Unified searching and running of files

• US 20070239727A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Matthews, David A., Zou, Song, Anderson, Bret P., Lerner, Matthew A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,630,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

A unified user interface is described that allows a user to search, browse, and launch items from the same user interface. For example, a single text input box may be provided that allows the user to perform all these functions by typing in a portion of an item name or an entire item name. The various functions may be selectively performed depending upon the text inputted by the user into the text input box. For example, where the text appears to be the beginning of an item name, then those items matching the input text will dynamically appear as the user types. Or, where the text appears to be the beginning of a file path, then items in that file path may be presented. In addition, advanced items such as system files may be suppressed so that inexperienced users do not accidentally stumble across these items.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing steps, the steps comprising:

receiving a textual input; and

responsive to receiving the textual input;

first determining which of a plurality of files have a textual first property that includes a word beginning with the textual input,

second determining which of the files determined in the step of first determining have a second property and in which the textual first property does not equal the textual input, and

displaying representations of those files determined in the step of first determining, but not in the step of second determining.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the steps further include displaying a text box for receiving the textual input from a user.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the textual property of each of the plurality of files is a name of the respective file.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the name of each of the plurality of files includes a period followed by an extension.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of files further includes a textual extension in addition to the name.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the steps further include:

receiving a user selection of one of the representations displayed in the step of displaying; and

responsive to receiving the user selection, executing or opening the file represented by the selected representation.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein each of the representations includes at least a portion of a name of the file represented by the representation.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second property is a particular file name extension.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second property is a particular file location.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second property is a property of being a system file.

11. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing steps, the steps comprising:

receiving a text string; and

responsive to receiving the text string;

first determining which of a first plurality of files have a name that includes a word beginning with the text string,

second determining which of a second plurality of files, different from the first plurality of files, have a name equaling the text string, and

displaying representations of those files determined in the steps of first and second determining.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the text string consists of single character.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of files are locally-stored files.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the steps further include:

responsive to receiving the text string;

third determining which of a plurality of folders have a name beginning with the text string, and

displaying representations of those folders determined in the step of third determining.

15. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing steps, the steps comprising:

receiving a text string; and

responsive to receiving the text string;

determining whether the text string represents at least a portion of a file path or at least a portion of an item property,

if the text string is determined to represent at least a portion of an item property, then for a plurality of items, displaying representations of only those of the plurality of items having a property containing the text string, and

if the text string is determined to represent at least a portion of a file path, then displaying a representation of each of a plurality of files in the file path.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the steps further include determining the file path based on the text string.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the file path includes comparing the text string with a history of file paths previously browsed.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the steps further include displaying a text box for receiving a user input of the text string.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the steps further include:

receiving a user selection of one of the displayed representations; and

responsive to receiving the user selection, executing or opening the file represented by the selected representation.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of items is a plurality of files and the property of each of the items is a name of the respective file.