EP1566752A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rapid visual sorting of digital files and data
Assignee: Microsoft Corp
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Filing: 2005-02-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2025-02-11
Abstract
Abstract Described is a system and method including a user interface to manage sets of digital data (e.g., files) such as digital photographs or email messages. The system and method comprise a rapid sort mechanism and an underlying support mechanism that associates metadata with each set of digital data, including annotation metadata obtained from the sort mechanism. As the user scrolls through images that represent the sets of digital data and categorizes them, metadata as to its particular categorization or lack of categorization is implicitly obtained and associated with each set of digital data. Grouping of sets of digital data into clusters is also provided, with a visual indication as to which cluster a set of digital data belongs. With respect to digital photography, the system and method makes annotating and classifying digital photographs significantly easier and faster than contemporary photograph management mechanisms.
Inventors
- 👤 Asta J. Roseway
- 👤 Curtis Wong
- 👤 Steven C. Glenner
- 👤 Steven D. Demar
- 👤 Steven M. Drucker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F17/00; G06F17/40; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0485; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0483; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99937
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A method in a computing environment, comprising: providing a mechanism to sort sets of digital data into
categories based on user interaction with the mechanism; and maintaining category information in association with at
least some of the sorted sets of digital data corresponding
to how each sorted set has been categorized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein maintaining the
category information comprises maintaining metadata.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the sets of digital
data comprise digital photographs, and wherein maintaining
classification metadata comprises storing an indication of
whether a digital photographs has been sorted into at least
one category of a set containing: a hidden category, a
private category, a majority category, a highlights
category, a best category and a representative category.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein maintaining
classification metadata comprises receiving a user-specified
category.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein providing a
mechanism to sort the sets of digital data comprises
providing a user interface to scroll through the sets of
data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising,
receiving a user command via the user interface and
scrolling based on the command.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising,
receiving a user command via the user interface and sorting
based on the command.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising,
arranging the sets of digital data to scroll in time order
based on time data associated with each set of digital data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising,
displaying images representative of at least two sets of
digital data, with one image being shown as a currently
selected image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the image shown as a
selected set is larger than any other image representative
of a set of digital data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the
sets of digital data are grouped into clusters, and further
comprising, displaying an image representative of a set of
digital data in conjunction with a visible indication that
indicates that the image's corresponding set of digital data
belongs to a cluster.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising,
processing the category information to filter output
corresponding to the sets of digital data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sets of digital
data comprise a subset of a larger collection of digital
data that has been previously narrowed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
At least one computer-readable medium having
computer-executable instructions, which when executed
perform the method of claim 1.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
88 words
A method in a computer system having a graphical
user interface including at least one display and at least
one user interface selection device, comprising: displaying a plurality of images representing
respective sets of digital data; scrolling the plurality of images based on user
scrolling instructions received via a selection device; and sorting at least some of the sets of digital data based
on user sorting instructions received via a selection
device; and automatically maintaining metadata in association with
the digital data based on the user sorting instructions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 wherein displaying the
plurality of images comprises displaying the images in a
generally-linear stream.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 wherein displaying the
plurality of images comprises displaying at least two of the
images in an arranged ordering.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 wherein each image is
associated with a time, and wherein displaying the plurality
of images comprises displaying the images in time-based
ordering.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the user scrolling
instructions correspond to manual keyboard input.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15 the user scrolling
instructions correspond to input from a pointing device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the user scrolling
instructions correspond to an instruction to automatically
scroll until otherwise halted.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 wherein sorting based on
user sorting instructions comprises detecting actuation of a
keyboard key corresponding to a currently-selected image and
a category.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 15 wherein sorting based on
user sorting instructions comprises detecting a pen gesture
corresponding to a currently-selected image and a category.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising
displaying a representative category location including a
thumbnail of at least one of the images that has been sorted
into a category that corresponds to the representative
category location.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 24 wherein a thumbnail image
corresponds to a currently-selected image, and further
comprising, displaying the thumbnail image in a different
manner relative to other thumbnails to indicate that the
currently-selected image has been categorized.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15 wherein displaying the
plurality of images comprises displaying two images side-by-side.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15 wherein at least some of
the sets of digital data are grouped into clusters, and
wherein displaying the plurality of images comprises
displaying an image in a manner that indicates that the
image's corresponding set of digital data belongs to a
cluster.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 27 wherein displaying an image
in a manner that indicates that the image's corresponding
set of digital data belongs to a cluster comprises
displaying a gap between images of one cluster and other
images.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 27 wherein displaying an image
in a manner that indicates that the image's corresponding
set of digital data belongs to a cluster comprises
displaying frames of one color around images of one cluster
and displaying frames of another color around images of
another cluster.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the sets of digital
data comprise a subset of a larger collection of digital
data by having been previously narrowed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
At least one computer-readable medium having
computer-executable instructions, which when executed
perform the method of claim 15.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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