by the versions of the information element.

99. A method as recited in claim 92, wherein at least one of the representations displayed by the display device is graphical.

100. A method as recited in claim 92, wherein a graphical representation of the characterization attributes of at least one information element is displayed along with the at least one information element.

101. A method as recited in claim 92, wherein a vectorial space is defined by the first information element vector and the second information element vector and further comprising resizing the vectorial space.

102. A system for organizing a plurality of information elements comprising:

(A) a display device;

(B) a plurality of information elements;

(C) a storage device adapted to store at least some of the plurality of information elements;

(D) a processing unit which;

(i) generates a first information element vector based on a first characterization attribute, the first information element vector comprising a group of information elements having the first characterization attribute and being selected from the plurality of information elements;

(ii) causes a display of a representation of the first information element vector by the display device at a position;

(iii) generates a second information element vector based on a second characterization attribute, the second information element vector comprising a group of information elements having the second characterization attribute and being selected from the plurality of information elements; and

(iv) causes a display of a representation of the second information element vector non-parallel to the position of the representation of the first information element vector by the display device,

wherein at least one of the information elements is selected from a group consisting of a text document, a spreadsheet, a database entry, an e-mail, a web page, a drawing file, a PDF file, a music file, a picture five, an image file, a programming code, a screen shot, a video file, a hyperlink, a music album and a scanned document.

103. The system of claim 102, wherein the first information element vector and the second information element have at least one information element in common.

104. The system of claim 102, wherein the display device displays a representation of the second information element vector non-parallel to and coplanar with the position of the representation of the first information element vector.

105. The system of claim 102, wherein the second characterization attribute is one selected from the group consisting of each of the characterization attributes of each of the information elements of the first information element vector.

106. The system of claim 102, wherein the second characterization attribute is selected by selecting an information element from the first information element vector.

107. The system of claim 102, wherein the second characterization attribute is selected without regard to the characterization attributes of the information elements of the first information element vector.

108. The system of claim 102, wherein one of the information elements comprises a first version and a second version, and wherein a third information element vector is defined by the versions of the information element.

109. The system of claim 102, wherein at least one of the representations displayed by the display device is graphical.

110. The system of claim 102, wherein a graphical representation of the characterization attributes of at least one information element is displayed along with the at least one information element.

111. The system of claim 102, wherein a vectorial space is defined by the first information element vector and the second information element vector.

112. The system of claim 102, wherein the first characterization attribute is a chronological ordering.

113. A method for organizing a plurality of music files in a system having a display device and being capable of manipulating a plurality of music album elements and song elements, each music album element having a least one song characterization attribute and at least one music album characterization attribute, the method comprising:

(A) generating a music album element vector based on the music album characterization attribute, the music album element vector comprising a group of music album elements having the music album characterization attribute and being selected from the plurality of music album elements;

(B) causing the display device to display a representation of the music album element vector at a position;

(C) generating a song element vector based on a song characterization attribute, the song element vector comprising a group of song elements having the song characterization attribute and being selected from the plurality of song elements; and

(D) causing the display device to display a representation of the song element vector non-parallel to the position of the representation of the music album element vector.

114. The method of claim 113, comprising determining the song characterization attribute based at least in part on an action performed on the music album element vector.

115. The method of claim 113, wherein the song element vector intersects the album element vector.

116. A system for organizing music files in a system having a display device and being capable of manipulating a plurality of music album elements and song elements, each music album element having at least one song characterization attribute and at least one music album characterization attribute, each song elements having at least one song characterization attribute, the system comprising:

(A) a display device;

(B) a plurality of music album elements, at least one music album element having a plurality of song elements associated therewith;

(C) a storage device adapted to store at least some of the plurality of music album elements and song elements;

(D) a user interface adapted to receive instructions from a user;

(E) a processing unit which;

(i) generates a music album element vector based on an album characterization attribute, the music album element vector comprising a group of music album elements having the music album characterization attribute and being at least partially selected from the plurality of music album elements stored in the storage device;

(ii) causes a display of a representation of the music album element vector by the display device at a position;

(iii) determines a song characterization attribute based at least in part on an action performed on at least one music album element of the music album element vector;

(iv) generates a song element vector based at least in part on the song characterization attribute, the song element vector comprising a plurality of song elements having the song characterization attribute and being selected from the plurality of song elements stored at least partially in the information storage device; and

(v) causes a display of a representation of the song element vector non-parallel to the position of the representation of the music album element vector on the display device.

117. The system of claim 116, wherein the song element vector intersects the music album element vector.