Computer operating system that defines default document folder for application programs
First Claim
1. A graphical user interface for a computer, comprising:
- a screen;
a predetermined file-container icon displayed on the screen;
one or more registered or unregistered application programs; and
one or more operating system provided file-operation dialog boxes accessed by any of said one or more registered or unregistered application programs when any of said one or more registered or unregistered application programs are executed, wherein said operating system provided file-operation dialog boxes are defined independently of the one or more application programs to specify a file containers associated with the predetermined file-container icon as a default document container for files related to the one or more application programs.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
Conventional computer systems include numerous application programs which by default store files, or documents, in folders containing the application program that creates them. For example, wordprocessing documents are stored by default in the folder with the wordprocessing application program, and so forth. Thus, users who choose not to organize their documents according to subject matter or other criteria end up having their documents dispersed across numerous application-program folders, sometimes making them difficult to find. Accordingly, the inventors devised a computer operating system that defines a common default document folder for application programs. Moreover, to promote use of the default document folder, one embodiment of the operating system includes a graphical user interface which provides links, that is, one-button access to the common default folder, at file access points, such as in file-open and file-save dialog boxes accessed by the application programs.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A graphical user interface for a computer, comprising:
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a screen;
a predetermined file-container icon displayed on the screen;
one or more registered or unregistered application programs; and
one or more operating system provided file-operation dialog boxes accessed by any of said one or more registered or unregistered application programs when any of said one or more registered or unregistered application programs are executed, wherein said operating system provided file-operation dialog boxes are defined independently of the one or more application programs to specify a file containers associated with the predetermined file-container icon as a default document container for files related to the one or more application programs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computerized system comprising:
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a predetermined file-storage container;
one or more registered or unregistered application programs; and
an operating system which defines the predetermined file-storage container as a default file-storage container on file-operation dialog windows when accessed by any of said one or more registered or unregistered application programs when any of said one or more registered or unregistered application programs are executed. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a computer system including one or more registered or unregistered applications and an operating system, the method comprising:
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when any of said one or more registered or unregistered application programs are executed;
determining whether one of the applications has specifeid a folder for storing files related to the one application;
determining whether the one application has redirected file storage from the folder to a current folder; and
determining whether files within the current folder are of one or more particular types; and
setting a default for storing, files related to the one application, wherein the operating system sets the default folder, provided that the one application has not specified a folder, that the one application has not redirected file storage to the current folder, and that no file stored within the current folder is of the one or more particular types.
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13. A computer comprising:
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a processor;
a memory;
one or more registered or unregistered application programs; and
an operation system executed by the processor from the memory to provide a predetermined file-storage folder as a default folder on file operation dialog boxes accessed by any of said one or more registered or unregistered application programs when any of said one or more registered or unregistered application programs are executed, wherein the file operation dialog boxes are defined independently of the application programs.
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14. A computer-readable medium having an operating system stored thereon for execution on a computer to provide a predetermined file-storage folder as a default application programs when an of said one or more registered or unregistered application programs are executed, wherein the file operation dialog boxes are defined independently of the one or more computer application programs.
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15. An operating system comprising one or more file-management modules defined to provide a default file-storage folder to one or more registered or unregistered application programs are executed, wherein the one or more file-management modules are defined independently of the one or more computer application programs.
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16. An operating system comprising a graphical user interface which includes:
- a desktop that provides access to a predetermined file-storage container and to one or more registered or unregistered application programs; and
one or more file-operations windows accessed by registered or unregistered application programs when any of said one or more register or unregistered application programs are executed, wherein each file-operations window includes a link to the desktop.
- a desktop that provides access to a predetermined file-storage container and to one or more registered or unregistered application programs; and
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17. A computer system for executing one or more registered or unregistered applications and an operating system, the system comprising:
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when any of said one or more registered or unregistered application programs are executed;
means for determining whether one of the applications has specified a folder for storing files related to the one application;
means for determining whether the one application has redirected file storage from the folder to a current folder;
means for determining whether files within the current folder are of one or more particular types; and
operating system means for automatically setting a default folder for storing files related to the one application, provided that the one application has not specified a folder for storing files, that the application has nor redirected file storage to the current folder, and that no file stored within the current folder is of the one or more particular types.
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Specification