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| United States Patent Application |
20090288006
|
| Kind Code
|
A1
|
|
Audet; Mathieu
; et al.
|
November 19, 2009
|
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL DOCUMENTS LOCATING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
A method of visualizing and manipulating data on a display of a computer
is provided, the method comprising retrieving a plurality of documents
from a file system operably connected to the computer, each said document
having at least one attribute associated therewith; graphically
organizing the plurality of documents retrieved from the file system
along a first substantially linear axis on the display; selecting a
selected attribute associated with a selected document, the selected
document being selected from among the plurality of documents organized
along the first substantially linear axis; and graphically organizing a
subset of the plurality of documents retrieved from the file system along
a second substantially linear axis on the display, the first and second
axes being organized such that the first and second substantially linear
axes are non-parallel to one another, wherein the subset of the plurality
of documents only includes documents having attributes associated
therewith that match the selected attribute. A program, an interface and
a system thereof are also provided.
| Inventors: |
Audet; Mathieu; (Montreal, CA)
; Berthiaume; Yves; (Mont-St-Hilaire, CA)
|
| Correspondence Name and Address:
|
MAYA-SYSTEMS INC.;Attn.: Intellectual Property Department
4198 MARCIL AVENUE
MONTREAL
QC
H4A-2Z6
CA
|
| Serial No.:
|
493191 |
| Series Code:
|
12
|
| Filed:
|
June 27, 2009 |
| U.S. Current Class: |
715/716; 707/1; 707/E17.008; 715/810 |
| U.S. Class at Publication: |
715/716; 715/810; 707/1; 707/E17.008 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G06F 3/048 20060101 G06F003/048; G06F 3/14 20060101 G06F003/14 |
Claims
1. A method of visualizing and manipulating data on a display of a
computer, the method comprising:retrieving a plurality of documents from
a file system operably connected to the computer, each said document
having at least one attribute associated therewith;graphically organizing
the plurality of documents retrieved from the file system along a first
substantially linear axis on the display;selecting a selected attribute
associated with a related document among the plurality of documents
organized along the first substantially linear axis; andgraphically
organizing a subset of the plurality of documents retrieved from the file
system along a second substantially linear axis on the display, the first
and second axes being organized such that the first and second
substantially linear axes are non-parallel to one another,wherein the
subset of the plurality of documents only includes documents having
attributes associated therewith that match the selected attribute.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:selecting a second selected
attribute associated with a second related document, the second related
document among the plurality of documents organized along the second
substantially linear axis; andgraphically organizing a subset of the
plurality of documents retrieved from the file system along a third
substantially linear axis on the display, the second and third axes being
organized such that the second and third substantially linear axes are
non-parallel to one another,wherein the subset of the plurality of
documents only includes documents having attributes associated therewith
that match the second selected attribute.
3. A method for organizing a plurality of music files in a system having a
display device and being capable of manipulating a plurality of music
album elements and song elements, each music album element having a least
one song attribute, the method comprising:generating a music album
element axis based on a music album attribute, the music album element
vector comprising a group of music album elements having the music album
attribute and being selected from the plurality of music album
elements;causing the display device to display a representation of the
music album element axis at a position;selecting a music album
element;generating a song element axis based on the selected music album
element, the song element axis comprising a group of song elements
related to the selected album element and being selected from the
plurality of song elements; andcausing the display device to display a
representation of the song element axis non-parallel to the position of
the representation of the music album element axis.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the selected music album element is
selected at least in part with an action performed on the music album
element axis.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the song element axis and the album
element axis are longitudinally scrollable.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein the song element axis intersects the
music album axis at the selected music album element.
7. The method of claim 3, wherein the music albums axis become invisible
when the song element axis is displayed.
8. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for
managing user-selectable elements, the method comprising:displaying on a
user interface a first array of user-selectable elements;allowing a user
to select a given attribute associated with at least one of the
user-selectable elements in the first array of user-selectable elements;
anddisplaying a second array of user-selectable elements non-parallel
with the first array of user-selectable elements, a plurality of
user-selectable elements in the second array of user-selectable elements
being associated with the given attribute selected by the user.
9. The program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method
of claim 8, wherein at least one of the arrays is a substantially linear
arrangement of user-selectable elements.
10. The program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method
of claim 8, wherein at least some of the user-selectable elements are
documents.
11. The program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method
of claim 8, wherein at least some of the user-selectable elements are
represented by a graphical representation of their respective content.
12. The program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method
of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the arrays of user-selectable
elements is coplanar.
13. The program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method
of claim 8, wherein the selection of the attribute is enabled by allowing
the user to perform an action on at least one of the user-selectable
elements.
14. The program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method
of claim 8, wherein each of the user-selectable elements is adapted to be
displayed in graphical association with at least some attributes
respectively associated therewith.
