Method of Manipulating Information Objects and of Accessing Such Objects in a Computer Environment

• US 20090083314A1
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stripe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enrico Maim
• Inventors: Maim, Enrico
• Granted Patent: US 8,495,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/194 Calculation of difference between files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/197 Version control for software G06F8/71

Abstract

The invention relates to a method which is used in a computer environment in order to produce a current view from at least one source information object that can vary. The inventive method is characterised in that it comprises the following steps: a reference of the view in relation to the source information object is established and stored; a user implements at least one information object modification tool in order to produce a transformed information object from the source information object; a difference information set that is representative of the modification actions performed by the user with the tool(s) is recorded in a memory element; and a current view is produced from the current version of each source information object and said difference information set. The invention also relates to methods of allocating relevancy scores to the information objects, so that information objects can be accessed using such scores, for the management of references between information objects depending on whether or not modifications have been made to said information objects by the user, in order to: access selectively a derived information object created from a start information object; access information objects that are connected to others with directed links in a customised manner; access selectively one of a plurality of information objects from a start information object; display a customised information object obtained from a start information object; and, finally, manipulate information using a graphic user interface.

Claims

1. Method used in a data processing environment to produce a current view from at least one source data object that can vary, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

determining and memorizing a reference of the view to the source data object,

application by the user of at least one tool for modifying data objects, to produce a transformed data object from the source data object,

saving a set of difference data (diff) in a memory, representing the effect of the modification actions made by the user using one or more tools, and

generating a current view from the current version of the source data object and said set of difference data.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool to modify a data object comprises a document editing program.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the editing program is able to generate a log of the modifications made to each document, and in that the saving step is implemented using the log data.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data object modification tool comprises a plurality of modification operators which can be individually chosen by the user.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it is implemented on a source data object itself consisting of a current view generated by a prior use of the same method.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the current view is generated within a larger data object containing said view.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the object comprises several views and in that the method is repeated for each of the current views to be generated.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the current view has a reference to the source data object, said reference being associated with a container.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the reference consists of a hypertext link.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a step to determine and memorize a relationship between a data object containing said view directly or indirectly, and the source data object.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that said relationship is a semantic relationship.

12. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a step to determine and memorize a relationship between the view and the source data object.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the relationship is a semantic equivalence relationship.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that it also comprises the implementation of an inference method based on a plurality of semantic relations between views and source data objects.

15. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the source data object is derived from another data object.

16. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the reference of the view to the source data object consists of a query (request) in reply to which one or more source data objects are delivered.

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the query is a request applied to a search engine, the latter delivering the source data object(s).

18. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the query consists of a group of data objects, and in that it comprises a search step of at least one another data object having the best relevance score with respect to said group.

19. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a step to memorize the generated current view, and in that said set of difference data contains one or more pointers towards one or more data objects for which content and position are contained in the current view.

20. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said data objects are structured in hierarchical sub-objects, and in that if said set of difference data contains a difference data item concerning part of an object, then the step to generate the current view maintains the most recent version of the smallest sub-object containing such part of an object.

21. Method according to claim 20, characterized in that said difference data item concerning a part of an object comprises data about a change to an attribute of the object.

22. Method according to claim 20, characterized in that said attribute is an object name.

23. Method according to claim 20, characterized in that said difference data item concerning a part of an object comprises data about an object position.

24. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that if the source data object comprises several sub-objects, the method is implemented once for each sub-object.

25. Method according to claim 24, characterized in that the set of difference data for an object comprising a plurality of sub-objects, contains modified/non-modified attributes for each of these objects of objects.

26. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that each data object has an object identifier.

27. Method according to claim 26, characterized in that each object identifier is unique in the data processing environment.

28. Method according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that the step to generate a current view refers to a modification identifier.

29. Method according to claim 28, characterized in that each modification identifier is unique in the data processing environment.

30. Method according to claim 26 or 27 taken in combination with claim 28 or 29, characterized in that each current view has at least one composite identifier comprising a modification identifier and an object identifier, to which the modification by the corresponding set of difference data applies.

31. Method according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that a current view has an identifier referring to a plurality of modification identifiers and a plurality of object identifiers to which the modifications by the corresponding sets of difference data apply.

