System and method for filtering and organizing items based on common elements

• US 9,361,313 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaasten, Shaun A., Moore, Jason F., Tubbs, Kenneth M., Ivanovic, Relja, De Vorchik, David G., Banks, Richard M., Miner, Patrice L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Cheyne D
• Application Number:
  US12/767,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20100205186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,234 Days
• Field of Search: 707/822, 707/829, 707/831
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems
• 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 16/192 Implementing virtual folder structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system and method for filtering and organizing items from computer memories based on common elements is provided. Filters can be provided for manipulating the items, which serve as tools for narrowing down a set of items. The filters can be dynamically generated based on the properties of the separate items. The system can utilize virtual folders. The virtual folders can expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. Quick links can be provided, which serve as a set of predefined links (e.g., located on the left side of the display) that can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. Libraries, which can provide large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together, may also be used.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage device having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method of presenting collections of items, the method comprising:

storing a set of items in a hierarchical file system structure, wherein each item in the set of items comprises one or more metadata properties;

creating a library to contain a representation of each item having the same type in the set of items;

receiving a selection to stack the representations of items based on a specified metadata property;

upon receiving the selection to stack the representations;

associating at least one representation of an item in the library having a particular value for the specified metadata property with one or more other representations of the items in the library having the particular value for the specified metadata property, wherein the specified metadata property is a property other than the type of item;

displaying stacks based on a value of the specified metadata property and not based on the hierarchical file system structure, wherein the stacks represent a group of associated representations of items sharing a same value for the specified metadata property; and

displaying one or more options for at least one of the group consisting of;

sharing one or more of the items sharing the same value for the specified metadata property and creating a slide show of one or more of the items sharing the same value for the specified metadata property.

2. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the type of item is one of documents, photos, music, messages, or contacts.

3. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the library comprises one or more virtual folders.

4. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the items that are represented in the library are physically stored at different physical locations.

5. The computer-readable storage device of claim 4, wherein the different physical locations comprise a present computer and at least one of a different computer, a location on a network, and an external storage device.

6. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the items that are represented in the library comprise both file items and non-file items.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein each of the stacks displays the shared metadata value and the number of associated representations of items in each group.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises providing on option to filter the representations of items by a particular category.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 2, wherein the type is photos, and wherein the one or more options include at least one of the group consisting of:

sharing photos and creating a slide show of photos.

7. A computer system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory, coupled to the at least one processor, the memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor performs a method of presenting items, the method comprising;

storing a set of items in a hierarchical file system structure, wherein each item in the set of items comprises one or more metadata properties;

creating a library to contain a representation of each item having the same type in the set of items;

receiving a selection to stack the representations of items based on a specified metadata property;

upon receiving the selection to stack the representations;

associating at least one representation of an item in the library having a particular value for the specified metadata property with one or more other representations of the items in the library having the particular value for the specified metadata property, wherein the specified metadata property is a property other than the type of item; and

displaying stacks based on a value of the specified metadata property and not based on the hierarchical file system structure, wherein the stacks represent a group of associated representations of items sharing a same value for the specified metadata property; and

displaying one or more options for at least one of the group consisting of;

sharing one or more of the items sharing the same value for the specified metadata property and creating a slide show of one or more of the items sharing the same value for the specified metadata property.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the type of item is one of documents, photos, music, messages, or contacts.

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the library comprises one or more virtual folders.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein a plurality of the items that are represented in the library are physically stored at different physical locations.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the different physical locations comprise a present computer and at least one of a different computer, a location on a network, and an external storage device.

12. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the items that are represented in the library comprise both file items and non-file items.

20. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the type is photos, and wherein the one or more options include at least one of the group consisting of:

sharing photos and creating a slide show of photos.

13. A computer-implemented method of presenting items, the method comprising:

storing a set of items in a hierarchical file system structure, wherein each item in the set of items comprises one or more metadata properties;

creating a library to contain a representation of each item having the same type in the set of items;

receiving a selection to stack the representations of items based on a specified metadata property;

upon receiving the selection to stack the representations;

associating at least one representation of an item in the library having a particular value for the specified metadata property with one or more other representations of the items in the library having the particular value for the specified metadata property, wherein the specified metadata property is a property other than the type of item; and

displaying stacks based on a value of the specified metadata property and not based on the hierarchical file system structure, wherein the stacks represents a group of associated representations of items sharing a same value for the specified metadata property; and

displaying one or more options for at least one of the group consisting of;

sharing one or more of the items sharing the same value for the specified metadata property and creating a slide show of one or more of the items sharing the same value for the specified metadata property.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the library comprises one or more virtual folders.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein a plurality of the items that are represented in the library are physically stored at different physical locations.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the different physical locations comprise a present computer and at least one of a different computer, a location on a network, and an external storage device.