15. The program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method
of claim 8, wherein the second array of user-selectable elements is
adapted to intersect the first array of user-selectable elements at a
common user-selectable elements.
16. The program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method
of claim 8, wherein the attribute has a selected state and a non-selected
state, each one of the two states being adapted to be visually
discriminated from each other.
17. The program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method
of claim 8, wherein selecting an attribute is selecting a plurality of
attributes.
18. The program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method
of claim 8, comprisingallowing a user to select a given second attribute
associated with at least one of the user-selectable element in the second
array of user-selectable elements; anddisplaying a third array of
user-selectable elements non-parallel to the second array of
user-selectable elements, a plurality of the user-selectable elements in
the third array of user-selectable elements being associated with the
given second attribute selected by the user.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001]This United States Patent application relates to, claims priority
and is a Continuation of U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/265,443, filed Oct. 7,
2002, entitled MULTI-DIMENSIONAL LOCATING SYSTEM AND METHODS, which
claims priority on U.S. provisional application No. 60/329,146, filed
Oct. 15, 2001, entitled SYSTEM, METHOD AND SOFTWARE FOR INTERTING
(INTRODUCING), LOCATING, VIEWING, MANIPULATING AND EXTRACTING FILES FROM
A COMPUTER BASED VIA A PENTA-DIMENTIONAL GRAPHIC INTERFACE. All these
documents are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002]1. Field of the Invention
[0003]This invention relates generally to computer systems and more
specifically to man-machine interfaces that facilitate information
localization and organization.
[0004]2. Description of the Related Art
[0005]Computer systems are changing the way we live. They give access to a
tremendous computing power. Now everybody can own and operate a computer
system. The evolution of computer systems and software happens quite
rapidly. Thirty years ago computers were huge mainframe units with less
computer power than today's small calculators; now we have small and
powerful computer systems that are relatively inexpensive.
[0006]Because they have become sufficiently powerful, computer systems are
now part of our everyday communication tools, allowing their users to
store larger and larger quantities of data (i.e. information). Given the
ever-increasing scale and diversity of information and use of the
Internet, improving the technology of information retrieval is important.
Information on every form (i.e. data, audio, picture, video . . . ) is
now easily accessible like never before with available networks (for
instance the Internet). Therefore, the data quantity the computer system
user has to deal with is growing at an accelerated rate. The volume of
information is already so high that the time necessary to deal properly
with it is often unacceptable especially for professionals, scientists
and business people. In order for that information to become actually
usable knowledge, it needs to be easily accessible, usable and
understandable.
[0007]Evolution of computer science over recent years has allowed nearly
all types of information to be digitized and transformed into a form a
computer can handle. The sources of information are numerous, therefore
it is difficult for prior art computer systems to store information in a
manner that: A) allows retrieval through a common process/presentation,
B) allows the storage structure to be adjusted to his/her thinking
process, C) allows the user to create links between the elements of
information and D) provides visualization that clearly shows the
continuity between different elements of information that are using a
different time frame. In consequence, the task of efficiently gathering
and extracting information from computer systems may be both difficult
and tedious.
[0008]The systems well known in the art, however, are designed so that the
user has to adapt to the computer systems rather than the other way
around. Furthermore, the filing process in the computer system will
generally lead to some extent, to the loss of the flow of information, as
portions of information are separated during the filing process. Creating
multiple links is usually tedious, complicated, requires self-discipline
and is very costly in terms of time and memory space.
[0009]Conventional computer systems for organizing information are often
implemented as part of the operating system of the computer system and
are therefore provided as a basic utility to the user of the system to
allow the user to organize information in a manner embedded in the
operating system.
[0010]The main organizing system that is usually provided with existing
operating systems is the hierarchical filing system. The hierarchical
filing system is well known in the prior art and provides a hierarchy of
folders (i.e. directories or subdirectories) into which the user may
store information, such as text documents, data, pictures, videos, and
music files.
[0011]Classification and accessibility to the information usually require
user knowledge of numerous applications, as well as self-discipline in
the mapping of the data storage system. Each type of file has a unique
software that is suited to open it. Now, the Internet provides some kind
of interchangeability between files of differing format although the
interchangeability is often limited to Internet related files (i.e. HTML,
XML, JAVA . . . ). Even if the meaning of one information as part of a
group of information is critical, generally it is not possible to have a
global overview of all the various types of information recorded because
of the number of different programs needed to visualize the different
file types. The links between various files relate to a common topic and
are not obvious to the user.
[0012]The most popular hierarchical filing system in operating systems are
Windows Explorer.TM. on Windows.TM. operating system and the Finder.TM.
on the Macintosh.TM. operating system. Despite popularity, these systems
provide tools that manage efficiently only small quantities of
information at a time. These systems both remain restrained to filing by
file names using the "save as" function in most applications. With this
kind of classification a user can only have a "local" view on what is
stored in the computer system; a problem typically occurs when the
information quantity is too large and diversified. The problem is
exacerbated if links between the different information are provided.
