System and method for selecting components of a hierarchical file structure
First Claim
1. In a computer system having a display with a screen and a graphical user interface, and further having memory coupled to the display, a method for allowing a user to select for an operation any component within a hierarchical file tree structure, the method comprising the unordered machine-executed steps of:
- responsive to a user specifying a directory, displaying data objects representing a tree structure of subdirectories located below the user specified directory;
displaying a user option object on the screen that represents a user option to select for an operation specified components of the file tree structure, the user option object being different from filenames, directory names, and subdirectory names; and
responsive to a user selecting the user option object on the screen and marking a starting directory within the displayed tree structure as being the starting point for selection, selecting for an operation the components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Graphical user interface (GUI) logic for enabling the selection and displaying of specific directories, subdirectories, and files. The GUI logic displays on the screen the selection and deselection options that are available. The entire hierarchical tree structure of the file system can be selected for a particular operation or any leaf or node of the tree may be selected. The logic automatically traverses the tree in response to a user'"'"'s selection of a displayed object on the screen. Since the selection mode of the input device, such as a mouse, is displayed on the screen it is readily apparent to the user.
182 Citations
38 Claims
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1. In a computer system having a display with a screen and a graphical user interface, and further having memory coupled to the display, a method for allowing a user to select for an operation any component within a hierarchical file tree structure, the method comprising the unordered machine-executed steps of:
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responsive to a user specifying a directory, displaying data objects representing a tree structure of subdirectories located below the user specified directory; displaying a user option object on the screen that represents a user option to select for an operation specified components of the file tree structure, the user option object being different from filenames, directory names, and subdirectory names; and responsive to a user selecting the user option object on the screen and marking a starting directory within the displayed tree structure as being the starting point for selection, selecting for an operation the components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer system for allowing a user to select for an operation any component within a hierarchical file tree structure, the system comprising:
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a processor; memory coupled to the processor; a display coupled to the memory, the display having a screen; graphical interface logic being loaded into the memory for providing a graphical user interface on the display screen; and the graphical interface logic having machine-executed means coupled to the processor for displaying, on the screen, one or more data objects related to components within a hierarchical file tree structure on the screen, by; responsive to a user specifying a directory, displaying data objects representing a tree structure of subdirectories located below the user specified directory; displaying a user option object on the screen that represents a user option to select for an operation specified components of the file tree structure, the user option object being different from filenames, directory names, and subdirectory names; and responsive to a user selecting the user option object on the screen and marking a starting directory within the displayed tree structure as being the starting point for selection, selecting for an operation the components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program product for use in a computer system having a display with a screen and a graphical user interface, and further having memory coupled to the display, the program product being adapted for allowing a user to select for an operation any component within a hierarchical file tree structure, the computer program product comprising:
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a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for being responsive to a user'"'"'s action of specifying a directory by displaying data objects representing a tree structure of subdirectories that are hierarchically located in the file tree structure below the user specified directory; means, recorded on the recording medium, for displaying a user option object on the screen that represents a user option to select for an operation specified components of the file tree structure, the user option object being different from filenames, directory names, and subdirectory names; and means, recorded on the recording medium, for being responsive to a user'"'"'s action of selecting the user option object on the screen and the user'"'"'s action of marking a starting directory within the displayed tree structure as being the starting point for selection by selecting for an operation the components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for allowing a user to select for an operation any component within a hierarchical file tree structure, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor; memory coupled to the processor; a display coupled to the memory, the display having a screen; graphical user interface logic being loaded into the memory for providing a graphical user interface on the display screen; and
the graphical user interface logic further including;a first module responsive to a user specifying a directory by displaying data objects representing a tree structure of subdirectories located below a user specified directory; a second module for displaying a user option object on the screen that represents a user option to select for an operation specified components of the file tree structure, the user option object being different from filenames, directory names, and subdirectory names; and a third module responsive to a user selecting the user option object on the screen and marking a starting directory within the displayed tree structure as being the starting point for selection, selecting for an operation the components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object.
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20. In a computer system having a display with a screen and a graphical user interface, and further having memory coupled to the display, a method for allowing a user to select for an operation any component within a hierarchical file tree structure, the method comprising the unordered machine-executed steps of:
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responsive to a user specifying a directory, displaying data objects representing a tree structure of subdirectories located below the user specified directory; displaying a user option object on the screen that represents a user option to select for an operation specified components of the file tree structure; responsive to a user selecting the user option object on the screen and marking a starting directory within the displayed tree structure as being the starting point for selection, selecting for an operation the components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object; and deselecting one of the selected components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer system for allowing a user to select for an operation any component within a hierarchical file tree structure, the system comprising:
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a processor; memory coupled to the processor; a display coupled to the memory, the display having a screen; graphical interface logic being loaded into the memory for providing a graphical user interface on the display screen; and the graphical interface logic having machine-executed means coupled to the processor for displaying, on the screen, one or more data objects related to components within a hierarchical file three structure on the screen, by; responsive to a user specifying a directory, displaying data objects representing a tree structure of subdirectories located below the user specified directory; displaying a user option object on the screen that represents a user option to select for an operation specified components of the file tree structure; responsive to a user selecting the user option object on the screen and marking a starting directory within the displayed tree structure as being the starting point for selection, selecting for an operation the components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object; and deselecting one of the selected components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A computer program product for use in a computer system having a display with a screen and a graphical user interface, and further having memory coupled to the display, the program product being adapted for allowing a user to select for an operation any component within a hierarchical file tree structure, the computer program product comprising:
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a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for being responsive to a user'"'"'s action of specifying a directory by displaying data objects representing a tree structure of subdirectories that are hierarchically located in the file tree structure below the user specified directory; means, recorded on the recording medium, for displaying a user option object on the screen that represents a user option to select for an operation specified components of the file tree structure; means, recorded on the recording medium, for being responsive to a user'"'"'s action of selecting the user option object on the screen and the user'"'"'s action of marking a starting directory within the displayed tree structure as being the starting point for selection by selecting for an operation the components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object; and means, recorded on the recording medium, for deselecting one of the selected components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An apparatus for allowing a user to select for an operation any component within a hierarchical file tree structure, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor; memory coupled to the processor; a display coupled to the memory, the display having a screen; graphical user interface logic being loaded into the memory for providing a graphical user interface on the display screen; and the graphical user interface logic further including; a first module responsive to a user specifying a directory by displaying data objects representing a tree structure of subdirectories located below a user specified directory; a second module for displaying a user option object on the screen that represents a user option to select for an operation specified components of the file tree structure; and a third module responsive to a user selecting the user option object on the screen and marking a starting directory within the displayed tree structure as being the starting point for selection, selecting for an operation the components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object; and a fourth module responsive to a user for deselecting one of the selected components of the file tree structure specified by the selection of the user option object.
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Specification