BROWSING OR SEARCHING USER INTERFACES AND OTHER ASPECTS

• US 20090307622A1
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Robert, Julien, Jalon, Julien
• Application Number:
  US12/189,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20090307622A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• 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 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

User interfaces for browsing and/or searching are described. In at least certain embodiments, icon data from a plug-in includes badge data and an image (such as a thumbnail). The badge data includes additional information on the file, the creator application of the file, and/or a third party vendor of the creator application. For example, the badge data may include the version of the creator application. Using the badge data, a badge may be generated and displayed on the icon. Other embodiments are also described, and computer readable media and apparatuses are also described.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving from a plug-in icon data of an icon representing a file, the icon data including badge data and an image, wherein the badge data includes information on the file;

based on the type of the file, selecting one or more decorations for the icon; and

generating the icon using the icon data, wherein generating the icon comprises

generating a badge using the badge data, and

displaying the one or more decorations, the image, and the badge on the icon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the icon data further includes metadata of the icon and the badge data is part of the metadata.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the badge identifies an application that has created the file.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the badge further identifies a version of the application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the badge includes a second image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the badge includes text.

7. A computer readable medium storing executable program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method comprising:

receiving from a plug-in icon data of an icon representing a file, the icon data including badge data and an image, wherein the badge data includes information on the file;

based on the type of the file, selecting one or more decorations for the icon; and

generating the icon using the icon data, wherein generating the icon comprises

generating a badge using the badge data, and

displaying the one or more decorations, the image, and the badge on the icon.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the icon data further includes metadata of the icon and the badge data is part of the metadata.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the badge identifies an application that has created the file.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the badge further identifies a version of the application.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the badge includes a second image.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the badge includes text.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

creating an icon for a folder;

determining if all files within the folder are produced by one or more applications from a single vendor using badge data in icon data of icons representing the files within the folder;

generating a badge indicative of the single vendor using the badge data if all the files within the folder is produced by the one or more applications from the single vendor; and

displaying the badge on the icon of the folder.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

putting one or more folder decorations onto the icon of the folder.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving the icon data of the icons from one or more plug-ins associated with the one or more applications provided by the single vendor.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the badge further identifies the one or more applications.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the badge includes an image.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the badge includes text.

19. A computer readable medium storing executable program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method comprising:

creating an icon for a folder;

determining if all files within the folder is produced by one or more applications from a single vendor using badge data in icon data of icons representing the files within the folder;

generating a badge indicative of the single vendor using the badge data if all the files within the folder are produced by the one or more applications from the single vendor; and

displaying the badge on the icon of the folder.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising:

putting one or more folder decorations onto the icon of the folder.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving the icon data of the icons from one or more plug-ins associated with the one or more applications provided by the single vendor.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the badge further identifies the one or more applications.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the badge includes an image.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the badge includes text.

25. An icon representing a folder, the icon comprising:

one or more folder decorations; and

a badge indicative of a vendor, wherein all files within the folder are created by one or more applications from the vendor.

26. The icon of claim 25, wherein the one or more folder decorations include an outline of a binder.

27. The icon of claim 25, wherein the badge includes a graphic image associated with the vendor.

28. The icon of claim 25, wherein the badge includes text associated with the vendor