[0013]While the hierarchical filing system allows a user to specify a
structure within which to file and store information in order to avoid
the clutter of a single folder receptacle, the hierarchical structure
forces the computer user to be as organized as possible in filing
information. If the user has difficulty in filing documents because of
the difficulty in deciding the proper categories for the document (e.g.
the document does not clearly apply to only one specific folder), the
user can file the document in a folder where it will be difficult to
retrieve considering it could have been placed logically in many
different folders. The usual manner prior art systems use would be to
save a copy of a document in as many different directories as there are
links and save linked documents in the same directories. Such an approach
is labor-intensive, requires considerable self-discipline, and is
extremely costly in terms of time and memory space. Furthermore, the
links between the documents remain non-evident.
[0014]As more and more documents are stored in the computer system memory,
an increasing number of documents are arbitrarily stored in the
hierarchical filing system. The user begins to have a bewildering clutter
of documents in every folder. Some of the documents are misplaced or
should have been located in many folders at the same time. With time, the
user's needs change and the hierarchical filing system must be updated
with newer considerations but most users are dissuaded because of the
known difficulty and time requirements. Usually, users prefer to continue
saving files to the same directories and folders and then wishing they
could remember where the files were stored. In addition, the time needed
to search in that kind of hierarchical filing system becomes more and
more important as the number of files is growing.
[0015]It should be noted that the difficulty in filing documents in a
computer system also affects the way the user interacts with the computer
system in that the user attempts to avoid the difficult work involved in
filing a document that is hard to categorize. This tends to result in the
computer becoming cluttered with documents that are hard to categorize or
otherwise filed or the user does not attempt to place the documents in
the computer system memory at all because of the realization it will be
difficult to organize. This effect tends to negate the advantages of a
filing system that has a hierarchical filing system with a graphical user
interface.
[0016]Every user has a preferred manner to file information in a computer
system. Some prefer a file name to distinguish each document while others
will implement different hierarchical architecture. Other users will file
information according to time. It is hard for someone else to understand
what the computer system is keeping in its memory considering the
different ways users can tailor the hierarchical filing system. It is
hard to understand what is important, what is not, and what is related to
what. Interchangeable knowledge is still difficult to attain between
computer systems users. This is obvious in that it is often difficult to
understand the information on an unfamiliar computer and the time needed
to familiarize oneself with an unfamiliar system is often
time-prohibitive.
[0017]Prior art information organizing systems usually do not provide a
way to easily understand links between the information. Every information
is usually considered as a unique piece of information and only the
creator of the information is (really) aware as to what it relates to. An
E-mail, a web page, a spreadsheet, or a text document are certainly
information but the value they have is limited as long as the links
between them are not obvious to another user. Computer system do not have
information organizing system that allow the user to perceive efficiently
the links that connect information elements in an "understandable story"
to get the whole meaning of the information. That is, the user is still
oblivious to the trends underneath the information.
[0018]When one is given a document to review, there is often a desire to
annotate the electronic document similar to annotating a paper copy.
Doing so with an electronic document will, similar to the paper version,
result in permanent alteration of the base document unless a second copy
is made. Furthermore, if different notes and comments are aimed at
different individuals, there needs to be as many different copies as
there are targets or receivers. It then may be desirable that such
annotations be made on a layer that does not alter the original document
to avoid creating new documents for each desired target.
[0019]In addition, conventional information organizing systems suffer from
at least another disadvantage: they do not provide a tool to easily
search and visualize the search results starting with an arbitrary
information element. Search results provided by conventional information
organizing system are given in order of relevancy using typed text as a
searching interface. Results are not given using pictures or images
although the information would be much more valuable since it is not
possible to explain in a short paragraph what a picture can show. When
the user is doing a search within a conventional organizing system or
even with Internet search engines, the user is usually beginning
searching with specific words, topics, or file formats. This allows the
user to isolate information elements that contain the searched words
either in the title or in the file itself. It is similar with file format
in that only file names of a specific format will be showed as a search
result. Often, results will be presented by relevancy using a listing.
Relevancy is based on arbitrary considerations depending on the search
engine used. That kind of search fails to present search results where
the related links with the information element are clearly shown.
[0020]With a prior art information managing system, the user must often
meticulously store documents in numerous directories. Easily displaying
all the elements linked and their sequence of entry is usually difficult.
