Graphical Access To Data Objects
First Claim
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1. A method for providing access to stored data objects, the method comprising:
- representing a first arrangement of data objects as a first graphical structure in a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the first arrangement is based on a date or time, and the first graphical structure includes an area divided into a number of arc-sections, wherein each arc-section represents a duration of the date or time;
concurrently representing a second arrangement of data objects as a second graphical structure in the GUI, wherein the second arrangement is based on a name, type, or size and is related to the date or time of the first arrangement, and the second graphical structure includes a plurality of sectors coaxially arranged in the area, wherein each sector represents the name, type, or size;
a combination of the first and second graphical structures in the GUI defining a plurality of user-selectable graphical objects each providing access to one or more data objects associated with a corresponding portion of the combination of the first and second arrangements.
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Abstract
A method, apparatus and system for accessing data objects from a storage medium includes rendering a combination of graphical structures. Each graphical structure depicts a storage hierarchy or logic, and can include a link or reference to stored data objects. The combination of graphical structures defines a number of graphical objects. Each graphical object is associated with a coordinate display and linking mechanism to access one or more data objects represented by the graphical object. Thus, a number of collections of data objects is represented graphically for quick access.
156 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for providing access to stored data objects, the method comprising:
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representing a first arrangement of data objects as a first graphical structure in a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the first arrangement is based on a date or time, and the first graphical structure includes an area divided into a number of arc-sections, wherein each arc-section represents a duration of the date or time; concurrently representing a second arrangement of data objects as a second graphical structure in the GUI, wherein the second arrangement is based on a name, type, or size and is related to the date or time of the first arrangement, and the second graphical structure includes a plurality of sectors coaxially arranged in the area, wherein each sector represents the name, type, or size; a combination of the first and second graphical structures in the GUI defining a plurality of user-selectable graphical objects each providing access to one or more data objects associated with a corresponding portion of the combination of the first and second arrangements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10)
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6-7. -7. (canceled)
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11. An apparatus for accessing data objects from a storage medium, comprising:
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a processor; and memory, wherein the processor and the memory are configured to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a plurality of user-selectable graphical objects defined by a combination of a first graphical structure representing a first arrangement of data objects and a second graphical structure representing a second arrangement of data objects, wherein each graphical object provides access to one or more data objects associated with a corresponding portion of the combination of the first and second arrangements, wherein the first arrangement is based on a date or time, and the first graphical structure includes an area divided into a number of arc-sections, wherein each arc-section represents a duration of the date or time, and wherein the second arrangement is based on a name, type, or size and is related to the date or time of the first arrangement, and the second graphical structure includes a plurality of sectors coaxially arranged in the area, wherein each sector represents the name, type, or size. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for accessing data objects, comprising
a display providing a graphical user interface (GUI); -
a storage medium for storing one or more data objects; a processor responsive to instructions stored in an instruction memory, and configured to represent a first arrangement of data objects as a first graphical structure in the GUI, and to represent a second arrangement of data objects as a second graphical structure in the GUI; wherein a combination of the first and second graphical structures in the GUI defines a plurality of user-selectable graphical objects, each graphical object providing access to one or more data objects in the storage medium associated with a corresponding portion of the combination of the first and second arrangements, wherein the first arrangement is based on a date or time, and the first graphical structure includes an area divided into a number of arc-sections, wherein each arc-section represents a duration of the date or time, and wherein the second arrangement is based on a name, type, or size and is related to the date or time of the first arrangement, and the second graphical structure includes a plurality of sectors coaxially arranged in the area, wherein each sector represents the name, type, or size. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A data object access method, comprising:
representing each of two or more arrangements of data objects as a graphical structure that, when combined in a graphical user interface, define a plurality of user-selectable graphical objects each providing access to one or more data objects associated with a corresponding portion of the combination of the arrangements, wherein at least one of the arrangements is based on a date or time and another arrangement is based on a name, type, or size related to the date or time.
Specification