Copy/move graphical user interface apparatus and method

• US 6,874,130 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2000
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bhogal, Kulvir Singh, Ishmael, Nizamudeen Jr., Sidhu, Mandeep Singh, Baweja, Baljeet Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US09/506,228
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 715/801, 715/805, 345/704, 345/788, 345/781, 345/805, 345/806, 345/835, 345/841, 345/854, 345/855, 345/866
• US Class Current: 715/805
• 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 copy/move graphical user interface apparatus and method. The apparatus displays a graphical user interface informing a user of a current status of a copy/move operation. The graphical user interface includes progress bars indicating the progress of a current file copy/move operation as well as the overall copy/move operation. The graphic user interface further includes estimated times of completion and a listing of files that are in a copy/move queue. Additionally, the graphical user interface allows a user to modify the order in which files are copied/moved and to skip or delete files in the copy/move queue.

Claims

1. A method of copying computer files to a destination location, comprising:

receiving a copy instruction, the copy instruction identifying a plurality of computer files to be copied, an order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied and the destination location;

displaying attributes of the plurality of computer files simultaneously, in the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied; and

copying the plurality of computer files to the destination location in the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computer files includes a currently copying computer file, the currently copying computer file being a computer file that is being copied at the same time the attributes of the plurality of computer files are displayed.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying a progress indicator indicating an amount of the currently copying computer file that has been copied to the destination location.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying an estimated time of completion of copying the currently copying computer file.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the progress indicator includes:

identifying a data size of the currently copying computer file;

identifying an amount of data, corresponding to the currently copying computer file, that has already been copied to the destination location; and

displaying the progress indicator based on the data size of the currently copying computer file and the amount of data that has already been copied.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the estimated time of completion includes:

identifying a copy rate;

identifying a data size of the currently copying computer file;

identifying an amount of data, corresponding to the currently copying computer file, that has already been copied to the destination location; and

displaying the estimated time of completion based on the copy rate, the data size of the currently copying computer file and the amount of data that has already been copied to the destination location.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a progress indicator indicating an amount of data of the plurality of computer files that has been copied to the destination location.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the progress indicator includes:

identifying a data size of the plurality of computer files;

identifying an amount of data, corresponding to the plurality of computer files, that has already been copied to the destination location; and

displaying the progress indicator based on the data size of the plurality of computer files and the amount of data that has already been copied.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an estimated time of completion of copying the plurality of computer files to the destination location.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying the estimated time of completion includes:

identifying a copy rate;

identifying a data size of the plurality of computer files;

identifying an amount of data, corresponding to the plurality of computer files, that has already been copied to the destination location; and

displaying the estimated time of completion based on the copy rate, the data size of the plurality of computer files, and the amount of data that has already been copied.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising rearranging, during copying of the plurality of computer files, the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein rearranging the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied includes selecting a computer file from the plurality of computer files, using the display of the plurality of computer files, and changing its position in the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein rearranging the order in which the plurality of computer files to be copied includes reordering the plurality of computer files based on ore or more of the attributes of the plurality of computer files in accordance with a reorder criteria.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the attributes of the plurality of computer files include at least one of a filename, a file data size and a creation date.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the re order criteria includes at least one of alphabetical order, reverse alphabetical order, smallest to largest file data size, largest to smallest file data size, oldest to most recent file creation date, and most recent to oldest file creation date.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the attributes of the plurality of computer files includes displaying the attributes of the plurality of computer files in a graphical user interface.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a skip command; and

changing a display of an attribute of a computer file from the plurality of computer files to indicate that the computer file is to be skipped during copying of the plurality of computer files.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising not copying computer files that have been indicated as being computer files that are to be skipped during copying of the plurality of computer files.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a delete command; and

changing a display of an attribute of a computer file from the plurality of computer files to indicate that the computer file is to be deleted after copying of the plurality of computer files.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising deleting computer files that have been indicated as being computer files to be deleted, after copying of the plurality of computer files, from the destination location.

