Method and system for accessing a file system

• US 8,015,193 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Green, Stephen J., Lamere, Paul B., Alexander, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali; Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hocker; John P
• Application Number:
  US12/968,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 266 Days
• Field of Search: 707/749, 707/750
• US Class Current: 707/749
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/152 using file content signatures, e.g. hash values
• 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

Abstract

A method for accessing a file system including computing a first numerical similarity score for a first stored document and a second numerical similarity score for a second stored document by comparing a plurality of weighted active terms with a plurality of weighted indexed terms, determining a document order of the first stored document followed by the second stored document based on the first numerical similarity score exceeding the second numerical similarity score, generating a list of similar documents including the first stored document followed by the second stored document based on the document order, and displaying, in a file system interface and on the computer display, the list of similar documents while an active document is open in an active document interface.

Claims

1. A computerized method for accessing a file system comprising:

displaying, on a computer display, an active document interface comprising an active document that is in use by a user;

receiving a selection from the user to display a file system interface that allows interaction with the file system by the user;

displaying, on the computer display, the file system interface comprising a view similar documents button;

receiving a selection of the view similar documents button by the user;

identifying a plurality of active terms comprising words found in the active document;

determining a plurality of active frequencies of occurrence of the plurality of active terms;

assigning a plurality of active weights to the plurality of active terms based on the plurality of active frequencies of occurrence to generate a plurality of weighted active terms;

identifying a plurality of weighted indexed terms comprising words found in a plurality of stored documents that are stored in the file system, wherein the plurality of weighted indexed terms are weighted according to a plurality of stored frequencies of occurrence in the plurality of stored documents;

computing a first numerical similarity score for a first stored document and a second numerical similarity score for a second stored document by comparing the plurality of weighted active terms with the plurality of weighted indexed terms;

determining a document order of the first stored document followed by the second stored document based on the first numerical similarity score exceeding the second numerical similarity score;

generating a list of similar documents comprising the first stored document followed by the second stored document based on the document order; and

displaying, in the file system interface and on the computer display, the list of similar documents while the active document is open in the active document interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, for the first stored document of the plurality of stored documents, a plurality of first common terms that are in both the plurality of weighted active terms and a plurality of first weighted indexed terms of the first stored document;

multiplying, for each common term in the plurality of first common terms, a first active weight of the common term in the plurality of weighted active terms by a first stored weight of the common term in the plurality of first weighted indexed terms of the first stored document to generate a plurality of first products;

summing the plurality of first products to generate the first numerical similarity score for the active document and the first stored document;

identifying, for the second stored document of the plurality of stored documents, a plurality of second common terms that are in both the plurality of weighted active terms and a plurality of second weighted indexed terms of the second stored document;

multiplying, for each common term in the plurality of second common terms, a second active weight of the common term in the plurality of weighted active terms by a second stored weight of the common term in the plurality of second weighted indexed terms of the second stored document to generate a plurality of second products; and

summing the plurality of second products to generate the second numerical similarity score for the active document and the second stored document, wherein the first numerical similarity score exceeds the second numerical similarity score.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of stored terms comprising words found in the plurality of stored documents;

determining the plurality of stored frequencies of occurrence of the plurality of stored terms; and

assigning a plurality of stored weights to the plurality of stored terms based on the plurality of stored frequencies of occurrence to generate the plurality of weighted indexed terms.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the first stored document in a first directory; and

identifying the second stored document in a second directory that is distinct from the first directory.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving the first directory as input to a name field in the file system interface;

receiving a selection of a submit button in the file system interface; and

storing the active document in the first directory.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a directory order of the first directory followed by the second directory based on the first numerical similarity score exceeding the second numerical similarity score;

generating a list of directories including similar documents comprising the first directory followed by the second directory based on the directory order; and

displaying, in the file system interface and on the computer display, the list of directories including similar documents while the active document is open in the active document interface.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

opening the first directory in the list of directories including similar documents using the file system interface; and

opening the first stored document in the first directory.

8. A system for accessing a file system comprising:

a memory coupled to a processor;

an active document interface configured to display an active document that is in use by a user;

a document index, stored in the memory and configured to;

store a plurality of active terms comprising words found in the active document;

a search index stored in the memory and configured to;

store a plurality of weighted indexed terms comprising words found in a plurality of stored documents that are stored in the file system, wherein the plurality of weighted indexed terms are weighted according to a plurality of stored frequencies of occurrence in the plurality of stored documents;

a file system engine, executing on the processor and configured to;

determine a plurality of active frequencies of occurrence of the plurality of active terms;

assign a plurality of active weights to the plurality of active terms based on the plurality of active frequencies of occurrence to generate a plurality of weighted active terms;

compute a first numerical similarity score for a first stored document and a second numerical similarity score for a second stored document by comparing the plurality of weighted active terms with the plurality of weighted indexed terms;

determine a document order of the first stored document followed by the second stored document based on the first numerical similarity score exceeding the second numerical similarity score; and

