Computer systems for the management and distribution of information

• US 7,523,410 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Rekimoto, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MYLINH T
• Application Number:
  US10/915,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20050015724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 715/738, 715/775, 715/864, 715/866, 715776-779, 715/961, 715/963, 715/719, 715/716, 715/721, 715/958, 715/838, 715/755, 715/884, 715/868
• US Class Current: 715/778
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

The management of files, folders, and other data is facilitated. When a user inputs a character string (tag), which is desired to be retrieved, to a retrieval character input space and operates a retrieval button on a screen, retrieval is started, and a screen (file) corresponding to the input character string is displayed. This makes it possible for the user to fetch a desired file as required. That is, the user is able to manage and control files without using folders.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a display;

a processor communicatively connected to the display;

the processor programmed to generate an object, the object displayed by the display, wherein the object represents data created or modified by a user; and

the processor programmed to associate a characteristic with the object, wherein the characteristic includes a first condition representing a first time and a second condition representing a second time;

the processor programmed to change the characteristic from the first condition to the second condition, wherein the object continues to be displayed by the display after the characteristic changes from the first condition to the second condition, the change from the first condition to the second condition representing a measured length of time that the object is displayed by the display device, the length of time being measured between an initial time of display and a current system time, wherein the current system time is a time of day and date that the object is being displayed, wherein the first condition includes a first color and the second condition includes a second color, wherein the characteristic includes a color having a level of vividness, and wherein the level of vividness changes based on the length of time the object is displayed by the display device.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data is stored in at least one of a file and an image, and wherein the object represents the file and/or image.

3. A computer system comprising:

a display;

a graphical user interface depicted on said display;

an object displayed on the graphical user interface, said object including a color having a first condition and a second condition, wherein said object represents data created or modified by a user; and

a processor programmed to perform a weathering function applicable to said object, wherein the weathering function changes the color of the object from the first condition to the second condition, wherein the object continues to be displayed by the display after the color changes from the first condition to the second condition, the change from the first condition to the second condition representing a measured length of time that said object is displayed by said display device, the length of time being measured between an initial time of display and a current system time, wherein the current system time is a time of day and date that the object is being displayed, wherein the color includes a level of vividness, and wherein the level of vividness changes over time, wherein the measured length of time between the initial time of display of the object and the current system time is used to determine when the color changes from the first condition to the second condition.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the data is stored in at least one of a file and an image, and wherein the object represents the file and/or image.

5. A graphical user interface controlled by a processor, said graphical user interface comprising:

an object representing information displayed to a user, the object including a first display condition and a second display condition;

wherein the processor is programmed to change the object gradually over time from the first display condition to the second display condition, wherein the object continues to be displayed by the display after the color changes from the first display condition to the second display condition, the change from the first condition to the second condition representing a measured length of time that the object is displayed to the user, the length of time being measured between an initial time of display and a current system time, wherein the current system time is a time of day and date that the object is being displayed, wherein the object includes a color, wherein the processor is operable to change the color of the object gradually over time based on the length of time that the object is displayed to the user, wherein the color includes a level of vividness, and wherein the level of vividness changes over time.

6. The graphical user interface of claim 5, wherein the information is stored in at least one of a file and an image, and wherein the object represents the file and/or image.

7. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a display controlled by the processor;

a graphical interface depicted on said display;

at least two objects created or modified by a user at a designated time, wherein each of the objects includes a color and is displayed by said display at the designated time that each of the objects is created or modified by the user, and

wherein the processor causes the color of each of the objects to change over a measured length of time, wherein the objects continue to be displayed by the display after the color of each of the objects changes, the change in color representing a length of time that each of the objects is displayed on said display after said designated time, the length of time being measured between an initial time of display and a current system time, wherein the current system time is a time of day and date that the object is being displayed, wherein the color includes a level of vividness, wherein the level of vividness of the color changes over time, wherein the measured length of time between the initial time of display and the current system time is used to determine when the color of each of the objects changes.

8. A computer system comprising:

a display;

storage means for storing data when said data is created or changed, wherein said stored data includes time information corresponding to a time at which said data is stored; and

an object including a color having a first condition and a second condition, the object displayed by said display, said object representing said stored data, wherein the color of the object changes from the first condition to the second condition, wherein the object continues to be displayed by the display after the color changes from the first condition to the second condition, the change in color representing a measured length of time that said object is displayed by said display device, the length of time being measured between an initial time of display and a current system time, wherein the current system time is a time of day and date that the object is being displayed, wherein the color includes a level of vividness, and wherein the level of vividness changes over time, wherein the measured length of time between the initial time of display of the object and the current system time is used to determine when the color changes from the first condition to the second condition.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the data is stored in at least one of a file and an image, and wherein the object represents the file and/or image.

10. A computer system comprising:

a display;

a graphical user interface depicted on said display;

an object representing information displayed in said graphical user interface; and

a processor programmed to change a characteristic of said object in said graphical user interface from a first condition to a second condition, wherein the object continues to be displayed in said graphical user interface after the characteristic changes from the first condition to the second condition, the change from the first condition to the second condition representing a measured length of time that the object is displayed by the display device and the information is unchanged, the length of time being measured between an initial time of display and a current system time, wherein the current system time is a time of day and date that the object is being displayed, wherein the characteristic includes a color, wherein the color includes a level of vividness, and wherein the processor changes the level of vividness in response to said information being unchanged for greater than a predetermined period of time, wherein the measured length of time between the initial time of display of the object and the current system time is used to determine when the characteristic changes from the first condition to the second condition.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the object is an icon.

12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the information is stored in at least one file and an image, and wherein the object represents the file and/or image.