32. Method according to claim 26 or 27 taken in combination with claim 28 or 29, characterized in that if an initial source data object is itself to be obtained from application of a set of difference data to an other source data object, then a corresponding composite identifier comprises an object identifier held by said other source data object and a double identifier of sets of difference data.

53. Method according to claim 46, characterized in that the set of data objects is formed by a basic network comprising data objects and corresponding propagation capacities, and by modifications/additions/deletions made to this basic network to form a modified network, and in that the method according to any of claims 1 to 32 is implemented from the initial group of data objects and said modification/addition/deletion data.

33. Method implemented in a data processing environment to allocate relevance scores to data objects, characterized in that it comprises:

allocating a capacity (pipe) to propagate a relevance score from one data object to the other, to at least some pairs of data objects,

allocating a relevance score to at least one data object, and

for at least one other data object, calculating a relevance score from the relevance scores of data objects having a propagation capacity with said other data object, and values (pipe widths) of said propagation capacities.

34. Method according to claim 33, characterized in that a propagation capacity, possibly equal to zero, is allocated to each pair of data objects.

35. Method according to either of claims 33 and 34, characterized in that at least some data objects are connected together by links from citing data object to cited data object, and in that the propagation capacity between two data objects is calculated using as criterion the number of citing data objects (citing them) common to these two data objects.

36. Method according to any of claims 33 to 35, characterized in that at least some data objects are connected together by links from citing data object to cited data object, and in that the propagation capacity between two data objects is calculated using as criterion the existence of a link between these two data objects.

37. Method according to any of claims 33 to 36, characterized in that at least some data objects have a textual content, and in that the propagation capacity between two such data objects is calculated using as criterion the word distribution in these two data objects.

38. Method according to any of claims 33 to 37, characterized in that the propagation capacity between two data objects is calculated using as criterion the relationship between data objects determined by the user.

39. Method according to claim 38, characterized in that the relationship determined by the user is derived from a classification or grouping of data objects made by the user.

40. Method according to any of claims 33 to 39, characterized in that the propagation capacity between two data objects is calculated from a combination of at least two criteria.

41. Method according to any of claims 33 to 40, characterized in that the calculation step comprises a sum of relevance scores weighted with propagation capacities.

42. Method according to claim 41, characterized in that the propagation capacities are normalised.

43. Method according to either of claims 33 and 34, characterized in that it comprises a step in which the user determines a propagation capacity between two data objects in a pair.

44. Method according to claim 34, characterized in that two propagation capacities are allocated to each pair of data objects, one in a first direction and the other in the opposite direction.

45. Method according to either of claims 33 and 34, characterized in that it is applied a priori on a subset of data objects representing a larger set of data objects, to predetermine intermediate values subsequently used to calculate relevance scores.

46. Method to access data objects in a data processing environment, characterized in that it comprises:

determining an initial group of data objects,

implementing the method according to any of claims 33 to 45 to identify other data objects having the highest relevance scores for the initial group of data objects, and

displaying elements representing said identified data objects for user access thereto.

47. Method according to claim 46, characterized in that it comprises a prior step consisting of implementing a search method to determine the initial group of data objects.

48. Method according to either of claims 46 and 47, characterized in that the initial group of data objects is determined from a manual and/or automated classification of data objects in an operating system of the data processing environment or in a data processing application.

49. Method according to any of claims 46 to 48, characterized in that it also comprises:

determining a fine-tuned relevance relationship between at least one of the identified data objects and at least one of the initial data objects, and

graphically representing said fine-tuned relevance relationships.

50. Method according to any of claims 46 to 49, characterized in that the display step comprises:

determining the existence of nonzero propagation capacities between the initial data objects and said identified data objects, and

graphically representing links between said identified data objects and the initial data objects as a function of propagation capacities.

51. Method according to any of claims 46 to 50, characterized in that it also comprises:

determining the existence of a zero pre-existing propagation capacity between at least one initial data object and an identified data object, and

modifying this zero propagation capacity into a non-zero propagation capacity.

52. Method according to claim 51, characterized in that said modification step is made as a function of the relevance score of the identified data object with respect to the initial data object.

54. Method of accessing data objects in a data processing environment, characterized in that it comprises:

implementing the method according to any of claims 33 to 45 to determine absolute relevance scores of all the data objects,

implementing a search method using a request,

sorting data objects which satisfy said request as a function of their absolute relevance score, and

displaying elements representing sorted data objects for user access thereto.

56. Method according to claim 55, characterized in that the method of calculating relevance scores is conforming with one of claims 33 to 45.

57. Method according to any one of claims 33 to 45, applied to a set of data objects comprising additional data objects determined using the method according to either of claims 55 and 56, characterized in that the relevance score for a data object belonging to an initial group of data objects for which an additional data object has been created, is calculated taking account of the relevance score calculated for this additional data object.

58. Method according to claim 57, characterized in that said calculation of a relevance score for a data object belonging to an initial group of data objects for which an additional data object was created, is made taking into account only the relevance score calculated for this additional data object.

55. Method of accessing data objects in a data processing environment, characterized in that it comprises:

determining an initial group of data objects,

implementing a method of calculating relevance scores to identify other data objects with the highest relevance scores for the initial group of data objects;

creating an additional data object representing the initial group of data objects, and

creating propagation capacities, determined as a function of said relevance scores between identified data objects and the additional data object.

59. Method according to any of claims 55 to 58, characterized in that the initial group of data objects is determined from a request applied to a database, and in that the additional data object represents and contains said request.

60. Method implemented in a data processing environment comprising data objects with references to other data objects, and in particular having first contents with at least one reference to a second content such as a link to the second content or such as a transclusion of the second content, for management of such references as a function of the existence of modifications made to the data objects by the user, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

the user views a second current content via a reference held by a first content, in a mode enabling modification of said second content,

when said second content is modified in said mode, a new version of the second content is created and said reference is replaced by a reference to this new version.

61. Method according to claim 60, characterized in that said reference is a request such as a request in a standard language, to a database.

62. Method according to either of claims 60 and 61, characterized in that said new version of the second content is represented by a structure of markers containing the differences between said new version of the second content and said current second content, so as to present the user with a second content in which said differences have been applied to the current version of the second content.

63. Method implemented in a data processing environment to selectively access a derived data object created in the data processing environment from an initial data object, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

(a) determining relevance scores of the initial data object and of the derived data object using a given mechanism for determining relevance;

(b) in relation to access by a user to the initial data object, provide or do not provide the user with information about the existence of the derived data object or access to said derived data object, as a function of said relevance scores.

64. Method according to claim 63, characterised in that step (a) also determines a relevance score for at least one other data object, and in that step (b) also comprises supplying or not supplying the user with information about the existence of said other data object, or access to said other data object, as a function of said relevance scores.

65. Method according to claim 63, characterised in that step (a) also determines a relevance score for at least one other data object, and in that it also comprises a step (c) related to access to the initial data object or the derived data object, to supply or not supply the user with information about the existence of said other data object, as a function of said relevance scores.

66. Method according to claim 63, characterised in that step (a) also determines a relevance score for at least one other data object, and in that it also comprises a step (c) related to access to the initial data object or the derived data object, to display or not display at least a part (annotation) of the content of said other data object, as a function of said relevance scores.

67. Method according to claim 63 or one of claims 64 to 66 dependent on claim 63, characterised in that step (b) is applied as a function of whether or not a modification has been made to said derived or initial data object since it was previously supplied to the user.

68. Method according to either claim 65 or 66, characterised in that step (c) is applied as a function of whether or not a modification has been made to said derived or initial data object since it was previously supplied to the user.

69. Method according to claim 63, in which initial data objects are connected by directional links and together form an initial oriented graph, characterised in that it also comprises a step consisting of constructing a virtual derived graph formed from the initial oriented graph and virtual links starting from data objects citing the initial data object and directed towards the derived data object, and in that the relevance scores are determined based on said virtual derived graph.

70. Method according to either claim 63 or 69, characterised in that the derived data object is obtained by modifying the initial data object.

71. Method according to either claim 63 or 69, characterised in that the derived data object is a data object with at least one view towards at least one part of the initial data object.

72. Method according to either claim 63 or 69, characterised in that the derived data object is a data object with at least one copy of at least one part of the initial data object.

73. Method according to claim 69, characterized in that when the derived data object is obtained from an initial data object that itself is another data object derived from another initial data object, the step to construct the virtual derived graph also takes account of virtual links starting from data objects citing said other initial data object and directed towards said other derived data object.

