INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND DISTRIBUTION MEDIUM

• US 20030052907A1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: REKIMOTO, JUNICHI
• Granted Patent: US 7,503,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/700
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

The management of files, folders, and other data is facilitated. When a user inputs a character string (tag), which is desired to be retrieved, to a retrieval character input space and operates a retrieval button on a screen, retrieval is started, and a screen (file) corresponding to the input character string is displayed. This makes it possible for the user to fetch a desired file as required. That is, the user is able to manage and control files without using folders.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing created or changed data in such a manner as to correspond to time information;

day and time setting means for setting desired day and time; and

control means for reproducing the state of data corresponding to said set day and time on the basis of said time information.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores a created or changed file in such a manner as to correspond to time information, said day and time setting means sets day and time according to a past or future screen, and said control means performs control so that a file of the day and time corresponding to said past or future screen is read from said storage means, is reproduced, and is displayed on the screen.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

input means for inputting a character string to be retrieved; and

retrieval means for retrieving a file corresponding to the character string input from said input means with respect to a past or future screen.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said file is a document file, an image file, or a character string.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control means performs control so that the color of said character string changes over time and is displayed on said screen.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said storage means stores the day and time at which said file is changed and the revision information of said file.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said storage means stores the difference between said file before it is changed and said file after it is changed, and said control means reproduces a desired file from said difference on the basis of said time information.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein time information transmission and receiving means which is capable of transmitting and receiving said time information is provided, and said day and time setting means sets said day and time on the basis of the received time information.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein position detection means for detecting a position is provided, said position is also stored in such a manner as to correspond to time information in said storage means, and said day and time setting means sets day and time on the basis of the time information corresponding to said position.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores an application program which is capable of transmitting and receiving time information, said day and time setting means sets said day and time on the basis of the time information received from another application program, and said control means reproduces the state of the application program corresponding to the set day and time.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said day and time setting means sets the day and time closest to said received time information.

12. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said application program contains a file management program for managing files.

13. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said application program contains a position and time information management program for managing input position information and the time information corresponding to the position information.

14. An information processing method comprising:

a storing step for storing created or changed data in such a manner as to correspond to time information;

a day and time setting step for setting desired day and time; and

a control step for reproducing the state of data corresponding to said set day and time on the basis of said time information.

15. An information processing method according to claim 14, wherein said storing step stores a created or changed file in such a manner as to correspond to time information, said day and time setting step sets day and time in such a manner as to correspond to a past or future screen, and said control step performs control so that a file of the day and time corresponding to said past or future screen is reproduced and is displayed on the screen.

16. An information processing method according to claim 15, wherein said file is a document file, an image file, or a character string.

17. An information processing method according to claim 16, wherein said control step performs control so that the color of said character string changes over time and is displayed on said screen.

18. An information processing method according to claim 15, wherein said storing step stores the day and time at which said file is changed and the revision information of said file.

19. An information processing method according to claim 15, wherein said storing step stores the difference between said file before it is changed and said file after it is changed, and said control step reproduces a desired file from said difference on the basis of said time information.

20. An information processing method according to claim 14, wherein a time information transmission and receiving step which is capable of transmitting and receiving said time information is provided, and said day and time setting step sets said day and time on the basis of the received time information.

21. An information processing method according to claim 14, wherein a position detection step for detecting a position is provided, said storing step also stores said position in such a manner as to correspond to time information, and said day and time setting step sets the day and time on the basis of the time information corresponding to said position.

22. An information processing method according to claim 14, wherein said storing step stores an application program which is capable of transmitting and receiving time information, said day and time setting step sets said day and time on the basis of the time information received from another application program, and said control step reproduces the state of the application program corresponding to the set day and time.

23. An information processing method according to claim 22, wherein said day and time setting step sets day and time closest to said received time information.

24. An information processing method according to claim 22, wherein said application program contains a file management program for managing files.

25. An information processing method according to claim 22, wherein said application program contains a position and time information management program for managing input position information and the time information corresponding to the position information.

26. A computer-readable distribution medium for providing a program, said program comprising:

a storing step for storing created or changed data in such a manner as to correspond to time information;

a day and time setting step for setting desired day and time; and

a control step for reproducing the state of data corresponding to said set day and time on the basis of said time information.

27. A distribution medium according to claim 26, wherein said storing step stores a created or changed file in such a manner as to correspond to time information, said day and time setting step sets the day and time according to a past or future screen, and said control step performs control so that a file of the day and time corresponding to said past or future screen is reproduced and is displayed on the screen.

28. A distribution medium according to claim 26, wherein a time information transmission and receiving step which is capable of transmitting and receiving said time information is provided, and said day and time setting step sets said day and time on the basis of the received time information.