Artistic file manager

• US 20100185965A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edward O'Brien Wolf, Frederick Collin Davidson, Guy Richard Jr. Beretich, Pliny Allen Iv Porter, Richard Krueger
• Original Assignee: Edward O'Brien Wolf, Frederick Collin Davidson, Guy Richard Jr. Beretich, Pliny Allen Iv Porter, Richard Krueger
• Inventors: Porter, Pliny Allen IV, Wolf, Edward O'Brien, Beretich, Guy Richard JR., Krueger, Richard, Davidson, Frederick Collin
• Application Number:
  US12/321,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185965A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor

Abstract

A file manager for a consumer electronic device enhances a user'"'"'s experience in a computing environment by displaying a variety of content in a folder in a collage configuration. The content may be, for example, live applications and other files, and are collectively termed assets. The file manager also displays the content in a grid configuration for management purposes, and provides graphics tools to allow the user to artistically customize the display of the assets.

Claims

1. ) A file manager for the management of at least one folder, the folder comprising a background and at least one asset;

the file manager providing a collage folder configuration that provides for non-restricted positioning of the at least one asset in the X and Y planes of the folder and the superimposing of the at least one asset over a second asset in the Z-order;

the file manager further providing for switching between the collage folder configuration and a predetermined alignment pattern configuration that provides an organized display of the at least one asset for the purposes of file management.

2. ) The file manager of claim 1, wherein the at least one asset is represented by 32-bit RGBA composite images.

3. ) The file manager of claim 1, wherein the file manager provides graphical tools to customize the collage folder configuration.

4. ) The file manager of claim 3, wherein the graphical tools are selected from the group consisting of a brush, pen, pencil and crayon.

5. ) The file manager of claim 3, wherein the graphical tools provide for the modification of the background by changing a property selected from the group consisting of color, texture and pattern.

6. ) The file manager of claim 3, wherein the graphical tools provide for the setting of an image as a background for the panel.

7. ) The file manager of claim 1, wherein the predetermined alignment pattern is selected from the group consisting of tile view, detail view, list view, icon view, and thumbnail view.

8. ) The file manager of claim 1, wherein the predetermined alignment pattern is selected from the group consisting of grid patterns, mosaic patterns, mosaic designs, geometric patterns and mathematical patterns.

9. ) The file manager of claim 1, wherein the file manager provides for the ability to execute software applications within the at least one folder.

10. ) The file manager of claim 1, wherein the file manager provides for sharing the at least one folder between nodes on a network.

11. ) The file manager of claim 10, wherein the file manager provides for collaborative customization of the at least one folder in a peer-to-peer network.

12. ) A system for sharing a customizable folder on a network, the system comprising a network with at least two nodes, each node running a file manager that provides for the management of at least one folder comprising a background and at least one asset, the file manager providing a collage folder configuration that provides for non-restricted positioning of the at least one asset in the X and Y planes of the folder and the superimposing of the at least one asset over a second asset in the Z-order;

the file manager further providing for switching between the collage configuration and a predetermined alignment pattern configuration that provides an organized display of the at least one asset for the purposes of file management; and

the file manager further providing for sharing the folder between the nodes on the network.

13. ) The file manager of claim 12, wherein the file manager provides for the collaborative customization of the at least one folder in the network.

14. ) The system of claim 12, wherein the network comprises mobile communication devices such as cellular telephones, satellite telephones, and Personal Digital Assistants.

15. ) The system of claim 12, wherein the file manager provides graphical tools to customize the collage folder configuration.

16. ) The system of claim 15, wherein the graphical tools are selected from the group consisting of a brush, pen, pencil and crayon.

17. ) The system of claim 12, wherein the file manager provides for the ability to execute software applications within the folder.