74. Method according to claims 69 and 71 taken in combination, characterised in that when the derived data object has several views to several initial data objects, the step to construct the virtual derived graph takes account of virtual links starting from data objects citing the corresponding initial data objects and directed towards the derived data object.

75. Method applied in a data processing environment to obtain customized access to data objects, said data objects comprising initial data objects related to each other by oriented links to form an initial structure, characterised in that it comprises steps consisting of:

(a) creating data objects added to the initial data objects, to form a derived structure,

(b) memorising the derived structure in the form of a reference to the initial structure, added data objects and links between the initial structure and the added data objects,

(c) memorising specific search data for relevant data objects, in association with the derived structure,

(d) searching for relevant data objects in the derived source, using specific search data.

76. Method according to claim 75, characterised in that the specific search data comprise centre of interest data.

77. Method according to one of claims 75 and 76, characterised in that steps (a) to (c) are applied repeatedly to form a plurality of derived structures by adding data objects to the initial structure or to previously existing derived structures.

78. Method according to claim 76 or claim 77 dependent on claim 76, characterised in that step (c) to memorise specific search data is done in the form of a reference to specific search data already associated with the structure or a previously existing derived structure, and added specific search data.

79. Method according to claim 78, characterised in that the derived structures are themselves organised as a graph.

80. Method according to claim 79, characterised in that the derived structures graph is a tree.

81. Method used in a data processing environment to selectively access one among a plurality of data objects starting from an initial data object, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

(a) determine relevance scores for the initial data object and for other data objects using a given mechanism to determine the relevance, said other data objects comprising independent data objects and data objects derived from the initial data object and/or these independent data objects,

(b) when a user accesses the initial data object, supply or do not supply the user with information about the existence of another data object or an access to said other data object, depending on said relevance scores.

82. Method according to claim 81, characterised in that step (b) is or is not applied depending on whether or not a modification has been made to said other data object since the last time it was supplied to the user.

83. Method according to claim 81, characterised in that the mechanism to determine relevance is based on analyses of links between data objects, in that at least one of the derived data objects is obtained by reproduction of an initial data object or by insertion of a view or a copy of the said entire initial data object into an arbitrary data object, and in that it comprises a step to create virtual links directed towards said derived data object starting from each data object with a link directed towards the initial data object considered.

84. Method according to claim 81, characterised in that the mechanism to determine relevance is based on analyses of links between data objects, in that at least one of the derived data objects is obtained by insertion of a view or a copy of only part of an initial data object into an arbitrary data object, this part being or itself containing a view or a copy of the complete indirect initial data object, and in that it comprises a step to create a virtual link directed towards said derived data object starting from each data object with a link directed towards the indirect initial data object considered.

85. Method according to claim 81, characterised in that it also comprises a step to display or not display at least a part (annotation) of the content of a third data object, in relation to the access to the initial data object or to another data object, depending on said relevance scores.

86. Method according to claim 85, characterised in that the display step is also applied if a modification was made to the third data object since the last time it was displayed.

87. Method implemented in a networked data processing environment to display a customized data object obtained starting from an original data object, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

load the original data object from a site that supplies said original data object to the user,

save a working data object obtained from a copy of the original data object, in a memory,

use tools to modify the data object, to produce a modified data object from said working data object,

save a set of data representative of differences between the original data object or the working data object, and the modified data object, in a memory,

during a subsequent access to the original data object, generate a new modified data object starting from the current version of the original data object and said set of data representing said differences.

88. Method according to claim 87, characterised in that the working data object comprises a plurality of contents belonging to the original data object and identifiers allocated to the corresponding contents, and in that the differences represented by said data set are given identifier by identifier.

89. Method for handling data using a graphical user interface, said interface comprising means for selecting a part of given data, characterized in that it comprises a step to convert a selection made using said interface into an object that can be subsequently handled.

90. Method according to claim 89, characterized in that the conversion step is implemented solely in response to a user instruction triggered by means of a pointing tool used to make the selection.

91. Method according to claim 89 or 90, characterized in that it also comprises a step to selectively display a visual indicator showing the existence of a data object that resulted from a previous conversion made from a selection.