System and method for user modification of metadata in a shell browser

• US 7,823,077 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: DeVorchik, David George, Kurtz, James Brian, Guzak, Chris J., Sheldon, David Joel, Beam, Tyler Kien, Hally, Judson Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/395,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,773 Days
• Field of Search: 715744-747, 715/802, 715/805, 715705-712, 715/811, 715821-823, 715853-855, 715/826, 715/775, 715/771, 715/762, 707/100, 707/101, 709/230
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/164 File meta data generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A system and method for user modification of metadata in a shell browser. A group of items and associated metadata values are displayed in a window of the shell browser. An edit control permits user modification of metadata values displayed in the window. The user can modify metadata associated with a welcome pane, a selected item, or multiple selected items. A data structure stored on one or more computer-readable media contains metadata associated with items displayed in a shell browser, including user modifiable metadata which is also displayed in the shell browser.

Claims

1. A computer display having an operating system shell browser rendered thereon, said shell browser comprising:

an operating system shell browser display window divided into at least two panes;

wherein

a first pane displays a group of graphical items representing a plurality of files and folders in a computing system; and

a second pane displays application-neutral metadata values associated with a plurality of user-selected ones of the displayed items; and

an operating system interface element that permits, without invoking an application running in the operating system, user modification of at least a plurality of the metadata values displayed in the second pane, wherein user modifications are application-neutral such that a modified metadata value is available to subsequent requesting applications, and wherein user modifications are in response to a user selecting said displayed metadata values to directly modify the metadata values in the second pane.

2. The computer display of claim 1, wherein the group of items includes one or more files.

3. The computer display of claim 1, wherein the group of items includes one or more non-file objects.

4. The computer display of claim 1, wherein the group of items includes one or more folders.

5. The computer display of claim 1, wherein the group of items includes a folder and the contents of the folder.

6. The computer display of claim 1, wherein the shell browser supports a plurality of item types.

7. The computer display of claim 6, wherein the plurality of item types includes music files.

8. The computer display of claim 1, wherein the metadata values are displayed together with a preview of a selected one of the group of items.

9. The computer display of claim 8, wherein the group of items are displayed as a list.

10. The computer display of claim 1, wherein the group of items are displayed in response to an input from the user.

11. The computer display of claim 1, wherein the displayed metadata values include an intersection or union of metadata values that are associated with multiple displayed items that the user has selected.

12. The computer display of claim 11, wherein the displayed metadata values include an intersection of metadata values that are associated with the selected items.

13. The computer display of claim 1, wherein, when the user has not selected any of the displayed items, the displayed metadata values include an intersection or union of metadata values that are associated with the group of items.

14. The computer display of claim 1, wherein user modification of metadata values includes deleting metadata values.

15. The computer display of claim 1, wherein all of the displayed metadata values are user modifiable.

16. The computer display of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the displayed metadata values are read-only and a second portion of the displayed metadata values are user modifiable.

17. The computer display of claim 1, wherein the first and second areas share a common border.