METHOD FOR STORING AND ACCESSING DATA

• US 20080082298A1
• Filed: 10/02/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sjolander, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,644,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A method for storing data in an electronic device, using tags to mark events carried out in the electronic device during a certain time period. The method involves defining a tag which is assignable to data related to events which are carried out and stored using the electronic device; defining a time period for using the tag; and configuring the electronic device to assign the tag to data related to all events stored using the electronic device during said time period. The tag may be used for all events of only one type, such as pictures captured using a digital camera. Alternatively, the tags may be used for a plurality of types of events, such as for captured pictures or videos, received virtual business cards, calls dialed or received, messages sent or received, and so on. Data associated with an event related to a certain occasion may then be searched and accessed using a tag register.

Claims

1. A method for storing data in an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

defining a tag which is assignable to data related to events which are carried out and stored using the electronic device;

defining a time period for using the tag;

configuring the electronic device to assign the tag to data related to all events stored using the electronic device during said time period.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of:

creating a tag register comprising a plurality of tags, in which register each tag is accessible by means of a user interface to open a list of the events stored with the respective tag.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of defining a time period comprises the steps of:

defining a start time by setting the tag to be used from now on and forward;

defining a stop time by input of a command to terminate use of the tag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of defining a time period comprises the step of:

defining a start time and a stop time, between which the tag will be used.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the events include phone calls to and from a mobile telephone function of the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the events include electronic messages transmitted to and from the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the events include virtual business cards received in the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the events include digital pictures captured by means of a digital camera function of the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the events include video data captured by means of a digital video recorder function of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the events include audio data captured by means of an audio recorder function of the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the events include computer files created or received in the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of defining a tag comprises the step of selecting which type or types of events to tag, from a plurality of identified events.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of identified events include at least on from the group of event types containing:

calls dialed and received, messages sent and received, business cards received, pictures taken and video or audio segments recorded, data files downloaded or created, links to web sites accessed.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

defining a plurality of tags with associated time periods for using the respective tag;

assigning, to data related to an event stored at a point in time, two or more tags having associated time periods covering said point in time.

15. A method for accessing data stored in an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

operating a user interface to select a tag, which tag is assigned to data related to all events which are carried out and stored using the electronic device during a defined time period;

presenting a list of the events stored with the selected tag.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising the step of:

presenting a tag register comprising a plurality of tags, in which register each tag is accessible by means of a user interface to open a list of the events stored with the respective tag.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising the step of:

operating the user interface to select a type of event;

presenting a list of events of the selected type which are stored with the selected tag.

18. A method for storing data in an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

opening an electronic calendar in the electronic device;

scheduling a time period in the electronic calendar;

defining a tag which is assignable to data related to events which are carried out and stored using the electronic device;

configuring the electronic device to assign the tag to data related to events stored using the electronic device during said time period.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising the steps of:

defining a subject for the scheduled time period;

defining a title for the tag dependent on the subject.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of defining a title for the tag comprises the step of using the subject as title.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of defining a title for the tag comprises the step of using an abbreviation of the subject as title.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of configuring the electronic device to assign the tag to data related to events stored using the electronic device during said time period includes the step of assigning the tag only if the time period exceeds a predetermined length.