Information Management with Non-Hierarchical Views

• US 20120185456A1
• Filed: 01/12/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hart, David, Baumann, Laurent, Coffman, Patrick, Tiene, Kevin, Kudurshian, Aram David
• Application Number:
  US13/349,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20120185456A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/14 Details of searching files based on file metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/156 Query results presentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

Information items in a file system are arranged into groups that are created according to a grouping component. A non-hierarchical view displays visual representations (e.g., icons, thumbnail images) of the information items arranged in visually delineated groups according to an arrange type that can be specified for each group. Various view formats are available including icon, list and column view formats. In each view format, a condensed mode can be selected for one or more groups, resulting in multiple visual representations of items being displayed in a fixed amount of screen space in the non-hierarchical view. In icon view, each condensed group includes a single row of visual representations that can be navigated separately from other groups in the non-hierarchical view.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

searching a computer file system of a device for user-oriented information items;

receiving a list of user-oriented information items in response to the searching;

assigning the user-oriented information items to groups based on a grouping component;

arranging groups in order according to arrange type; and

causing a non-hierarchical view to be presented on a display of the device, the view including visual representations of corresponding user-oriented information items, the visual representations arranged in the groups in the view,

where the method is performed by one or more computer processors.

2. The method of claim 1, where searching a computer file system of a device for user-oriented information items further comprises:

submitting a query to a search engine that includes and excludes file paths to be searched.

3. The method of claim 1, where searching a computer file system of a device for user-oriented information items further comprises:

filtering search results based on filter criteria to exclude files that are not user-oriented.

4. The method of claim 1, where the search engine provides periodic updates to the query when a status of an information item in the search results has changed.

5. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

searching a computer file system of a device for user-oriented information items;

receiving a list of user-oriented information items in response to the searching;

assigning the user-oriented information items to groups based on a grouping component;

arranging groups in order according to arrange type; and

causing a non-hierarchical view to be presented on a display of the device,

the view including visual representations of corresponding user-oriented information items, the visual representations arranged in the groups in the view.

6. The system of claim 5, where searching a computer file system of a device for user-oriented information items further comprises:

submitting a query to a search engine that includes and excludes file paths to be searched.

7. The system of claim 5, where searching a computer file system of a device for user-oriented information items further comprises:

filtering search results based on filter criteria to exclude files that are not user-oriented.

8. The system of claim 5, where the search engine provides periodic updates to the query when a status of an information item in the search results has changed.