generate the list of similar documents comprising the first stored document followed by the second stored document based on the document order; and

a file system interface, executing on the processor and configured to;

display a view similar documents button;

receive a selection of the view similar documents button by the user, and

display the list of similar documents while the active document is open in the active document interface, wherein the active document interface is further configured to receive a selection from the user to display the file system interface that allows interaction with the file system by the user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the file system engine is further configured to:

identify, for the first stored document of the plurality of stored documents, a plurality of first common terms that are in both the plurality of weighted active terms and a plurality of first weighted indexed terms of the first stored document;

multiply, for each common term in the plurality of first common terms, a first active weight of the common term in the plurality of weighted active terms by a first stored weight of the common term in the plurality of first weighted indexed terms of the first stored document to generate a plurality of first products;

sum the plurality of first products to generate the first numerical similarity score for the active document and the first stored document;

identify, for the second stored document of the plurality of stored documents, a plurality of second common terms that are in both the plurality of weighted active terms and a plurality of second weighted indexed terms of the second stored document;

multiply, for each common term in the plurality of second common terms, a second active weight of the common term in the plurality of weighted active terms by a second stored weight of the common term in the plurality of second weighted indexed terms of the second stored document to generate a plurality of second products; and

sum the plurality of second products to generate the second numerical similarity score for the active document and the second stored document, wherein the first numerical similarity score exceeds the second numerical similarity score.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the file system engine is further configured to:

identify the first stored document in a first directory; and

identify the second stored document in a second directory that is distinct from the first directory.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the file system engine is further configured to:

determine a directory order of the first directory followed by the second directory based on the first numerical similarity score exceeding the second numerical similarity score; and

generate a list of directories including similar documents comprising the first directory followed by the second directory based on the directory order; and

wherein the file system interface is further configured to;

display the list of directories including similar documents while the active document is open in the active document interface.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the file system interface is further configured to:

receive the first directory as input to a name field in the file system interface;

receive a selection of a submit button in the file system interface; and

store the active document in the first directory.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instruction for accessing a file system, the instructions executable on a processor and comprising functionality for:

displaying, on a computer display, an active document interface comprising an active document that is in use by a user;

receiving a selection from the user to display a file system interface that allows interaction with the file system by the user;

displaying, on the computer display, the file system interface comprising a view similar documents button;

receiving a selection of the view similar documents button by the user;

identifying a plurality of active terms comprising words found in the active document;

determining a plurality of active frequencies of occurrence of the plurality of active terms;

assigning a plurality of active weights to the plurality of active terms based on the plurality of active frequencies of occurrence to generate a plurality of weighted active terms;

identifying a plurality of weighted indexed terms comprising words found in a plurality of stored documents that are stored in the file system, wherein the plurality of weighted indexed terms are weighted according to a plurality of stored frequencies of occurrence in the plurality of stored documents;

computing a first numerical similarity score for a first stored document and a second numerical similarity score for a second stored document by comparing the plurality of weighted active terms with the plurality of weighted indexed terms;

determining a document order of the first stored document followed by the second stored document based on the first numerical similarity score exceeding the second numerical similarity score;

generating a list of similar documents comprising the first stored document followed by the second stored document based on the document order; and

displaying, in the file system interface and on the computer display, the list of similar documents while the active document is open in the active document interface.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, the instructions comprising further functionality for:

identifying, for the first stored document of the plurality of stored documents, a plurality of first common terms that are in both the plurality of weighted active terms and a plurality of first weighted indexed terms of the first stored document;

multiplying, for each common term in the plurality of first common terms, a first active weight of the common term in the plurality of weighted active terms by a first stored weight of the common term in the plurality of first weighted indexed terms of the first stored document to generate a plurality of first products;

summing the plurality of first products to generate the first numerical similarity score for the active document and the first stored document;

identifying, for the second stored document of the plurality of stored documents, a plurality of second common terms that are in both the plurality of weighted active terms and a plurality of second weighted indexed terms of the second stored document;

multiplying, for each common term in the plurality of second common terms, a second active weight of the common term in the plurality of weighted active terms by a second stored weight of the common term in the plurality of second weighted indexed terms of the second stored document to generate a plurality of second products; and

summing the plurality of second products to generate the second numerical similarity score for the active document and the second stored document, wherein the first numerical similarity score exceeds the second numerical similarity score.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, the instructions comprising further functionality for:

identifying the first stored document in a first directory; and

identifying the second stored document in a second directory that is distinct from the first directory.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, the instructions comprising further functionality for:

receiving the first directory as input to a name field in the file system interface;

receiving a selection of a submit button in the file system interface; and

storing the active document in the first directory.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, the instructions comprising further functionality for:

determining a directory order of the first directory followed by the second directory based on the first numerical similarity score exceeding the second numerical similarity score;

generating a list of directories including similar documents comprising the first directory followed by the second directory based on the directory order; and

displaying, in the file system interface and on the computer display, the list of directories including similar documents while the active document is open in the active document interface.