System and method for filtering and organizing items based on common elements
First Claim
1. In a computer system having a display and a memory for storing items with metadata properties, a method of filtering items comprising:
- providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items, wherein one or more of the display objects comprises a virtual folder and each virtual folder includes a numerical representation of the number of items that the virtual folder contains;
evaluating the metadata properties of the items that are represented by the display objects;
dynamically generating a filter term that corresponds to a metadata property that is shared by a plurality of the items based on the evaluation of metadata properties; and
presenting the filter term on the display, wherein the selection of the filter term causes the items that are represented on the display to be reduced to the items that share the metadata property and the numerical representation of each virtual folder to be correspondingly reduced.
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Abstract
A system and method for filtering and organizing items from computer memories based on common elements. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, filters are provided for manipulating the items. The filters are essentially tools for narrowing down a set of items. In one embodiment, the filters are dynamically generated based on the properties of the separate items. The system utilizes virtual folders. The virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, quick links are provided. In one embodiment, quick links are a set of predefined links (e.g., located on the left side of the display) that can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, libraries are provided. Libraries consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together.
347 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a computer system having a display and a memory for storing items with metadata properties, a method of filtering items comprising:
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providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items, wherein one or more of the display objects comprises a virtual folder and each virtual folder includes a numerical representation of the number of items that the virtual folder contains; evaluating the metadata properties of the items that are represented by the display objects; dynamically generating a filter term that corresponds to a metadata property that is shared by a plurality of the items based on the evaluation of metadata properties; and presenting the filter term on the display, wherein the selection of the filter term causes the items that are represented on the display to be reduced to the items that share the metadata property and the numerical representation of each virtual folder to be correspondingly reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for filtering items, comprising:
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a display; means for providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items, wherein one or more of the display objects comprises a virtual folder and each virtual folder includes a numerical representation of the number of items that the virtual folder contains; means for evaluating metadata properties of the items that are represented by the display objects; means for dynamically generating a filter term that corresponds to a metadata property that is shared by a plurality of the items based on the evaluation of metadata properties; and means for providing the filter term on the display. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable components for implementing a method of filtering items with metadata properties, the items being represented on a display, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items, wherein one or more of the display objects comprises a virtual folder and each virtual includes a numerical representation of the number of items that the virtual folder contains; evaluating the metadata properties of the items that are represented by the display objects; dynamically generating a filter term that corresponds to a metadata property that is shared by a plurality of the items based on the evaluation of metadata properties; presenting the filter term on the display, wherein the selection of the filter term causes the items that are represented on the display to be reduced to the item that share the metadata property and the numerical representation of each virtual folder to be correspondingly reduced. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification