Methods and systems for managing data

• US 20060218209A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Ording, Bas, Giampaolo, Dominic, Arrouye, Yan, Cisler, Pavel, Tiene, Kevin, Os, Marcel van, Christie, Gregory, Lemay, Stephen Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/11 File system administration, e.g. details of archiving or snapshots file system backup G06F11/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.

Claims

1-114. -114. (canceled)

115. A machine readable medium containing executable program instructions for causing a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

presenting search results of a search of a plurality of files created by at least one software application, wherein the search results are presented in groups based upon at least one criteria and at least one of the groups is collapsible and wherein the search is through metadata for the plurality of files and wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first type differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second type.

116. A medium as in claim 115 wherein the presenting includes displaying and wherein the at least one criteria is the type of file and wherein collapsing the at least one of the groups which is collapsible allows the display of more information from other groups.

117. A medium as in claim 116 wherein each of the groups is collapsible.

118. A medium as in claim 116 wherein the search is also through an indexed content database of full text content of the plurality of files.

119. A medium as in claim 115 wherein the at least one criteria is either the location of files or a temporal characteristic of files.

120. A medium as in claim 118 wherein each group includes a header and a command interface to collapse or uncollapse the each group.

121. A medium as in claim 118 wherein the search results from the search of both of the metadata database and the content database are displayed with a single window.

122. A medium as in claim 121 wherein metadata in the metadata database is changed in response to a notification which is generated in response to a change of one of the files of the plurality of files.

123. A medium as in claim 122 wherein a first importer, in response to the notification, captures metadata for the one of the files and causes the metadata to be stored in the metadata database.

124. A medium as in claim 123 wherein the metadata database is operatively coupled to a set of importers which include the first importer, to capture metadata for a first type of file, and a second importer which is to capture metadata for a second type of file.

125. A medium as in claim 124 wherein, prior to capturing metadata for a file, a type of the file is determined and used to select an importer from the set of importers.

126. A medium as in claim 125 wherein captured metadata is exported to an application program which is capable of accessing the captured metadata after it is exported.

127. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting search results of a search of a plurality of files created by at least one software application, wherein the search results are presented in groups based upon at least one criteria and at least one of the groups is collapsible and wherein the search is through metadata for the plurality of files and wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first type differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second type.

128. A method as in claim 127 wherein the presenting includes displaying and wherein the at least one criteria is the type of file and wherein collapsing the at least one of the groups which is collapsible allows the display of more information from other groups.

129. A method as in claim 128 wherein each of the groups is collapsible.

130. A method as in claim 128 wherein the search is also through an indexed content database of full text content of the plurality of files.

131. A method as in claim 127 wherein the at least one criteria is either the location of files or a temporal characteristic of files.

132. A method as in claim 130 wherein each group includes a header and a command interface to collapse or uncollapse the each group.

133. A method as in claim 130 wherein the search results from the search of both of the metadata database and the content database are displayed with a single window.

134. A method as in claim 133 wherein metadata in the metadata database is changed in response to a notification which is generated in response to a change of one of the files of the plurality of files.

135. A method as in claim 134 wherein a first importer, in response to the notification, captures metadata for the one of the files and causes the metadata to be stored in the metadata database.

136. A method as in claim 135 wherein the metadata database is operatively coupled to a set of importers which include the first importer, to capture metadata for a first type of file, and a second importer which is to capture metadata for a second type of file.

137. A method as in claim 136 wherein, prior to capturing metadata for a file, a type of the file is determined and used to select an importer from the set of importers.

138. A method as in claim 137 wherein captured metadata is exported to an application program which is capable of accessing the captured metadata after it is exported.

139. A data processing system comprising:

a display device;

a user input device;

a memory to store a plurality of files; and

a processor coupled to the display device and to the user input device and to the memory, the processor configured to display search results of a search of a plurality of files created by at least one software application, wherein the search results are presented in groups based upon at least one criteria and at least one of the groups is collapsible and wherein the search is through metadata for the plurality of files and wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first type differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second type.

140. A system as in claim 139 wherein the at least one criteria is the type of file and wherein collapsing the at least one of the groups which is collapsible allows the display of more information from other groups.

141. A system as in claim 140 wherein each of the groups is collapsible.

142. A system as in claim 140 wherein the search is also through an indexed content database of full text content of the plurality of files.

143. A system as in claim 139 wherein the at least one criteria is either the location of files or a temporal characteristic of files.

144. A system as in claim 142 wherein each group includes a header and a command interface to collapse or uncollapse the each group.

145. A system as in claim 142 wherein the search results from the search of both of the metadata database and the content database are displayed with a single window.

146. A system as in claim 145 wherein metadata in the metadata database is changed in response to a notification which is generated in response to a change of one of the files of the plurality of files.

147. A system as in claim 146 wherein a first importer, in response to the notification, captures metadata for the one of the files and causes the metadata to be stored in the metadata database.

148. A system as in claim 147 wherein the metadata database is operatively coupled to a set of importers which include the first importer, to capture metadata for a first type of file, and a second importer which is to capture metadata for a second type of file.

149. A system as in claim 148 wherein, prior to capturing metadata for a file, a type of the file is determined and used to select an importer from the set of importers.

150. A system as in claim 149 wherein captured metadata is exported to an application program which is capable of accessing the captured metadata after it is exported.