Multi-component iconic representation of file characteristics

• US 7,086,011 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Budrys, Audrius J., Beretta, Giordano B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLAND, SARA M
• Application Number:
  US09/916,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 345/837, 345/762, 345/765
• US Class Current: 715/837
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

A multi-component icon and system and method of generating thereof. The multi-component icon is generated from characteristics of a data object or data objects where the characteristics include data object content and data object metadata. The multi-component icon includes a plurality of visual traits. Each visual trait has a plurality of variations, such as different shapes, colors, and/or patterns. The visual traits are variably assignable to any one characteristic of the data object such that each variation of the characteristic is visually represented by the icon by a corresponding variation of the variably assignable visual trait. Multi-component icons are generated for groups of data objects, such as word processing files, by determining common characteristics between the files, assigning visual traits to the common characteristics, and then displaying the multi-component icons according to the assignments such that variations of the common characteristic between the files are symbolically show by variations of the assigned visual trait. Icon visual traits are interactive so as to indicate relationships between data object characteristics by “dragging” one icon over another.

Claims

1. A method of creating a multi-component icon for each of a set of data objects from characteristics of the set of data objects, the characteristics including data object content and data object metadata, the method comprising:

determining a common characteristic of the data object metadata common to the set of data objects;

determining the number of variations associated with the common characteristic;

determining a visual trait of the multi-component icon having a corresponding number of visual variations that are greater than or equal to the number of variations of the common characteristic and assigning it to the common characteristic; and

displaying the customized icons for the set of data objects according to the assignment of the visual trait to the common characteristic, each of the customized icons including icon portions, the icon portions for each of the customized icons including a main body icon portion and a pair of wing icon portions, each of the wing icon portions being directly attached to the main body icon portion and protruding from the main body icon portion.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the common characteristic of the data object metadata is variably assigned dependent on user preference.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the common characteristic of the data object metadata is variably assigned automatically.

4. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the icon is generated with a user initiated interface and variably assigning is selected through the interface.

5. The method of processing as described in claim 4 wherein variably assigning is session based through the interface such that in one session a given visual trait may be assigned to a first characteristic and in a second session the given visual trait may be assigned to a second characteristic.

6. The method of processing as described in claim 1 wherein variably assigning is dependent on type of characteristic.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the main body icon portion and the pair of wing icon portions are shaped to resemble components of an ornamental Venetian glass candy.