Method for accessing computer files and data, using linked categories assigned to each data file record on entry of the data file record

Claim 1

A method for accessing files in a data storage system of a computer system having means for reading and writing data from the data storage system, displaying information, and accepting user input, the method comprising the steps of: (a) initially creating in the computer system a category description table containing a plurality of category descriptions, each category description comprising a descriptive name, the category descriptions having no predefined hierarchical relationship with such list or each other; (b) thereafter creating in the computer system a file information directory comprising at least one entry corresponding to a file on the data storage system, each entry comprising at least a unique file identifier for the corresponding file, and a set of category descriptions selected from the category description table; and (c) thereafter creating in the computer system a search filter comprising a set of category descriptions, wherein for each category description in the search filter there is guaranteed to be at least one entry in the file information directory having a set of category descriptions matching the set of category descriptions of the search filter.

Claim 2

A method for accessing files in a data storage system of a computer system having means for reading and writing data from the data storage system, displaying information, and accepting user input, the method comprising the steps of: (a) initially creating in the computer system a category description table containing a plurality of category descriptions, each category description comprising a descriptive name, the category descriptions having no predefined hierarchical relationship with such list or each other; (b) thereafter creating in the computer system a file information directory comprising at least one entry corresponding to a file on the data storage system, each entry comprising at least a unique file identifier for the corresponding file, and a set of category descriptions selected from the category description table; and (c) thereafter creating in the computer system a search filter comprising a set of category descriptions, wherein for each category description in the search filter there is guaranteed to be at least one entry in the file information directory having a set of category descriptions matching the set of category descriptions of the search filter.

Claim 16

A system for accessing files in a data storage system comprising: (a) a plurality of files in a data storage system; (b) a plurality of user-defined category descriptions, each category description comprising a descriptive name, the category descriptions having no predefined hierarchical relationship with such list or each other; (c) file association means for associating at least one file with at least one category description selected from the plurality of previously defined category descriptions; (d) category description addition means for adding one or more additional category descriptions to the plurality of user-defined category descriptions; and (e) category linking means for linking at least one linking category description to at least one linked category description, such that if a specific file is associated with a linking category description, the user must also associate that specific file with at least one of the linked category descriptions corresponding to the linking category description.

Claim 17

A system for accessing files in a data storage system comprising: (a) a plurality of files in a data storage system; (b) a plurality of user-defined category descriptions, each category description comprising a descriptive name, the category descriptions having no predefined hierarchical relationship with such list or each other; (c) file association means for associating at least one file with at least one category description selected from the plurality of previously defined category descriptions; (d) category description addition means for adding one or more additional category descriptions to the plurality of user-defined category descriptions; and (e) category linking means for linking at least one linking category description to at least one linked category description, such that if a specific file is associated with a linking category description, the user must also associate that specific file with at least one of the linked category descriptions corresponding to the linking category description.

Claim 20

A system for accessing files in a data storage system of a computer system having means for reading and writing data from the data storage system, displaying information, and accepting user input, wherein each file located on the data storage system has a file name, the system comprising: (a) means for initially defining in the computer system at least one list having a plurality of category descriptions, each category description comprising a descriptive name, the category descriptions having no predefined hierarchical relationship with such list or each other; (b) means for thereafter accepting user input associating with a file at least one category description from at least one defined list; (c) means for storing in the data storage system a file record containing at least the file name, file location information, and the associated category descriptions for the file; (d) means for displaying from each defined list, as selectable items, only those category descriptions associated with at least one file; (e) means for accepting user positional input defining a search filter of at least one category description selected from at least one displayed defined list; (f) means for automatically disabling, in the computer system, selectability of all other category descriptions in each displayed list that do not have associated files which are also associated with the category descriptions of the defined search filter; (g) means for searching in the computer system the category descriptions of each stored file record for a logical match to the category descriptions of the defined search filter; (h) means for displaying the file names of all file records having category descriptions that logically match each category description of the defined search filter.

Claim 21

A system for accessing files in a data storage system of a computer system having means for reading and writing data from the data storage system, displaying information, and accepting user input, wherein each file located on the data storage system has a file name, the system comprising: (a) means for initially defining in the computer system at least one list having a plurality of category descriptions, each category description comprising a descriptive name, the category descriptions having no predefined hierarchical relationship with such list or each other; (b) means for thereafter accepting user input associating with a file at least one category description from at least one defined list; (c) means for storing in the data storage system a file record containing at least the file name, file location information, and the associated category descriptions for the file; (d) means for displaying from each defined list, as selectable items, only those category descriptions associated with at least one file; (e) means for accepting user positional input defining a search filter of at least one category description selected from at least one displayed defined list; (f) means for automatically disabling, in the computer system, selectability of all other category descriptions in each displayed list that do not have associated files which are also associated with the category descriptions of the defined search filter; (g) means for searching in the computer system the category descriptions of each stored file record for a logical match to the category descriptions of the defined search filter; (h) means for displaying the file names of all file records having category descriptions that logically match each category description of the defined search filter.

Claim 23

A method for accessing files in a data storage system of a computer system having means for reading and writing data from the data storage system, displaying information, and accepting user input, wherein each file located on the data storage system has a file name, the method comprising the steps of: (a) initially defining in the computer system at least one list having a plurality of category descriptions, each category description comprising a descriptive name, the category descriptions having no predefined hierarchical relationship with such list or each other; (b) thereafter accepting user input associating with a file at least one category description from at least one defined list; (c) storing in the data storage system a file record containing at least the file name, file location information, and the associated category descriptions for the file; (d) displaying from each defined list, as selectable items, only those category descriptions associated with at least one file; (e) accepting user positional input defining a search filter of at least one category description selected from at least one displayed defined list; (f) automatically disabling, in the computer system, selectability of all other category descriptions in each displayed list that do not have associated files which are also associated with the category descriptions of the defined search filter; (g) searching in the computer system the category descriptions of each stored file record for a logical match to the category descriptions of the defined search filter; (h) displaying the file names of all file records having category descriptions that logically match each category description of the defined search filter.

Claim 24

A method for accessing files in a data storage system of a computer system having means for reading and writing data from the data storage system, displaying information, and accepting user input, wherein each file located on the data storage system has a file name, the method comprising the steps of: (a) initially defining in the computer system at least one list having a plurality of category descriptions, each category description comprising a descriptive name, the category descriptions having no predefined hierarchical relationship with such list or each other; (b) thereafter accepting user input associating with a file at least one category description from at least one defined list; (c) storing in the data storage system a file record containing at least the file name, file location information, and the associated category descriptions for the file; (d) displaying from each defined list, as selectable items, only those category descriptions associated with at least one file; (e) accepting user positional input defining a search filter of at least one category description selected from at least one displayed defined list; (f) automatically disabling, in the computer system, selectability of all other category descriptions in each displayed list that do not have associated files which are also associated with the category descriptions of the defined search filter; (g) searching in the computer system the category descriptions of each stored file record for a logical match to the category descriptions of the defined search filter; (h) displaying the file names of all file records having category descriptions that logically match each category description of the defined search filter.