System and method for computer directory updating and presentation based on frequency of access

• US 6,148,294 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Beyda, William Joseph, Noel, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US08/771,743
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 364/282.3, 364/283.1, 364/222.81, 364/286, 364/280, 707/1, 707/100, 707/500, 707/515, 707/3, 707/6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 16/30 of unstructured textual data document management systems G06F16/93
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

A computer system 200 having a hierarchical file directory system in which a user'"'"'s patterns of use are analyzed when the user calls a file access routine such that the system tracks 904 which directories and files are accessed most frequently by the user when in a particular application 906. Upon the user accessing a particular application, the system then presents the user with a list of files or directories 908, 910 in order of most likely use from the particular application.

Claims

1. A method for accessing files in a computer system, comprising:

accessing one or more files which are used with one or more applications, wherein said accessing is performed based on user input, wherein said files are comprised in one or more directories;

tracking said one or more directories comprising said one or more files being accessed;

recording access patterns relating to frequencies of access of said one or more files;

determining an order of said one or more files according to said frequencies of access of said one or more files, wherein said one or more files are determined to be accessed if one or more predetermined user configurable criteria related to said one or more files are met; and

displaying identifiers associated with said one or more files according to said order, said identifiers being usable to selectively access said one or more files for use with said one or more applications.

2. A method for accessing files in a computer system, comprising:

accessing one or more files which are used with one or more applications, wherein said accessing is performed based on user input, wherein said files are comprised in one or more directories;

tracking said one or more directories comprising said one or more files being accessed;

recording access patterns relating to frequencies of access of said one or more files wherein said one or more files are determined to be accessed if one or more predetermined user configurable criteria related to said one or more files are met;

determining an order of said one or more files according to likelihood of access based on said access patterns; and

displaying identifiers associated with said one or more files according to said order, said identifiers being usable to selectively access said one or more files for use with said one or more applications;

wherein said determining an order of said one or more files comprises determining which of said one or more files have been most frequently accessed.

3. The method for accessing files in a computer system of claim 2, wherein said determining which of said one or more files have been most frequently accessed occurs on a directory-by-directory basis.

4. The method for accessing files in a computer system of claim 2, further comprising determining an order of said directories according to likelihood of a file comprised therein being accessed.

5. A computer system, comprising:

a processing unit;

one or more memory devices operably coupled to said processing unit and configured to store one or more files in one or more directories; and

a display device,

wherein said processing unit is configured to

access said one or more files which are used with one or more applications;

track said one or more directories comprising said one or more files being accessed;

record access patterns relating to frequencies of access of said one or more files;

determine an order of said one or more files according to said frequencies of access of said one or more files, wherein said one or more files are determined to be accessed if one or more predetermined user configurable criteria related to said one or more files are met; and

display identifiers on said display device associated with said one or more files according to said order, said identifiers being usable to selectively access said one or more files.

6. A computer system, comprising:

a processing unit;

one or more memory devices operably coupled to said processing unit and configured to store one or more files in one or more directories; and

a display device,

wherein said processing unit is configured to access said one or more files which are used with one or more applications;

track said one or more directories comprising said one or more files being accessed;

record access patterns relating to frequencies of access of said one or more files wherein said one or more files are determined to be accessed if one or more predetermined user configurable criteria related to said one or more files are met;

determine an order of said one or more files according to likelihood of access based on said access patterns; and

display identifiers on said display device associated with said one or more files according to said order, said identifiers being usable to selectively access said one or more files, wherein said processing unit is configured to determine which of said one or more files have been most frequently accessed.

7. A method for accessing files in a computer system, comprising:

accessing one or more files, wherein said accessing is performed based on user input;

recording access patterns relating to frequencies of access of said one or more files;

determining an order of said one or more files according to which of said one or more files have been most frequently accessed, wherein most frequently accessed ones of said one or more files have a greater likelihood of access wherein said one or more files are determined to be accessed if one or more predetermined user configurable criteria related to said one or more files are met; and

displaying identifiers associated with said one or more files according to said order, said identifiers being usable to selectively access said one or more files.

8. A method for accessing directories in a computer system comprising:

accessing one or more directories;

recording access patterns relating to frequencies of access of said one or more directories;

determining an order of said one or more directories according to which of said one or more directories have been most frequently accessed, wherein most frequently accessed ones of said one or more directories have a greater likelihood of access, wherein said one or more files are determined to be accessed if one or more predetermined user configurable criteria related to said one or more files are met; and

displaying identifiers associated with said one or more directories according to said order, said identifiers being useable to selectively access said one or more directories.

9. A method for accessing directories in a computer system comprising:

accessing one or more directories;

recording access patterns relating to frequencies of access of said one or more directories;

determining an order of said one or more directories according to likelihood of access based on said access patterns, wherein most frequently accessed ones of said one or more directories have a greater likelihood of access, wherein said one or more files are determined to be accessed if one or more predetermined user configurable criteria related to said one or more files are met; and

displaying identifiers associated with said one or more directories according to said order, said identifiers being useable to selectively access said one or more directories, wherein said frequencies of access of said one or more directories includes frequencies of access of said one or more files within said one or more directories.

10. A system for accessing a computer system comprising:

means for accessing one or more directories;

means for recording access patterns relating to frequencies of access of said one or more directories;

means for determining an order of said one or more directories based on frequencies of access of said one or more directories, wherein more frequently accessed ones of said one or more directories have a greater likelihood of access, wherein said one or more files are determined to be accessed if one or more predetermined user configurable criteria related to said one or more files are met; and

means for displaying identifiers associated with said one or more directories according to said order, said identifiers being useable to selectively access said one or more directories.

11. A system for accessing a computer system comprising:

means for accessing one or more directories;

means for recording access patterns relating to frequencies of access of said one or more directories;

means for determining an order of said one or more directories according to likelihood of access based on said access patterns, wherein most frequently accessed ones of said one or more directories have a greater likelihood of access, wherein said one or more files are determined to be accessed if one or more predetermined user configurable criteria related to said one or more files are met; and

means for displaying identifiers associated with said one or more directories according to said order, said identifiers being useable to selectively access said one or more directories,

wherein said one or more directories include one or more file and said frequencies of access of said one or more directories include frequencies of access of said one or more files within said one or more directories.