21. A data processing device in which computer files are copied to a destination location, comprising:

a processor;

an input device; and

a display, wherein the processor receives a copy instruction via the input device, the copy instruction identifying a plurality of computer files to be copied, an order in which the plurality of computer files arm to be copied and the destination location, the processor instructs the display to display attributes of the plurality of computer files simultaneously, in the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied, and wherein the processor copies the plurality of computer files to the destination location in the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied.

22. The data processing device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of computer files includes a currently copying computer file, the currently copying computer file being a computer file that is being copied at the same time the attributes of the plurality of computer files are displayed on the display.

23. The data processing device of claim 22, wherein the processor further instructs the display to display a progress indicator indicating an amount of the currently copying computer file that has been copied to the destination location.

24. The data processing device of claim 23, wherein the processor identifies a data size of the currently copying computer file and an amount of data, corresponding to the currently copying computer file, that has already been copied to the destination location, and instructs the display to display the progress indicator based on the data size of the currently copying computer file and the amount of data that has already been copied.

25. The data processing device of claim 22, wherein the processor further the display to display an estimated time of completion of copying the currently copying computer file.

26. The data processing device of claim 25, wherein the processor identifies a copy rate, a data size of the currently copying computer file, and an amount of data, corresponding to the currently copying computer file, that has already been copied to the destination location, and wherein the processor instructs the display displaying the estimated time of completion based on the copy rate, the data size of the currently copying computer file and the amount of data that has already been copied to the destination location.

27. The data processing device of claim 21, wherein the processor further instructs the display to display a progress indicator indicating an amount of data of the plurality of computer files that has been copied to the destination location.

28. The data processing device of claim 27, wherein the processor identifies a data size for the plurality of computer files and an amount of data, corresponding to the plurality of computer files, that has already been copied to the destination location, and wherein the processor instructs the display to display the progress indicator based on the data size of the plurality of computer files and the amount of data that has already been copied.

29. The data processing device of claim 21, wherein the processor further instructs the display to display an estimated time of completion of copying the plurality of computer files to the destination location.

30. The data processing device of claim 29, wherein the processor identifies a copy rate, a data size of the plurality of computer files and an amount of data, corresponding to the plurality of computer files, that has already been copied to the destination location, and wherein the processor instructs the display to display the estimated time of completion based on the copy rate, the data size of the plurality of computer files, and the amount of data that has already been copied.

31. The data processing device of claim 21, wherein the processor rearranges, during copying of the plurality of computer files, the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied.

32. The data processing device of claim 31, wherein the processor instructs the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied by receiving a selection of a computer file from the plurality of computer files and changing its position in the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied.

33. The data processing device of claim 31, wherein the processor rearranges the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied by reordering the plurality of computer files based on one or more of the attributes of the plurality of computer files in accordance with a reorder criteria.

34. The data processing device of claim 33, wherein the attributes of the plurality of computer files include at least one of a filename, a file data size and a creation date.

35. The data processing device of claim 33, wherein the reorder criteria includes at least one of alphabetical order, reverse alphabetical order, smallest to largest file data size, largest to smallest file data size, oldest to most recent file creation date, and most recent to oldest file creation date.

36. The data processing device of claim 21, wherein the processor instructs the display to display the attributes of the plurality of computer files in a graphical user interface.

37. The data processing device of claim 21, wherein a skip command is received via the input device and the processor instructs the display to change the display of an attribute of a computer file from the plurality of computer files to indicate that the computer file is to be skipped during copying of the plurality of computer files.

38. The data processing device of claim 37, wherein the processor does not copy computer files that have been indicated as being computer files that are to be skipped during copying of the plurality of computer files.

39. The data processing device of claim 21, wherein a delete command is received via the input device and the processor instructs the display to change the display of an attribute of a computer file from the plurality of computer files to indicate that the computer file is to be deleted after copying of the plurality of computer files.

40. The data processing device of claim 39, wherein the processor deletes computer files that have been indicated as being computer files to be deleted, after copying of the plurality of computer files, from the destination location.

