US6046739A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for organizing objects managed within a desktop
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-03-28
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Granted: 2000-04-04
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Expires: 2017-03-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a system and method for organizing objects managed within a desktop. A user may choose to create organizer objects to track and organize any type of object, or even to track and organize particular objects. The method of the present invention allows a user to create an organizer object within any container object on the desktop. An organizer object is a permanent and persistent object which tracks and organizes objects within the container as the objects are selected by the user. When an object of the tracked type is selected by the user, the desktop event handling mechanism notifies the appropriate organizer object. At any time, the user may choose to see the objects as they are organized by an organizer object. Desired objects are found with a minimal amount of effort by the user, and the user may customize the viewing and management of the list of tracked objects, or may choose to use system defaults for the viewing and management of the list of tracked objects.
Inventors
- 👤 Margaret Gardner MacPhail
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A method of organizing objects in an information handling system, comprising: creating a first object of a first object type, wherein the first object is a permanent and persistent object, and wherein the first object is associated with a selected container; selecting one or more object types to be tracked by the first object, wherein a plurality of object types exist in the information handling system, and wherein each object in the information handling system is of one of the plurality of object types, and wherein objects of a same object type share one or more characteristics; in response to a user selection of a second object of a second object type, wherein the second object is within the selected container, determining if the second object type is of one of the object types to be tracked by the first object; and if the second object type is of one of the object types to be tracked by the first object, updating the first object to indicate that the second object was selected by the users, wherein said updating includes adding the second object to a list maintained by the first object, wherein the list contains frequently selected objects from the container associated with the first object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
207 words
A method of organizing objects in an information handling system, comprising: creating a first object of a first object type, wherein the first object is a permanent and persistent object, and wherein the first object is associated with a selected container; selecting one or more object types to be tracked by the first object, wherein a plurality of object types exist in the information handling system, and wherein each object in the information handling system is of one of the plurality of object types, and wherein objects of a same object type share one or more characteristics; in response to a user selection of a second object of a second object type, wherein the second object is within the selected container, determining if the second object type is of one of the object types to be tracked by the first object; and if the second object type is of one of the object types to be tracked by the first object, updating the first object to indicate that the second object was selected by the users, wherein said updating includes adding the second object to a list maintained by the first object, wherein the list contains frequently selected objects from the container associated with the first object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said selecting one or more object types to be tracked by the first object comprises selecting one or more file types to be tracked by the first object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said updating further comprises arranging the list in a predetermined order.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the first object is an organizer object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said creating further comprises customizing a template, wherein the template is used to determine one or more default settings for the first object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said customizing comprises: providing a user with a plurality of template objects from which to select a particular template object; in response to a user selected template object, determining which template object was selected; displaying a customization menu, wherein said displaying provides the user with one or more customization choices from which to select; and in response to a user selected customization choice, determining a default setting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said selecting comprises dragging and dropping a selected object onto the user selected template object, wherein the selected object is of one of the object types to be tracked by the first object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said updating further comprises notifying the first object that the second object was selected by the user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said selecting further comprises registering the first object for selection events within a scope of the container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said registering further comprises registering the first object for selection events within one or more nested levels of the container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said notifying comprises posting an event for the first object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
198 words
An information handling system, comprising: one or more processors; storage means; input/output means; display means; one or more images of an operating system for controlling operation of said processors; means for creating a first object of a first object type, wherein the first object is a permanent and persistent object, and wherein the first object is associated with a selected container; means for selecting one or more object types to be tracked by the first object, wherein a plurality of object types exist in the information handling system, and wherein each object in the information handling system is of one of the plurality of object types, and wherein objects of a same object type share one or more characteristics; means for determining if a user-selected object from within the selected container is of one of the object types to be tracked by the first object; and means for updating the first object to indicate that the second object was selected by the user, wherein said means for updating comprises means for adding the second object to a list maintained by the first object, wherein the list contains frequently selected objects from the container associated with the first object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
198 words
An information handling system, comprising: one or more processors; storage means; input/output means; display means; one or more images of an operating system for controlling operation of said processors; means for creating a first object of a first object type, wherein the first object is a permanent and persistent object, and wherein the first object is associated with a selected container; means for selecting one or more object types to be tracked by the first object, wherein a plurality of object types exist in the information handling system, and wherein each object in the information handling system is of one of the plurality of object types, and wherein objects of a same object type share one or more characteristics; means for determining if a user-selected object from within the selected container is of one of the object types to be tracked by the first object; and means for updating the first object to indicate that the second object was selected by the user, wherein said means for updating comprises means for adding the second object to a list maintained by the first object, wherein the list contains frequently selected objects from the container associated with the first object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
