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

• US 8,555,199 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kurtz, James Brian, Hally, Judson Craig, Sheldon, David Joel, Beam, Tyler Kien, Guzak, Chris J., Devorchik, David George
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US12/835,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20100281390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 715744-747, 715/802, 715/805, 715/711, 715705-710, 715/712, 715/775, 715/811, 715821-823, 715/826, 715853-855, 715/771, 715/762, 715/792, 715/825, 707/100, 707/101, 709/230
• US Class Current: 715/805
• 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-implemented method for enabling a user to modify metadata within an operating-system browser, the method comprising:

displaying an operating-system shell browser window that is divided into at least two panes, wherein a first pane displays a plurality of graphical items representing a plurality of files stored in a computing system;

receiving a selection of an item that is presented in the operating-system shell browser and that represents one of the plurality of files stored in the computing system;

displaying, in a second pane, application-neutral metadata associated with at least the item that was selected; and

providing a context menu that is displayed in front of the operating-system shell browser window and that permits, without opening an application running in the operating system, user modification of the application-neutral metadata, wherein application-neutral metadata that is modified is available to subsequent requesting applications.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the application-neutral metadata that is modified includes a searchable keyword.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of items includes one or more non-file objects.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of items includes one or more folders.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of items includes a folder and contents of the folder.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the application-neutral metadata is displayed together with a preview of the item that is selected.

7. A computer-readable memory device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device having an operating system, facilitate operations enabling a user to modify metadata within an operating-system browser comprising:

displaying a plurality of graphical items that represent a plurality of files stored in the computing system in a first pane of an operating-system shell browser window;

receiving a selection of a graphical item that is presented in the operating-system browser and that represents one of the plurality of files stored in the computing system;

in response to the selection, presenting metadata of at least the one of the plurality of files in a second pane of the operating-system shell browser window, wherein the plurality of graphical items remain displayed in the first pane when the metadata is presented in the second pane;

receiving a user selection of the metadata;

providing a context menu that is displayed in front of the operating-system shell browser window when the user selection is received, wherein the context menu provides selectable options to modify the metadata and wherein the plurality of graphical items and the metadata remain displayed when the context menu is displayed; and

responsive to a user input, without opening an application running in the operating system, modifying the metadata to create modified metadata, wherein the modified metadata is application-neutral such that the modified metadata is available to subsequent requesting applications.

8. The computer-readable memory device of claim 7, wherein modifying the metadata includes adding new metadata, editing the metadata that is displayed, or a combination thereof.

9. The computer-readable memory device of claim 7, wherein the user selection is received when a cursor is hovered over the metadata that is displayed.

10. The computer-readable memory device of claim 7, wherein the item includes a file.

11. The computer-readable memory device of claim 7, wherein the item includes a non-file object.

12. A computing device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing device having an operating system, generate a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising:

a display window of an operating-system browser, the display window divided into a first pane, which displays a plurality of graphical items representing a plurality of files, and a second pane, which displays application-neutral metadata of at least a file that has been selected by a user from the plurality of graphical items; and

an operating system interface element that is displayed as an overlay in front of the display window when the file is selected and that permits, without invoking an application running in the operating system, user modification of the application-neutral metadata displayed in the second pane, wherein the application-neutral metadata that is modified using the operating system interface element is available to subsequent requesting applications.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the user modification is in response to a user selection of the application-neutral metadata to directly modify the metadata in the second pane.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the user modification includes adding new metadata, editing the application-neutral metadata that is displayed, or a combination thereof.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein a user selection of the application-neutral metadata is received when a cursor is hovered over the application-neutral metadata that is displayed in the second pane.

16. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the operating-system browser supports a plurality of item types.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of item types includes music files, picture files, and document files.