METADATA EDITING CONTROL

• US 20080288531A1
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Lili, MacLaurin, Matthew B., Turski, Andrzej, Van Dok, Cornelis K., Miner, Patrice L., Wong, Lyon K.F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,661,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A metadata management architecture. The architecture includes a property component that lists one or more properties related to a file, and a viewing component that present files having one or more of the related properties. A synchronization component provides immediate synchronization between property editing fields of the property component and a view in the property-based browser component, providing both instantaneous feedback on property changes and an ability to manipulate properties graphically. Thus, a change in the property pane is immediately reflected in the view component, and a change in the view component is immediately reflected in the property pane.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates display of a property item in response to a query from a user, comprising:

a property component that enables access to the property item by facilitating assignment of metadata to the property item, the metadata including a keyword and at least one additional property;

a viewing component that enables to user to view the property item; and

a synchronization component that synchronizes communication between the property component and the viewing component;

wherein the property component accesses the property item as a grouping of all items including the property item that are associated with the metadata and wherein the viewing component displays all of the items including the property item and wherein the property component automatically modifies the grouping in response to a change of any of the metadata associated with the property item, which causes the synchronization component to enable the viewing component to reflect the modified grouping.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the property component includes a plurality of editing fields configured to enable the change in the metadata.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein one of the editing fields includes an author.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein one of the editing fields includes a title.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein one of the editing fields includes a subject.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein one of the editing fields includes a category.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein one of the editing fields includes a keyword.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein when the user selects one of the editing fields and before the user modifies the metadata associated with the selected editing field, the property component modifies the grouping of all of the items including the property item.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the synchronization component enables the viewing component to reflect the modified grouping.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the modified grouping is clustered according to the metadata associated with the selected editing field.

11. A method for facilitating the display of a property item in response to a query from a user, comprising:

receiving in a property component, an assignment of metadata to the property item, wherein the assignment includes at least a keyword and at least one additional property;

accessing the property item with the property component;

accessing all items associated with the metadata;

grouping the property item and all of the items by the metadata;

displaying the property item and all of the items with a viewing component;

receiving in the property component, a change of the metadata associated with the property item,

automatically modifying the grouping with the property component, based on the changed metadata;

synchronizing the modified grouping between the property component and the viewing component with a synchronization component; and

displaying all of the items including the property item according to the modified grouping.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving in the property component, a change of the metadata, further comprises providing a plurality of editing fields configured to enable to user to modify the metadata.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein one of the editing fields includes an author.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein one of the editing fields includes a title.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein one of the editing fields includes a subject.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein one of the editing fields includes a category.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein one of the editing fields includes a keyword.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving in the property component, a change of the metadata, further comprises:

providing a plurality of editing fields configured to enable to user to modify the metadata;

receiving a selection of one of the editing fields; and

modifying the grouping of all of the items including the property item before the user modifies the metadata associated with the selected editing field.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising synchronizing communication between the property component and viewing component associated with the modified grouping.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising clustering the modified grouping according to the metadata associated with the selected editing field.

21. A system that facilitates the modification of metadata associated with a property item in a file system comprising:

a property component that enables the selection of a property associated with a property item in a property pane;

a viewing component that displays at least the selected property item; and

a synchronization component that synchronizes communication between the property component and a viewing component;

wherein the viewing component is configured to stack the property item and all other property items according to the selected property and wherein if an additional property is selected the synchronization component enables the viewing component to instantaneously display a modified stack organized based on the additional property.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the additional property is a new property.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein when the additional property is a new property the viewing component displays a new stack.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the new stack includes a document ghost associated with the new property.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the additional property is a new property for the property item and the additional property is an existing property for at least some of the other property items and wherein the viewing component displays a modified stack including the property item and the at least some of the other property items.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the additional property is an invalid property for the property item and the additional property is an existing property for at least some of the other property items and wherein the viewing component displays a modified stack including the property item and the at least some of the other property items including a visual feedback that the additional property for the property item is an invalid property.