An information handling system according to claim 12, wherein said means for selecting one or more object types to be tracked by the first object comprises means for selecting one or more file types to be tracked by the first object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An information handling system according to claim 12, wherein said means for updating further comprises means for arranging the list in a predetermined order.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
An information handling system according to claim 12, wherein the first object is an organizer object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
An information handling system according to claim 12, wherein said means for creating further comprises means for customizing a template, wherein the template is used to determine one or more default settings for the first object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
An information handling system according to claim 16, wherein said means for customizing comprises: means for providing a user with a plurality of template objects from which to select a particular template object; means for determining which template object was selected; means for displaying a customization menu, wherein said displaying provides the user with one or more customization choices from which to select; and means for determining a default setting based on a user selected customization choice.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
An information handling system according to claim 17, wherein said means for selecting comprises means for dragging and dropping a selected object onto the user selected template object, wherein the selected object is of one of the object types to be tracked by the first object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
An information handling system according to claim 12, wherein said means for updating further comprises means for notifying the first object that the second object was selected by the user.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
An information handling system according to claim 19, wherein said selecting further comprises means for registering the first object for selection events within a scope of the container.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
An information handling system according to claim 20, wherein said means for registering further comprises means for registering the first object for selection events within one or more nested levels of the container.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
An information handling system according to claim 20, wherein said means for notifying comprises means for posting an event for the first object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
163 words
A computer-usable medium, comprising: means for creating a first object of a first object type, wherein the first object is a permanent and persistent object, and wherein the first object is associated with a selected container; means for selecting one or more object types to be tracked by the first object, wherein a plurality of object types exist, and wherein each object is of one of the plurality of object types, and wherein objects of a same object type share one or more characteristics; means for determining if a user-selected object from within the selected container is of one of the object types to be tracked by the first object; and means for updating the first object to indicate that the second object was selected by the user, wherein said means for updating comprises means for adding the second object to a list maintained by the first object, wherein the list contains frequently selected objects from the container associated with the first object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
163 words
A computer-usable medium, comprising: means for creating a first object of a first object type, wherein the first object is a permanent and persistent object, and wherein the first object is associated with a selected container; means for selecting one or more object types to be tracked by the first object, wherein a plurality of object types exist, and wherein each object is of one of the plurality of object types, and wherein objects of a same object type share one or more characteristics; means for determining if a user-selected object from within the selected container is of one of the object types to be tracked by the first object; and means for updating the first object to indicate that the second object was selected by the user, wherein said means for updating comprises means for adding the second object to a list maintained by the first object, wherein the list contains frequently selected objects from the container associated with the first object.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer-usable medium according to claim 23, wherein said means for selecting one or more object types to be tracked by the first container comprises means for selecting one or more file types to be tracked by the first container.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer-usable medium according to claim 23, wherein said means for updating further comprises means for arranging a list in a predetermined order; means for posting an event for the first object.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer-usable medium according to claim 23, wherein the first object is an organizer object.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
A computer-usable medium according to claim 23, wherein said means for creating further comprises means for customizing a template, wherein the template is used to determine one or more default settings for the first object.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
76 words
A computer-usable medium according to claim 27, wherein said means for customizing comprises: means for providing a user with a plurality of template objects from which to select a particular template object; means for determining which template object was selected; means for displaying a customization menu, wherein said displaying provides the user with one or more customization choices from which to select; and means for determining a default setting based on a user selected customization choice.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer-usable medium according to claim 28, wherein said means for selecting comprises means for dragging and dropping a selected object onto the user selected template object, wherein the selected object is of one of the object types to be tracked by the first object.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer-usable medium according to claim 23, wherein said means for updating further comprises means for notifying the first object that the second object was selected by the user.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer-usable medium according to claim 30, wherein said selecting further comprises means for registering the first object for selection events within a scope of the container.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer-usable medium according to claim 31, wherein said means for registering further comprises means for registering the first object for selection events within one or more nested levels of the container.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer-usable medium according to claim 31, wherein said means for notifying comprises means for posting an event for the first object.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-04 | 2003-10-04 | 2004-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-04 | 2007-10-04 | 2008-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-04 | 2011-10-04 | 2012-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |