Methods and systems for managing data

• US 8,135,727 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2010
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Arrouye, Yan, Giampaolo, Dominic, Ording, Bas, Christie, Gregory, Lemay, Stephen Olivier, van Os, Marcel, Chaudhri, Imran, Tiene, Kevin, Cisler, Pavel
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US12/852,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20100306187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 707/705, 707/707, 707/708, 707/709, 707/710, 707/713, 707/764, 707/769, 707/759, 707/999.003, 707/999.004, 707/999.005, 715/806, 715/700, 715/822, 715/823, 715/825, 715/830
• US Class Current: 707/759
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/14 Details of searching files based on file metadata
• 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 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00

Abstract

Methods and systems for processing data, including metadata and an index database. In one exemplary method, a first folder, representing a first search query, is stored, and a second folder, representing a second search query wherein the second folder has a predetermined hierarchical relationship to the first folder, is stored, and the search queries are used to search one or both of an index database and a metadata database. In the metadata database, the type of metadata for one file type differs from the type of metadata for another file type.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

performing, using one or more processing units, a search using a search query, wherein the search is through indexed content and metadata associated with a plurality of files, and wherein each file is associated with a persistent file identifier that remains the same when the associated file is modified;

displaying, using the one or more processing units, initial search results including a file associated with an application;

receiving, using the one or more processing units, a selection of the file, wherein the selection causes the associated application to launch, and wherein contents of the file and a search input field are displayed in the associated application;

receiving, using the one or more processing units, input in the search input field, wherein the input modifies the search query; and

performing, using the one or more processing units, a subsequent search using the modified search query, wherein modified search results are displayed in the associated application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying initial search results includes displaying a window including one or more search results and one or more selectable search parameters, wherein each selectable search parameter includes an increase interactive indicator used to increase the quantity of selectable search parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, using the one or more processors, an activation of the increase interactive indicator, wherein the activation causes an additional selectable search parameter to be displayed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each additional selectable search parameter includes an increase interactive indicator used to increase the quantity of selectable search parameters and a decrease interactive indicator used to decrease the quantity of selectable search parameters.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each additional selectable search parameter is independently deletable with respect to the other additional selectable search parameters.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one selectable search parameter includes a metadata search attribute.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, using the one or more processing units, an activation of the metadata search attribute, wherein the activation causes a first list to be displayed, and wherein the first list includes a selection of metadata search attributes and an expand command.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, using the one or more processing units, a selection of the expand command, wherein the selection causes a scrollable second list of metadata search attributes to be displayed, and wherein the scrollable second list includes available metadata search attributes supported by a local data processing system.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, using the one or more processing units, a selection of an available metadata search attribute from the scrollable second list, wherein the selection causes the available metadata search attribute to be added to the first list.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the display of the associated application includes a tool icon, and wherein activating the tool icon causes a context-based menu to be displayed in the associated application.

11. A system, comprising:

one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations, including;

performing a search using a search query, wherein the search is through indexed content and metadata associated with a plurality of files, and wherein each file is associated with a persistent file identifier that remains the same when the associated file is modified;

displaying initial search results including a file associated with an application;

receiving a selection of the file, wherein the selection causes the associated application to launch, and wherein contents of the file and a search input field are displayed in the associated application;

receiving input in the search input field, wherein the input modifies the search query; and

performing a subsequent search using the modified search query, wherein modified search results are displayed in the associated application.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein displaying initial search results includes displaying a window including one or more search results and one or more selectable search parameters, wherein each selectable search parameter includes an increase interactive indicator used to increase the quantity of selectable search parameters.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving an activation of the increase interactive indicator, wherein the activation causes an additional selectable search parameter to be displayed.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each additional selectable search parameter includes an increase interactive indicator used to increase the quantity of selectable search parameters and a decrease interactive indicator used to decrease the quantity of selectable search parameters.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each additional selectable search parameter is independently deletable with respect to the other additional selectable search parameters.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one selectable search parameter includes a metadata search attribute.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an activation of the metadata search attribute, wherein the activation causes a first list to be displayed, and wherein the first list includes a selection of metadata search attributes and an expand command.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the expand command, wherein the selection causes a scrollable second list of metadata search attributes to be displayed, and wherein the scrollable second list includes available metadata search attributes supported by a local data processing system.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an available metadata search attribute from the scrollable second list, wherein the selection causes the available metadata search attribute to be added to the first list.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the display of the associated application includes a tool icon, and wherein activating the tool icon causes a context-based menu to be displayed in the associated application.

21. A computer-program product, embodied in a non-transitory machine readable storage medium, including instructions configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

perform a search using a search query, wherein the search is through indexed content and metadata associated with a plurality of files, and wherein each file is associated with a persistent file identifier that remains the same when the associated file is modified;

display initial search results including a file associated with an application;

receive a selection of the file, wherein the selection causes the associated application to launch, and wherein contents of the file and a search input field are displayed in the associated application;

receive input in the search input field, wherein the input modifies the search query; and

perform a subsequent search using the modified search query, wherein modified search results are displayed in the associated application.

22. The computer-program product of claim 21, wherein displaying initial search results includes displaying a window including one or more search results and one or more selectable search parameters, wherein each selectable search parameter includes an increase interactive indicator used to increase the quantity of selectable search parameters.

23. The computer-program product of claim 22, further comprising:

receive an activation of the increase interactive indicator, wherein the activation causes an additional selectable search parameter to be displayed.

24. The computer-program product of claim 23, wherein each additional selectable search parameter includes an increase interactive indicator used to increase the quantity of selectable search parameters and a decrease interactive indicator used to decrease the quantity of selectable search parameters.

25. The computer-program product of claim 24, wherein each additional selectable search parameter is independently deletable with respect to the other additional selectable search parameters.

26. The computer-program product of claim 22, wherein at least one selectable search parameter includes a metadata search attribute.

27. The computer-program product of claim 26, further comprising:

receive an activation of the metadata search attribute, wherein the activation causes a first list to be displayed, and wherein the first list includes a selection of metadata search attributes and an expand command.

28. The computer-program product of claim 27, further comprising:

receive a selection of the expand command, wherein the selection causes a scrollable second list of metadata search attributes to be displayed, and wherein the scrollable second list includes available metadata search attributes supported by a local data processing system.

29. The computer-program product of claim 28, further comprising:

receive a selection of an available metadata search attribute from the scrollable second list, wherein the selection causes the available metadata search attribute to be added to the first list.

30. The computer-program product of claim 21, wherein the display of the associated application includes a tool icon, and wherein activating the tool icon causes a context-based menu to be displayed in the associated application.