Computer System For Automatic Organization, Indexing and Viewing Multiple Objects From Multiple Sources

• US 20120030264A1
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eHierarchy LLC (Endpoint IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bruce L. Horn
• Inventors: Horn, Bruce L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/829
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/41 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/08 Sorting, i.e. grouping record carriers in numerical or other ordered sequence according to the classification of at least some of the information they carry by merging two or more sets of carriers in ordered sequence G06F7/16
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A computer data processing system including a central processing unit configured with a novel integrated computer control software system for the management of data objects including dynamic and automatic organization, linking, finding, cross-referencing, viewing and retrieval of multiple objects regardless of nature or source. The inventive system provides underlying component architecture having an object-oriented database structure and a metadata database structure which is unique in storing only one instance of each object while linking the object to multiple collections and domains by unique metadata links for the grouping into and retrieval from any of the collections. The system employs configurable, extensible attribute/properties of data objects in metadata format, and a truly user-friendly configurable interface that facilitates faster, more unified, comprehensive, useful and meaningful information management. Additional features include a sticky path object hierarchy viewing system, key phrase linking, viewing by reference, and drag-and-drop relationship link creation.

Claims

1. A computer data processing system comprising:

a) a computer-readable memory configured to store informational objects organized in a hierarchy;

b) a display configured to display information of at least a portion of said hierarchy;

c) an applications program with code configured to;

i) render visible information of at least one of said informational objects, with dynamic updating, in a sticky path portion of said display;

ii) expand said information of at least one of said informational objects; and

iii) collapse said information of at least one of said informational objects.

2. The computer data processing system of claim 1 wherein the computer-readable memory is located in more than one physical location in a distributed environment.

3. The computer data processing system of claim 1 wherein said applications program with code is further configured to permit a user to create said hierarchy.

4. The computer data processing system of claim 1 wherein said applications program with code is further configured to permit a user to add an informational object to said hierarchy.

5. The computer data processing system of claim 1 wherein said applications program with code is further configured to permit a user to remove an informational object to said hierarchy.

6. A computer data processing system comprising:

a) a computer-readable memory configured to store informational objects organized in a group;

b) a display configured to display information of at least two informational objects of said group;

c) an applications program with code configured to;

i) render visible information of at least one of said informational objects, with dynamic updating, in a sticky path portion of said display;

ii) expand said information of at least one of said informational objects; and

iii) collapse said information of at least one of said informational objects.

7. The computer data processing system of claim 6 wherein the computer-readable memory is located in more than one physical location in a distributed environment.

8. A computer data processing system having a central processing unit configured with an integrated computer control software system for the management of information relating to multiple levels of objects organized in at least one of a multi-level expandable hierarchy structure and a multi-level nested group structure, wherein each branch level of said hierarchy and nested groups includes an identifier indicating at least one of a specific level of said hierarchy or nested group and the contents therein, said data processing system comprising:

a) a computer readable memory including a storage structure for storing information relating to said objects selected from at least one of said objects, said object metadata and said object names, identifiers, or location paths;

b) a computer display connected to said memory for displaying in a view, said objects, said object metadata, and said objects identifiers from said storage structure;

c) a computer-user interface for selectively displaying at least a portion of said expandable hierarchy or group structure in said view; and

d) an applications program having code processed by said central processing unit so as, upon user scrolling of said structure, to continuously render visible, with dynamic updating, at least one dynamically-updating sticky path display portion of said view, said dynamically-updating component architecture code being processed so as to provide the function of at least one of;

i) a portion of said information structure is displayed in said view;

ii) individual levels of the hierarchy and nested group structures may be opened or closed through user action activated within said view; and

iii) upon user scrolling of said structure displayed within said view, said sticky-path display portion in the view dynamically updates to visibly display a current portion of a hierarchical path to, or group nesting of, said expandable information structure.

9. A computer data processing system as in claim 8 wherein said applications program processes so as to display said dynamically-updated current portion of said path or nesting as currently-visible contents in said view immediately following the beginning of said view.

10. A computer data processing system as in claim 8 wherein, upon user scrolling of said view, said applications program processes so as to provide the function of at least one of:

a) when the scrolling reveals the beginning of a new open branch, the identifier of said new branch is displayed in said sticky-path region adjacent any identifier of a previously-entered and still open branch that contains said new branch, if such a branch exists, otherwise the identifier of said new branch is displayed by itself; and

b) when the scrolling causes the entries of an open branch to disappear from view, the identifier of said branch which was displayed is removed from said sticky-path region of the view, while any identifiers of previously-entered branches remain until they in turn are exited.

11. A computer data processing system as in claim 10 wherein said applications program processes so as to provide the function of said sticky-path region only appears momentarily after scrolling, and thereafter is removed.

12. A computer data processing system as in claim 10 wherein said applications program processes so as to provide the function of said sticky-path region selectively appears when a user selects a specific item or target in the view or elsewhere in the display.

13. A computer data processing system as in claim 10 wherein said applications program processes so as to provide the function of said sticky-path region is transparent, translucent, or opaque.

14. A computer data processing system as in claim 10 wherein said applications program processes so as to provide the function of said the sticky-path region appears and disappears depending on scrolling action.

15. A computer data processing system as in claim 10 wherein said applications program processes so as to provide the function of said the sticky-path region appears and disappears depending on the location in said view of a pointer.

16. A computer data processing system as in claim 10 wherein said applications program processes so as to provide the function of said sticky-path region appears at a margin of the view or, if not at a margin, within the view'"'"'s content area.

17. A computer data processing system as in claim 10 wherein said applications program processes so as to provide the function of user selection of a specific region in an identifier in the sticky-path region of the view causes the level named by that identifier to become closed, adjusting the display as needed.

18. A computer data processing system as in claim 10 wherein said applications program processes so as to provide the function of user selection of a specific region in an identifier in the sticky-path region of the view causes scrolling to occur such that the beginning of the content represented by said identifier appears at the top of the content region.

19. A computer data processing system as in claim 8 wherein said applications program expandable structure branches are represented on said view in at least one of textual or graphical indicia formed by at least one of block-structured or meta-language coding.

20. A computer data processing system as in claim 19 wherein said applications program expandable structure branches are represented on said view selected from at least one of:

a. a textual outline wherein levels are indicated by whitespace;

b. a graphical outline wherein levels are indicated by location in the display; and

c. a graphical outline wherein levels are indicated by spatial enclosure.