Method for creating a collection of aliases representing computer system files

• US 5,504,852 A
• Filed: 03/02/1995
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson-Rohrlich, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US08/400,430
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/159, 395/425, 395/157, 364/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• 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

Abstract

A method for creating and organizing aliases for flies stored on a computer system in which the stored files are searched according to defined search criteria. For files meeting the search criteria, aliases to the files are created, and the aliases are organized together in a display window for presenting the results of the search to the computer user. The computer continues to perform these searching and organizing functions as the computer is used, so that the information presented is current and up-to-date.

Claims

1. A method for creating and representing by icons a secondary and parallel organization of files stored on a computer system, in which a primary organization provides a name and storage location for each file stored, said method comprising the steps of:

defining by a computer user a set of specific file characteristics;

after said defining, searching by the computer system for fries having said specific file characteristics;

for each file having said specific file characteristics, creating a secondary identifier for the file which leads to the file'"'"'s primary name and location, and representing the secondary identifier by an icon;

collecting said created secondary identifiers in a group of secondary identifiers to files having said specific file characteristics in common;

representing said group of said secondary identifiers to said user of said computer system by displaying a visual icon for each said group having common characteristics;

repeating said steps of searching, creating, collecting, and representing for the same said specific file characteristics during the operation of the computer by said user; and

removing from said group of secondary identifiers, secondary identifiers for fries which no longer meet said specific file characteristics.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said searching includes attached computer systems.

3. A method as in claim 1 further comprising repeating said steps for another set of specific file characteristics.

4. A method as in claim 1 further comprising continuously updating said group of secondary identifiers and said visual icon as modification of a file occurs to any of said files having said specific file characteristics.

5. A method as in claim 4 further comprising receiving notification of said modification of a file from software operating on said computer system.

6. A method for creating and representing by icons a secondary and parallel organization of files stored on a computer system, in which a primary organization provides a name and storage location for each file stored, said method comprising the steps of:

defining by a computer user a set of specific file characteristics;

after said defining, searching by the computer system for files having said specific file characteristics;

for each file having said specific file characteristics, creating a secondary identifier for the file which leads to the file'"'"'s primary name and location, and representing the secondary identifier by an icon;

collecting said created secondary identifiers in a group of secondary identifiers to files having said specific file characteristics in common;

representing said group of said secondary identifiers to said user of said computer system by displaying a visual icon for each said group having common characteristics;

repeating said steps of searching, creating and collecting for the same said specific file characteristics and replacing the previous group of secondary identifiers with the current group of secondary identifiers; and

changing a visual appearance of the visual icon representing the group of secondary identifiers during the step of replacing the previous group of secondary identifiers with the current group of secondary identifiers.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein said searching includes attached computer systems.

8. A method as in claim 6 further comprising repeating said steps for another set of specific file characteristics.

9. A method as in claim 6 further comprising continuously updating said group of secondary identifiers and said visual icon as modification of a file occurs to any of said files having said specific file characteristics.

10. A method as in claim 9 further comprising receiving notification of said modification of a file from software operating on said computer system.