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

• US 20040189694A1
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Guzak, Chris J., Sheldon, David Joel, Beam, Tyler Kien, Hally, Judson Craig, DeVorchik, David George, Kurtz, James Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• 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 shell browser comprising:

a window which displays a group of items, wherein the window also displays metadata values associated with one or more of the displayed items; and

an edit control which permits user modification of at least a portion of the metadata values displayed in the window.

2. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the group of items includes one or more files.

3. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the group of items includes one or more non-file objects.

4. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the group of items includes one or more folders.

5. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the group of items includes a folder and the contents of the folder.

6. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the shell browser supports a plurality of item types.

7. The shell browser of claim 6, wherein the plurality of item types includes music files, picture files and/or document files.

8. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the metadata values are displayed in a preview pane area in the window.

9. The shell browser of claim 8, wherein the group of items are displayed in a listview area in the window.

10. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the group of items are displayed in response to an input from the user.

11. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the displayed metadata values are associated with only one of the displayed items in the event that the user has selected only that item.

12. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the displayed metadata values are associated with multiple displayed items in the event that the user has selected those items.

13. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the displayed metadata values are associated with the group of items collectively in the event that the user has not selected any of the items.

14. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the displayed metadata values are associated with the group of items collectively in the event that the user has selected all of the items.

15. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein user modification of metadata values includes adding, editing and/or deleting metadata values.

16. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein all of the displayed metadata values are user modifiable values.

17. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the displayed metadata values are read-only values and a second portion of the displayed metadata values are user modifiable values.

18. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the edit control is displayed in the window in proximity to the displayed metadata values.

19. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the edit control is displayed whenever the user hovers a mouse cursor over a displayed metadata value which is user modifiable.

20. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the edit control includes one or more context menus.

21. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the edit control is configured to permit user modification of a displayed metadata value in the event that the user clicks on the metadata value and provided that the metadata value is user modifiable.

22. An operating system stored on one or more computer-readable media, the operating system including the shell browser of claim 1.

23. A computer comprising a central processing unit, a memory and an operating system including the shell browser of claim 1.

24. A graphical user interface embodied on one or more computer-readable media and executable on a computer, said graphical user interface comprising:

a first screen area which displays a set of items in response to an input from a user in a shell browser;

a second screen area which displays metadata associated with one or more of the displayed items; and

means within the shell browser for enabling user modifications to the displayed metadata.

25. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the set of items includes one or more files.

26. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the set of items includes one or more non-file objects.

27. The graphical user interface shell browser of claim 24, wherein the set of items includes one or more folders.

28. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the set of items includes a folder and the contents of the folder.

29. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the shell browser supports a plurality of item types.

30. The graphical user interface of claim 29, wherein the plurality of item types includes music files, picture files and/or document files.

31. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the displayed metadata is associated with only one of the displayed items in the event that the user has selected only that item.

32. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the displayed metadata is associated with multiple displayed items in the event that the user has selected those items.

33. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the displayed metadata values are associated with the set of items collectively.

34. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein user modifications of metadata include adding new metadata and/or editing displayed metadata.

35. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the means for enabling user modifications includes one or more context menus.

36. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the means for enabling user modifications is configured to permit user modification of metadata values when the user clicks on displayed metadata.

37. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the means for enabling user modifications is located within the first screen area.

38. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the means for enabling user modifications is located within the second screen area.

39. An operating system stored on one or more computer-readable media, the operating system including the graphical user interface of claim 24.

40. A computer comprising a central processing unit, a memory, and an operating system including the graphical user interface of claim 24.

41. A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of items;

receiving a first input from the user representing a selection of at least one displayed item;

displaying metadata associated with the at least one selected item; and

providing a control for user modification of the displayed metadata.

42. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, further comprising:

receiving a second input from the user representing a modification to the displayed metadata; and

associating the modified metadata with the at least one selected item so that the modified metadata will be displayed the next time the selected item is displayed.

43. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein the first input represents a selection of two or more displayed items and the displayed metadata is associated with all of the selected items.

44. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein the displayed items are shell items such as files, folders and/or non-file objects.

45. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 41.

46. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 42.

47. A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser, the method comprising:

displaying a welcome pane and metadata associated with the welcome pane; and

providing a control for user modification of the displayed metadata.

48. The computer-implemented method of claim 47, further comprising:

receiving an input from the user representing a modification to the displayed metadata; and

associating the modified metadata with the welcome pane so that the modified metadata will be displayed the next time the welcome pane is displayed.

49. The computer-implemented method of claim 47, wherein the displayed items are shell items such as files, folders and/or non-file objects.

50. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 47.

51. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 48.

52. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a data structure containing metadata associated with one or more items displayed in a shell browser, said data structure comprising:

a first field containing user modifiable metadata associated with the one or more displayed items, wherein the user modifiable metadata contained in the first field of the data structure is also displayed in the shell browser.

53. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 52, wherein the user modifiable metadata contained in the first field of the data structure includes previous user modifications.

54. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 52, wherein the displayed items are items such as files, folders and/or non-file objects.

55. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 52, wherein the data structure further comprises a second field containing read-only metadata associated with the one or more displayed items, wherein the read-only metadata is also displayed in the shell browser.

56. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 55, wherein the data structure further comprises a third field containing a link to all metadata associated with the one or more displayed items, wherein the link is also displayed in the shell browser.