Data processing system having a logical containment system and method therefor

• US 5,936,624 A
• Filed: 03/07/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lisle, Linda Arnold, Mullaly, John Martin, Martin, Shirley Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Kulik, Paul V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US08/813,717
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 345/348, 345/334, 345/156, 345/340, 707/102, 707/2, 707/3
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A data processing system, software program and method effectively and intuitively display a storage space of a data processing system to an end-user to allow the end-user to create a filing system which has an easily usable interface. In implementing this methodology, the user is allowed to simply request that all objects within an entire file system of a data processing system be placed in a logical container. A user sets the parameters for defining the desired characteristics of each of the objects stored within the logical container. Thus, a user is able to organize representations of desired objects in various storage locations without requiring extra steps by a user or excess memory. Furthermore, the contents of a logical container are dynamically updated in real-time to ensure that the filed information is current and accurate. The ability of a user to modify the containment settings and to have such modifications immediately reflected in the logical container rendered on a display device allows a user great flexibility in obtaining a desired graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A data processing system, comprising:

a user interface for receiving a first plurality of control signals indicating a first object type;

a memory system for storing a plurality of stored objects;

a central processing unit coupled to the user interface for receiving the first plurality of control signals and coupled to the memory system the central processing unit querying the memory system to identify a first portion of the plurality of stored objects which are the first object type in response to the first plurality of control signals, the central processing unit generating a first plurality of representations of the first portion of the plurality of stored, objects and the central processing unit providing a second plurality of control signals corresponding to the first plurality of representations; and

a display device for displaying a first object in response to the second plurality of control signals, wherein the first object stores the first plurality of representations of the first portion of the plurality of stored objects.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the central processing unit updates the first plurality of representations of the first portion of the plurality of stored objects when a first action is performed to modify the first portion of the plurality of stored objects of the first object type.

3. The data processing system of claim 2 wherein the first action comprises one of:

i. an action to generate a first one of the plurality of stored objects of the first object type; and

ii. an action to modify a first one of the first portion of the plurality of stored objects to be a second object type.

4. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the user interface receives a second plurality of control signals indicating a second object type.

5. The data processing system of claim 4 wherein the central processing unit queries the memory system to identify the first portion of the plurality of stored objects which are both the second object type and the first object type.

6. The data processing system of claim 4 wherein,

the central processing unit queries the memory system to identify a second portion of the plurality of stored objects which are both the first object type and the second object type,

the central processing unit generates a second plurality of representations of the second portion of the plurality of stored objects, wherein the second plurality of representations is a subset of the first plurality of representations, and

a second object stores the second plurality of representations of the second portion of the plurality of stored objects.

7. The data processing system of claim 6 wherein, the display device displays the first object in response to the second plurality of control signals, and wherein the display device displays the second object in response to a fourth plurality of control signals.

8. A method for operating a data processing system, comprising the steps of:

utilizing a user interface for receiving a first plurality of control signals indicating a first object type;

utilizing a memory system for storing a plurality of stored objects;

utilizing a central processing unit coupled to the user interface for receiving the first plurality of control signals and coupled to the memory system, the central processing unit querying the memory system to identify a first portion of the plurality of stored objects which are the first object type in response to the first plurality of control signals, the central processing unit generating a first plurality of representations of the first portion of the plurality of stored objects, and the central processing unit providing a second plurality of control signals corresponding to the first plurality of representations; and

utilizing a display device for displaying a first object in response to the second plurality of control signals, wherein the first object stores the first plurality of representations of the first portion of the plurality of stored objects.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the central processing unit updates the first plurality of representations of the first portion of the plurality of stored objects when a first action is performed to modify the first portion of the plurality of stored objects of the first object type.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first action comprises one of:

i. an action to generate a first one of the plurality of stored objects of the first object type; and

ii. an action to modify a first one of the first portion of the plurality of stored objects to be a second object type.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the user interface receives a third plurality of control signals indicating a second object type.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the central processing unit queries the memory system to identify the first portion of the plurality of stored objects which are both the second object type and the first object type.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the central processing unit queries the memory system to identify a second portion of the plurality of stored objects which are both the first object type and the second object type,

wherein the central processing unit generates a second plurality of representations of the second portion of the plurality of stored objects, wherein the second plurality of representations is a subset of the first plurality of representations, and

wherein a second object stores the second plurality of representations of the second portion of the plurality of stored objects.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the display device displays the first object in response to the second plurality of control signals, and wherein the display device displays the second object in response to a fourth plurality of control signals.

15. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for simulating an object in a data processing system, said method steps comprising:

utilizing a user interface for receiving a first plurality of control signals indicating a first object type;

utilizing a memory system for storing a plurality of stored objects;

utilizing a central processing unit coupled to the user interface for receiving the first plurality of control signals and coupled to the memory system, the central processing unit querying the memory system to identify a first portion of the plurality of stored objects which are the first object type in response to the first plurality of control signals, the central processing unit generating a first plurality of representations of the first portion of the plurality of stored objects, and the central processing unit providing a second plurality of control signals corresponding to the first plurality of representations; and

utilizing a display device for displaying a first object in response to the second plurality of control signals, wherein the first object stores the first plurality of representations of the first portion of the plurality of stored objects.

16. The program storage device of claim 15 wherein the central processing unit updates the first plurality of representations of the first portion of the plurality of stored objects when a first action is performed to modify the first portion of the plurality of stored objects of the first object type.

17. The program storage device of claim 16 wherein the first action comprises one of:

i. an action to generate a first one of the plurality of stored objects of the first object type; and

ii. an action to modify a first one of the first portion of the plurality of stored objects to be a second object type.

18. The program storage device of claim 15 wherein the user interface receives a third plurality of control signals indicating a second object type.

19. The program storage device of claim 18 wherein the central processing unit queries the memory system to identify the first portion of the plurality of stored objects which are both the second object type and the first object type.

20. The program storage device of claim 18 wherein the central processing unit queries the memory system to identify a second portion of the plurality of stored objects which are both the first object type and the second object type,

wherein the central processing unit generates a second plurality of representations of the second portion of the plurality of stored objects, wherein the second plurality of representations is a subset of the first plurality of representations, and

wherein a second object stores the second plurality of representations of the second portion of the plurality of stored objects.

21. The program storage device of claim 20 wherein the display device displays the first object in response to the second plurality of control signals, and wherein the display device displays the second object in response to a fourth plurality of control signals.