Stack icons representing multiple objects

• US 7,694,236 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cummins, Charles, Lam, Jenny T., Ivanovic, Relja B., De Vorchik, David G., Banks, Richard M., Gusmorino, Paul A., Moore, Jason F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu; Tadesse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tan; Alvin H
• Application Number:
  US11/186,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20050283742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 715/763, 715/526, 715/835, 715/848, 715/838
• US Class Current: 715/838
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

The features described herein are directed to a method and system for use in a computing environment for representing files stored in stacks by using a stack icon. The stack icon may include multiple thumbnail images as top elements, and may use common characteristics among the files to define the appearance of the stack. The system may also use metadata or file characteristics (e.g., time of last edit, size, etc.) to identify one file for top representation in the stack icon. The system may additionally include an empty stack icon, a generic stack icon, property based icons, and custom thumbnail icons.

Claims

1. Computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform method for visually representing a plurality of computer data objects with a stack icon on a display, the method comprising the steps of:

a computing device identifying a first plurality of computer data objects to be visually represented by a stack icon;

determining whether all of the identified objects share at least one of a location in a library, and a file type as a common characteristic, and if said identified objects share a common characteristic, selecting a representative thumbnail image for said common characteristic comprising one of;

a default image, a property-based image, and a thumbnail icon image, wherein the property-based image is a default image that includes a numeric designator for indicating a number of items represented by the stack icon, and wherein a default image is selected when a property-based image or a thumbnail icon image is not available;

said computing device generating a stack icon to represent said first plurality of computer data objects, said stack icon having a second plurality of distinct elements corresponding to said first plurality of computer data objects, and having a topmost element that includes said representative thumbnail image for said common characteristic.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein said first and second pluralities correspond by an integer ratio.

3. The media of claim 1, wherein said top element depicts the contents of one of said computer data objects in visual form.

4. The media of claim 1, wherein said second plurality of distinct elements are arranged in a layered, stacked orientation in said stack icon.

5. The media of claim 4, wherein said distinct elements are rotated with respect to each other.

6. The media of claim 5, wherein said top element is arranged horizontally.

7. The media of claim 1, wherein said second plurality of distinct elements are superimposed over one or more thumbnail images in said stack icon.

8. The media of claim 1, wherein said data objects are computer files, and said common characteristic is a file type.

9. The media of claim 1, wherein said data objects are audio song files, and said common characteristic is an artist of the songs.

17. The media of claim 1, wherein the property-based image also includes a file type overlay indicating the file type of one or more computer data objects represented by the stack icon, and wherein the file type overlay is positioned within a bounding rectangle about said property-based icon image.

18. The media of claim 1, wherein generating a stack icon to represent said first plurality of computer data objects further comprises:

in the alternative to generating a stack icon to represent said first plurality of computer data objects, selecting a stack icon from a limited number of available stack icons, wherein an available stack icon is associated with a quantity range of computer data objects that is represented by the available stack icon.

19. The media of claim 18, wherein the limited number of available stack icons include at least three available stack icons for a common characteristic, and wherein the at least three available stack icons include stack icons to represent zero data objects, one or two data objects, and more than two data objects.

10. A system for visually representing a plurality of computer data objects with a stack icon on a computer display, the system comprising:

an identifying component that identifies a first plurality of computer data objects to be visually represented by said stack icon;

a selection component that selects a representative image for a common characteristic of said first plurality of computer data objects comprising one of;

a default image, a property-based image, and a thumbnail image, wherein the property-based image is a default image that includes one or more of a numeric designator that indicates a number of items represented by the stack icon and a file-type overlay that indicates a file type of at least one of the computer data objects in the first plurality, and wherein a default image is selected when a property-based image and a thumbnail image are not available;

a generating component that generates a stack icon to represent said first plurality of computer data objects, said stack icon having a second plurality of distinct elements corresponding to said first plurality of computer data objects; and

a displaying component that displays said stack icon on a computer display, wherein said stack icon includes, as a topmost element in the stack, said representative thumbnail image for said common characteristic.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said first and second pluralities correspond by an integer ratio.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein a plurality of said distinct elements are arranged in a layered, stacked orientation in said stack icon.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said distinct elements are rotated with respect to each other.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising displaying the topmost element as a series of partially overlapping thumbnails at the top of the stack.

15. A method for visually representing a plurality of computer data objects with a stack icon on a display, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from a user to display a stack icon;

identifying a first plurality of computer data objects to be visually represented by the stack icon;

determining whether all of the identified objects share at least one of a location in a library, and a file type as a common characteristic;

determining a total number of computer data objects in said first plurality of computer data objects to be represented by the stack icon;

selecting a representative image for said common characteristic comprising one of;

a default icon image, a property-based icon image, and a thumbnail icon image, wherein the default icon image is a generic image that depicts the file type of at least one of the represented computer data objects, the property-based icon image is a default icon image with additional features including a numeric designator for indicating a number of items represented by the stack icon, and a file type overlay for indicating a file type of one or more computer data objects represented by the stack icon, wherein the file type overlay is positioned within a bounding rectangle about said property based icon image, and the thumbnail icon image displays at least a thumbnail image of one or more image or video files represented by the stack icon, and wherein a default icon is selected when a property-based icon image or a thumbnail icon image is not available;

selecting a default icon image as a representative image, where the first plurality of computer data objects are determined not to have a common characteristic; and

generating a stack icon to represent said first plurality of computer data objects, said stack icon having a second plurality of distinct elements corresponding to said first plurality of computer data objects, and having a topmost element that includes said representative image for said common characteristic, wherein the second plurality of elements are displayed rotated with respect to each other beneath the topmost element.

16. The method claim 15, wherein a unique stack icon is provided when a stack icon represents zero data objects.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said topmost element is arranged horizontally.