COMPUTER CAPABLE OF RETRIEVING AMBIGUOUS INFORMATION

• US 20110087663A1
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tonegawa, Satoko, Miwa, Kunihiko
• Granted Patent: US 9,009,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/736
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is to support the retrieval of an ambiguous file stored on a computer. Desktop space images are generated at predetermined time intervals, and metadata for each desktop space image is created from internally used data and externally input data existing at the time. The metadata consists of multiple pieces of tag data, and part of tag data is a target file to be searched for. Upon searching for the target file, a user selects a desktop space image that evokes the target file from among the multiple desktop space images initially displayed. The selected desktop space image is displayed and the target file is selected from the metadata associated with the desktop space image displayed. The desktop space image can refresh a user'"'"'s recollection about the target file, and hence allows the user to narrow down the scope of search.

Claims

1. A computer program stored on a storage device, the computer program causing the computer to execute the steps of:

recording a desktop space image upon generation of an event on a computer and recording metadata associated with the desktop space image, the metadata comprising tag data characterizing an operating environment of the computer;

displaying the desktop space image and the metadata associated with the desktop space image; and

running a target file corresponding to tag data selected from the displayed metadata.

2. The computer program according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a plurality of recorded desktop space images recorded, on an event-by-event basis, from a plurality of events.

3. The computer program according to claim 2, wherein displaying the plurality of recorded desktop space images further comprises displaying the plurality of desktop space images arranged chronologically in a thumbnail format.

4. The computer program according to claim 2, wherein displaying the plurality of recorded desktop space images includes a step of extracting a desktop space image selected based on annotation written in the desktop space image.

5. The computer program according to claim 2, wherein displaying the plurality of recorded desktop space images further comprises extracting a plurality of desktop space images associated with common tag data.

6. The computer program according to claim 2, wherein displaying the plurality of recorded desktop space images further comprises performing one of AND logic and OR logic on the tag data to extract a particular desktop space image.

7. The computer program according to claim 1, wherein recording metadata further comprises recording metadata within a predetermined time period from the generation of the event and wherein the tag data characterizes an operating environment of the computer within the predetermined time period.

8. The computer program according to claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises internally used data generated from one or more of document creation support software, presentation support software, a Web browser, mailing software, spreadsheet software and video playback software.

9. The computer program according to claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises externally input data generated from one or more of camera processing software, microphone processing software, IP address acquiring software and software for controlling an external device.

10. The computer program according to claim 1, wherein an event is generated based on one or more of a change in a displayed file page, an activation of a software window, a start of a microphone recording, a camera taking an image, a change in an IP address, and a keyboard input.

11. The computer program according to claim 1, wherein recording the metadata further comprises recording tag data updated during a period from a previous event to a present event.

12. A computer program stored on a storage device, the computer program causing the computer to execute the steps of:

recording, for each event of a plurality of events on a computer, file images of specific files and recording metadata associated with each of the file images, the metadata comprising tag data characterizing an operating environment of the computer within a predetermined period from the generation of each event;

displaying the plurality of recorded file images;

displaying the metadata associated with a specific file image selected from among the plurality of displayed file images; and

running a target file corresponding to tag data selected from the displayed metadata.

13. The computer program according to claim 12, wherein an event is generated when a page of a particular specific file is changed.

14. The computer program according to claim 12, wherein the metadata comprises internally used data generated from one or more of document creation support software, presentation support software, a Web browser, mailing software, spreadsheet software and video playback software.

15. The computer program according to claim 12, wherein the metadata comprises externally input data generated from one or more of camera processing software, microphone processing software, IP address acquiring software and software for controlling an external device.

16. A computer comprising:

an event generation section for generating a plurality of events;

an associative data creating section for recording, for each event of the plurality of events, desktop space images, the associative data creating section recording metadata associated with each of the desktop space images, the metadata comprising tag data characterizing an operating environment of a computer; and

a search screen processing section for displaying the plurality of desktop space images on a display, the search screen processing section displaying a file selection screen on the display, the file selection screen comprising tag data associated with a specific desktop space image selected from among the displayed desktop space images, the search screen processing section running a target file corresponding to tag data selected from the file selection screen.

17. The computer according to claim 16, wherein the file selection screen includes the specific desktop space image.

18. The computer according to claim 16, wherein the associative data creating section recording the metadata further comprises the associative data creating section recording tag data updated during a period from a previous event to a present event.

19. The computer according to claim 16, wherein the search screen processing section extracts a desktop space image selected based on annotation written in the desktop space image.

20. The computer according to claim 16, wherein the search screen processing section extracts a plurality of desktop space images associated with common tag data.