41. A computer programs product in a computer readable medium for copying computer files, comprising:

first instructions for receiving a copy instruction, the copy instruction identifying a plurality of computer files to be copied, an order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied and the destination location;

second instructions for displaying attributes of the plurality of computer files simultaneously, in the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied; and

third instructions for copying the plurality of computer files to the destination location in the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the plurality of computer files includes a currently copying computer file, the currently copying computer file being a computer file that is being copied at the same time the attributes of the plurality of computer files are displayed.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the second instructions further include instructions for displaying a progress indicator indicating an amount of the currently copying computer file that has been copied to the destination location.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the second instructions further include instructions for identifying a data size of the currently copying computer file, identifying an amount of data, corresponding to the currently copying computer file, that has already been copied to the destination location, and displaying the progress indicator based on the data size of the currently copying computer file and the amount of data that has already been copied.

45. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the second instructions further include instructions for displaying an estimated time of completion of copying the currently copying computer file.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the second instructions further include instructions for identifying a copy rate, identifying a data size of the currently copying computer file, identifying an amount of data, corresponding to the currently copying computer file, that has already been copied to the destination location, and displaying the estimated time of completion based on the copy rate, the data size of the currently copying computer file and the amount of data that has already been copied to the destination location.

47. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the second instructions further include instructions for displaying a progress indicator indicating an amount of data of the plurality of computer files that has been copied to the destination location.

48. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the second instructions further include instructions for identifying a data size of the plurality of computer files, identifying an amount of data, corresponding to the plurality of computer files, that has already been copied to the destination location, and displaying the progress indicator based on the data size of the plurality of computer files and the amount of data that has already been copied.

49. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the second instructions further include instructions for displaying an estimated time of completion of copying the plurality of computer files to the destination location.

50. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein the second instructions include instructions for identifying a copy rate, identifying a data size of the plurality of computer files, identifying an amount of data, corresponding to the plurality of computer files, that has already been copied to the destination location, and displaying the estimated time of completion based on the copy rate, the data size of the plurality of computer files, and the amount of data that has already been copied.

51. The computer program product of claim 41, further comprising fourth instructions for rearranging, during copying of the plurality of computer files, the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied.

52. The computer program product of claim 41, her comprising fourth instructions for rearranging, during copying of the plurality of computer files, the order in instructions include instructions a computer file from the plurality of computer files, using the display of the plurality of computer films and changing its position in the order in which the plurality of computer files are to be copied.

53. The computer program product of claim 51, wherein the fourth instructions include instructions for reordering the plurality of computer files bases on one or more of the attributes of the plurality of computer files in accordance with a reorder criteria.

54. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the attributes of the plurality of computer files include at least one of a filename, a file data size and a creation date.

55. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the reorder criteria includes at least one of alphabetical order, reverse alphabetical order, smallest to largest file data size, largest to smallest file data size, oldest to most recent file creation date, and most recent to oldest file creation date.

56. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the second instructions further include instructions for displaying the attributes of the plurality of computer files in a graphical user interface.

57. The computer program product of claim 41, further comprising:

fourth instructions for receiving a skip command; and

fifth instructions for changing a display of an attribute of a computer file from the plurality of computer files to indicate that the computer file is to be skipped during copying of the plurality of computer files.

58. The computer program product of claim 57, further comprising sixth instructions for not copying computer files that have been indicated as being computer files that ar to be skipped during copying of the plurality of computer files.

59. The computer program product of claim 41, further comprising:

fourth instructions for receiving a delete command; and

fifth instructions for changing a display of an attribute of a computer file from the plurality of computer files to indicate that the computer file is to be deleted after copying of the plurality of computer files.

60. The computer program product of claim 59, further comprising sixth instructions for deleting computer files that have been indicated as being computer files to be deleted, after copying of the plurality of computer files, from the destination location.

61. A method, in a data processing system, for copying a plurality of files, the method comprising:

in response to receiving a request to copy the plurality of files to a destination location, displaying an identification of the plurality of files in a graphical user interface simultaneously in an order in which the plurality of files are to be copied to the destination, wherein the request includes the order in which the plurality of files are to be copied;

copying the plurality of files to the destination in the order; and

altering the identification of the plurality of files to indicate a progress in copying individual files within the plurality of files to the destination.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the request is a first request and further comprising:

responsive to receiving a second request to remove a file from the plurality of files, copying the file is canceled the file and altering the graphical user interface to indicate cancellation of the copying of the file.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the copying of the plurality of files removes the plurality of files from a source of the plurality of files.