System and method for displaying stack icons
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for representing files, the method comprising:
- using a processor to receive an identification of a plurality of groups of files, the groups of files to be represented by a plurality of stack icons, which are stored in a system memory that is connected to the processor by a system bus;
counting a number of files in each group of files to determine how many files are in each group, wherein the plurality of groups of files includes groups having a range of numbers of files from a largest number of files to a smallest number of files;
dividing the plurality of groups of files by size into three equal fractions of groups of files,(1) wherein each one of the three fractions includes a number of groups of files that is equal to one-third of the plurality of groups of files;
(2) wherein a smallest third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a smallest third of the range of numbers of files;
(3) wherein a medium third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a medium third of the range of numbers of files; and
(4) wherein a largest third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a largest third of the range of numbers of files;
as signing a stack icon to each of the three equal fractions, the stack icon being selected from the plurality of stack icons,(1) wherein the plurality of stack icons comprise three predefined stack icons, which include a large-stack icon, a medium-stack icon, and a small-stack icon, and(2) wherein the large-stack icon is assigned to the largest third of the plurality of groups, the medium-stack icon is assigned to the medium third of the plurality of groups, and the small-stack icon is assigned to the smallest third of the plurality of groups; and
retrieving each of the large-stack icon, the medium-stack icon, and the small-stack icon from the system memory and causing each of the large-stack icon, the medium-stack icon, and the small-stack icon to be displayed on a display device as visual representations of the plurality of groups of files.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method and system for use in a computing environment for representing files stored in stacks. The method includes providing a set of stack icons, each icon in the set having a stack height representing a range of stack sizes. The method additionally includes determining a stack size for a selected stack and selecting and displaying an appropriate stack icon from the set of stack icons based on the determined stack size. The selected stack may be stored within one of multiple libraries. Accordingly a distinct set of icons relevant to each library may be stored for each library. The icons may visibly convey information pertaining to the relevant library. Accordingly, the method may include representing a selected stack by determining an appropriate library and an appropriate stack height and displaying a corresponding icon. The system may additionally include an empty stack icon, a generic stack icon, property based icons, and custom thumbnail icons.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method for representing files, the method comprising:
-
using a processor to receive an identification of a plurality of groups of files, the groups of files to be represented by a plurality of stack icons, which are stored in a system memory that is connected to the processor by a system bus; counting a number of files in each group of files to determine how many files are in each group, wherein the plurality of groups of files includes groups having a range of numbers of files from a largest number of files to a smallest number of files; dividing the plurality of groups of files by size into three equal fractions of groups of files, (1) wherein each one of the three fractions includes a number of groups of files that is equal to one-third of the plurality of groups of files; (2) wherein a smallest third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a smallest third of the range of numbers of files; (3) wherein a medium third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a medium third of the range of numbers of files; and (4) wherein a largest third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a largest third of the range of numbers of files; as signing a stack icon to each of the three equal fractions, the stack icon being selected from the plurality of stack icons, (1) wherein the plurality of stack icons comprise three predefined stack icons, which include a large-stack icon, a medium-stack icon, and a small-stack icon, and (2) wherein the large-stack icon is assigned to the largest third of the plurality of groups, the medium-stack icon is assigned to the medium third of the plurality of groups, and the small-stack icon is assigned to the smallest third of the plurality of groups; and retrieving each of the large-stack icon, the medium-stack icon, and the small-stack icon from the system memory and causing each of the large-stack icon, the medium-stack icon, and the small-stack icon to be displayed on a display device as visual representations of the plurality of groups of files. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, cause a computing device to perform a method for representing a plurality of files, the method comprising:
-
using a processor to receive an identification of a plurality of groups of files, the groups of files to be represented by a plurality of stack icons, which are stored in a system memory that is connected to the processor by a system bus; counting a number of files in each group of files to determine how many files are in each group, wherein the plurality of groups of files includes groups having a range of numbers of files from a largest number of files to a smallest number of files; dividing the plurality of groups of files by size into three equal fractions of groups of files, (1) wherein each one of the three fractions includes a number of groups of files that is equal to one-third of the plurality of groups of files; (2) wherein a smallest third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a smallest third of the range of numbers of files; (3) wherein a medium third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a medium third of the range of numbers of files; and (4) wherein a largest third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a largest third of the range of numbers of files; as signing a stack icon to each of the three equal fractions, the stack icon being selected from the plurality of stack icons, (1) wherein the plurality of stack icons comprise three predefined stack icons, which include a large-stack icon, a medium-stack icon, and a small-stack icon, and (2) wherein the large-stack icon is assigned to the largest third of the plurality of groups, the medium-stack icon is assigned to the medium third of the plurality of groups, and the small-stack icon is assigned to the smallest third of the plurality of groups; and retrieving each of the large-stack icon, the medium-stack icon, and the small-stack icon from the system memory and causing each of the large-stack icon, the medium-stack icon, and the small-stack icon to be displayed as visual representations of the plurality of groups of files. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22)
-
-
17. A system for representing a selected stack of files, the system comprising:
-
a processor that is usable to receive an identification of a plurality of groups of files, the groups of files to be represented by a plurality of default stack icons, which are stored in a system memory that is connected to the processor by a system bus; a computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, cause a computing device to; (1) count a number of files in each group of files to determine how many files are in each group, wherein the plurality of groups of files includes a range of numbers of files from a largest number of files to a smallest number of files; (2) divide the plurality of groups of files by size into three equal fractions of groups of files, a) wherein each one of the three fractions includes a number of groups of files that is equal to one-third of the plurality of groups of files; b) wherein a smallest third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a smallest third of the range of numbers of files; c) wherein a medium third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a medium third of the range of numbers of files; and d) wherein a largest third of the plurality of groups includes groups of files that have numbers of files falling in a largest third of the range of numbers of files; (3) assign a stack icon to each of the three equal fractions, the stack icon being selected from the plurality of stack icons, a) wherein the plurality of stack icons comprise three predefined stack icons, which include a large-stack icon, a medium-stack icon, and a small-stack icon, and b) wherein the large-stack icon is assigned to the largest third of the plurality of groups, the medium-stack icon is assigned to the medium third of the plurality of groups, and the small-stack icon is assigned to the smallest third of the plurality of groups; and (4) retrieve each of the large-stack icon, the medium-stack icon, and the small-stack icon from the system memory and cause each of the large-stack icon, the medium-stack icon, and the small-stack icon to be displayed as visual representations of the plurality of groups of files. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification