Browsing or searching user interfaces and other aspects

• US 8,732,600 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Robert, Julien, Bray, Cedric, Goossens, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): NABI, REZA U
• Application Number:
  US12/913,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20110041094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 715/767
• US Class Current: 715/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/116 Details of conversion of file system types or formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/41 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

User interfaces for browsing and/or searching are described. In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a first display area for display representations of documents matching a search query, the first display area configured to display content of the documents which can have a plurality of different types of content including at least one of text-based content and a folder, and displaying a second display area for selecting a selected document to be displayed in the first display area. Other embodiments are also described, and computer readable media and apparatuses are also described.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

performing, by a computing device, a search using a search query, wherein the search is through indexed content and metadata of a plurality of files in a hierarchical file system;

generating search results including two or more files of the plurality of files;

determining associated file types for the two or more files;

using the file type for a file to identify a plug-in capable of processing content of the file, wherein the file type has an associated file format;

using the plug-in to dynamically generate a preview view entry for the file, wherein dynamically generating the preview view entry includes processing the content of the file, wherein processing the content includes using the plug-in to translate the file from the file format to a new file format, wherein the preview view entry includes a display of the content of the file in the new file format, and wherein the new file format is different from the file format;

generating a preview view including the preview view entry in a preview view area, wherein the preview view area further includes another preview view entry for at least one additional file having a different file type;

generating a list view including a list view entry for the file in a list view area;

concurrently displaying the preview view area and the list view area;

linking the list view and preview view, wherein linking includes displaying an indication of a selection of the preview view entry for the file when an input corresponding to a selection of the list view entry is received;

receiving an input corresponding to a selection of the preview view entry or the list view entry for the file;

identifying an application associated with the file format; and

opening the file using the identified application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the file format is a native file format associated with the file type, and wherein the new file format is a standard file format.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the preview view entry for the file is generated and displayed without launching the application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the content of the file includes text content, image content, video content, audio content, or web content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the input corresponds to a selection of the list view entry for the file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the list view entry for the file includes an indication that the preview view entry is associated with the file.

7. A computer-implemented system, comprising:

one or more data processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media 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 of a plurality of files in a hierarchical file system;

generating search results including two or more files of the plurality of files;

determining associated file types for the two or more files;

using the file type for a file to identify a plug-in capable of processing content of the file, wherein the file type has an associated file format;

using the plug-in to dynamically generate a preview view entry for the file, wherein dynamically generating the preview view entry includes processing the content of the file, wherein processing the content includes using the plug-in to translate the file from the file format to a new file format, wherein the preview view entry includes a display of the content of the file in the new file format, and wherein the new file format is different from the file format;

generating a preview view including the preview view entry in a preview view area, wherein the preview view area further includes another preview view entry for at least one additional file having a different file type;

generating a list view including a list view entry for the file in a list view area;

concurrently displaying the preview view area and the list view area;

linking the list view and preview view, wherein linking includes displaying an indication of a selection of the preview view entry for the file when an input corresponding to a selection of the list view entry is received;

receiving an input corresponding to a selection of the preview view entry or the list view entry for the file;

identifying an application associated with the file format; and

opening the file using the identified application.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the file format is a native file format associated with the file type, and wherein the new file format is a standard file format.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the preview view entry for the file is generated and displayed without launching the application.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the content of the file includes text content, image content, video content, audio content, or web content.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the input corresponds to a selection of the list view entry for the file.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the list view entry for the file includes an indication that the preview view entry is associated with the file.

13. A computer-program product, tangibly 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 of a plurality of files in a hierarchical file system;

generate search results including two or more files of the plurality of files;

determine associated file types for the two or more files;

use the file type for a file to identify a plug-in capable of processing content of the file, wherein the file type has an associated file format;

use the plug-in to dynamically generate a preview view entry for the file, wherein dynamically generating the preview view entry includes processing the content of the file, wherein processing the content includes using the plug-in to translate the file from the file format to a new file format, wherein the preview view entry includes a display of the content of the file in the new file format, and wherein the new file format is different from the file format;

generate a preview view including the preview view entry in a preview view area, wherein the preview view area further includes another preview view entry for at least one additional file having a different file type;

generate a list view including a list view entry for the file in a list view area;

concurrently display the preview view area and the list view area;

link the list view and preview view, wherein linking includes displaying an indication of a selection of the preview view entry for the file when an input corresponding to a selection of the list view entry is received;

receive an input corresponding to a selection of the preview view entry or the list view entry for the file;

identify an application associated with the file format; and

open the file using the identified application.

14. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the file format is a native file format associated with the file type, and wherein the new file format is a standard file format.

15. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the preview view entry for the file is generated and displayed without launching the application.

16. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the content of the file includes text content, image content, video content, audio content, or web content.

17. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the input corresponds to a selection of the list view entry for the file.

18. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the list view entry for the file includes an indication that the preview view entry is associated with the file.