Rapid visual sorting of digital files and data

• US 7,437,005 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wong, Curtis, Drucker, Steven M., DeMar, Steven D., Glenner, Steven C., Roseway, Asta J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam; Hosain T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raab; Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US10/893,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,550 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

Described is a system and method including a user interface to manage sets of digital data (e.g., files) such as digital photographs or email messages. The system and method comprise a rapid sort mechanism and an underlying support mechanism that associates metadata with each set of digital data, including annotation metadata obtained from the sort mechanism. As the user scrolls through images that represent the sets of digital data and categorizes them, metadata as to its particular categorization or lack of categorization is implicitly obtained and associated with each set of digital data. Grouping of sets of digital data into clusters is also provided, with a visual indication as to which cluster a set of digital data belongs. With respect to digital photography, the system and method makes annotating and classifying digital photographs significantly easier and faster than contemporary photograph management mechanisms.

Claims

1. In a computing environment, a method for visually arranging and managing digital files in categories based on interaction by a user with a graphical user interface displaying the digital files and categories for the digital files, the method comprising:

accessing a set of digital data, the set of digital data comprising a plurality of digital files to be categorized by a user in one or more of a plurality of different categories;

simultaneously displaying a plurality of digital files of the digital data set for categorization by the user, wherein the plurality of digital files for categorization by the user are displayed in a window of a graphical user interface and arranged in a one-dimensional framework, such that regardless of the number of digital files in the set of digital data, each of the plurality of digital files is displayable in the one-dimensional framework in a single, generally linear stream of images, and such that each of the plurality of digital files displayed in the single, generally linear stream of images is selectable by scrolling through the images in a linear direction;

while displaying the generally linear stream of images, displaying at least one category available for categorizing the plurality of digital files, wherein the at least one category is displayed in a category area, and wherein the category area displays thumbnail images of the digital files of the set of digital data which are associated with the category;

receiving user scrolling instructions via a selection device to scroll linearly through the linear stream of images to select a particular digital file from among the plurality of digital files to be categorized by the user, and such that the selected particular digital file is viewed in context with other digital files simultaneously displayed on either side of the selected digital file within the single, generally linear stream of images;

receiving user selection of a particular category corresponding to the particular digital file, wherein the particular category is identified by user input in the form of user selection of a directional button, the directional button identifying a direction perpendicular to the generally linear stream of images;

storing category information in association with the particular digital file, the category information corresponding to how the particular digital file has been categorized by the user; and

after receiving the user selection of the particular category, displaying a thumbnail image of the particular digital file in a category area associated with the particular category selected by the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the category information comprises storing metadata.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the digital files comprise digital photographs, and wherein storing metadata comprises storing an indication of whether a digital photographs has been sorted into at least one category of a set containing:

a hidden category, a private category, a majority category, a highlights category, a best category or a representative category.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, receiving a user command via the graphical user interface and scrolling based on the command.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, receiving a user command via the graphical user interface and sorting based on the command.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, arranging the digital files to scroll in time order based on time data associated with each digital file.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the image shown as a selected digital file is larger than any other image representative of a simultaneously displayed digital file.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the digital files are grouped into clusters, and further comprising, displaying an image representative of a digital file in conjunction with a visible indication that indicates that the image'"'"'s corresponding digital file belongs to a cluster.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising, processing the category information to filter output corresponding to the digital files.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital files comprise a subset of a larger collection of digital data that has been previously narrowed.

11. At least one physical computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform the method of claim 1.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the user scrolling instructions correspond to manual keyboard input.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the user scrolling instructions correspond to input from a pointing device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the user scrolling instructions correspond to an instruction to automatically scroll until otherwise halted.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying user input selection of a directional button comprises detecting actuation of a keyboard key corresponding to a currently-selected image and a category.

16. The method of claim 1 identifying user input selection of a directional button comprises detecting a pen gesture corresponding to a currently-selected image and a category.

17. The method of claim 1 comprising displaying frames of one color around images of one cluster and displaying frames of another color around images of another cluster.

18. The method of claim 3, further comprising ranking digital files within the at least one category.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the generally linear stream of images is substantially horizontal, and wherein the second linear direction is substantially vertical.

20. In a computing environment, a method for visually arranging and rapidly categorizing digital photographs based on interaction by a user with a graphical user interface displaying the digital photographs and available categories for the digital photographs, the method comprising:

accessing a set of digital photograph files available for categorization by a user into one or more of a plurality of different categories;

displaying a plurality of digital photograph files of the set of digital photograph files, wherein all of the displayed plurality of digital photograph files are arranged in a generally linear, horizontal stream of images;

displaying at least a first category above the generally linear, horizontal stream of images and at least a second category below the generally linear, horizontal stream of images, the at least a first category and at least a second category representing different categories for sorting the set of digital photographs, and each of the first category and the second category having an associated category area, wherein the category areas for the first and second categories include a display of thumbnail images of the digital photograph files of the set of digital photograph, the displayed thumbnail images being associated with digital photograph files associated with each respective category;

receiving user scrolling instructions to scroll horizontally through the linear, horizontal stream of images, wherein the user scrolling instructions consist of a user selecting a left or right directional button;

in response to receipt of the user scrolling instructions, scrolling horizontally through the linear, horizontal stream of images, and wherein scrolling horizontally through the linear, horizontal stream of images automatically selects at least one particular digital photograph file corresponding to an image displayed in a middle portion of the horizontal stream of images;

receiving user sorting instructions to sort the selected at least one particular digital photograph file into one of the first category or the second category, wherein the user sorting instructions consist of a user depressing an up or down directional button;

storing category information in association with the particular digital photograph file, the category information corresponding to how the particular digital photograph file has been categorized by the user by selection of the up or down directional button; and

displaying a thumbnail image of the selected particular digital photograph file within the category area for the selected one of the first category or the second category.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first category area and the second category area are each marked by a border around each of the first category area and the second category area, and wherein thumbnail images of digital photograph files within the set of digital photograph files that have category information corresponding to the respective category are displayed inside the respective border.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

upon receiving user sorting instructions to sort the selected at least one particular digital photograph file into one of the first category or the second category, displaying a thumbnail image of the particular digital photograph file in the border of the selected category.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein a thumbnail image of the particular digital photograph file is displayed in an enlarged size within the border while the particular digital photograph file is selected in the horizontal stream of images.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising displaying each of the images in the generally linear, horizontal stream of images inside a frame.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein a cluster of digital photograph files are represented by an single image within a frame of the generally linear, horizontal stream of images, and wherein the single image includes a plurality of thumbnails representing each digital photograph file of the cluster of digital photograph files.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the cluster includes a gap displayed between images of the cluster and other images.