Furthermore, displaying all the elements of information linked by a
combination of attributes to display all the linked elements in the order
or sequence that they have been entered (it may, for instance, be useful
to show a series of communications that have led to a final memo, or a
series of reports that have led to a given professional decision) is also
impractical. Conventional information managing systems are often
time-consuming and include obstacles that prevent users from regularly
maintaining, in a structured manner, significant quantities of
information. For example, if a user wants to keep a "life long"
information journal or logbook (like R. Buckminster Fuller's Chronofile
for instance), the user cannot use prior art information organizing
systems to record the information from his/her life. It is not possible
for an individual to record and to file various information elements from
multiple sources over a long period of time and hope that someone else
will be able to understand quickly and efficiently the meaning of the
information, the relationship between the information elements as well as
the order in which the events occurred. Any sorting of these information
would lead to the destruction of the only relation that exists between
them.
[0021]In corporate environments, it is important that the "knowledge" of
the enterprise remains usable, regardless of the employment status of the
author. Additionally, it is also desirable that the data management
methods used by employees be unified, both for efficiency,
interchangeability and ease-of-training reasons. That is, a unified
system enables the decision-making process to be more coherent. An
efficient and coherent information managing system should also be an
intricate part of a company quality assurance program.
[0022]Furthermore, companies that are engaged in extensive research and
development generate substantial files and documents from several
sources. As a result, these document-driven firms need a tool to
efficiently track these documents. It can be useful to keep track of
project history and the objective behind each stage of the project. By
maintaining a detailed history, additional projects may be fostered and
repetitive projects avoided. Adding to the need for efficient and
organized document management is professional employee turnover. One
example of an incentive for a structured file management structure is tax
incentive. In some countries, research and development can be tax
deductible. In order to have access to the R&D tax credit a company must
prove the work was done. With prior art documents filing systems it
represents an enormous task to find the information needed to make the
proof. Knowledge tracking, recording, and interchangeability represent a
constant challenge and a huge task that prior art systems cannot
adequately accommodate.
[0023]Maintaining an address book and a calendar or agenda are usually
considered by conventional information managing systems as separate tasks
using separate software. These two relations to information are
fundamental and should be included in a complete designed information
managing system.
[0024]Prior art computer systems or computer interfaces have not provided
solutions to deal with the aforementioned problems and each of these
deficiencies in the prior art yield a demand for an improved information
managing system and method using an intuitive and natural way to visually
present information as well as the associations between the information.
Other needs might become apparent for a person having skills in the art
of information management in view of the present reading.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0025]It is, therefore, desirable to provide a method and a system that
organize information that is an improvement over known information
organizing methods and systems and improves at least one of the
aforementioned deficiencies.
[0026]Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a unified
method for graphically representing and organizing information elements,
that might be any kind of information regardless of the format, type,
size, media or nature of the information, a computer system including a
computer power unit, a memory, an input, an output, a display device and
a plurality of information elements.
[0027]In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, at least
one characterization attribute is associated with each information
element. A characterization attribute can be described as a "category",
topic, condition, task, action or type of document that characterizes the
information element according to the meaning the information element has
for the user. Because it is desirable to carry as much context as
possible with every information element the invention also provides a
tool to work with many characterization attributes for every information
element.
[0028]One further aspect of the present invention is a vector of
information elements. An information element vector is usually the
representation of more than one information element in a particular
order. Accordingly, this aspect of the present invention provides a first
vector of information elements. The first vector generally includes
information elements having at least one common characterization
attribute. Vectors of information elements present information elements
regardless of format or origin. The ordering of information elements on a
a vector is made according to a desired aspect (i.e. time, statistics,
memory size, last used, . . . ).
[0029]According to another aspect of the present invention, the selection
of at least one characterization attribute for at least one information
element in a first vector (the characterization attribute can
intrinsically be the information element) generates a second vector of
information elements including minimally one, but generally more than
one, information elements. The ability to simultaneously show a sequence
of information elements as well as a sequence of linked information
elements actually creates a multi-vectorial graphic interface.
[0030]According to another aspect of the present invention, the generation
of a second vector of information elements may act as a relational search
engine presenting, in the same second information element vector,
information elements that include at least one common characterization
attribute. The second information element vector presents information
elements in a way it is easy to ascertain which information element is
following the other on a same topic or category associated by an
information attribute. In addition, it is intuitive and easy for the user
of the information system to follow the path of information elements
using the vectors of information elements in a multi-vectorial space. The
vectors are evolving in the vectorial space that might be interpreted as
a plan or a volume defined by the different vectors.
[0031]In one aspect of the present invention, the system graphically
represents on a display device the vectors containing a representation of
information elements in a predetermined order so it is possible to
perceive what information elements are surrounding a selected information
element, what is before, what is after on one or on many characterization
attributes. The graphical representation brings a lot more information in
a glimpse of an eye than conventional representations (i.e. listings).
Furthermore, the user can switch from one information element to another
following only the relation between them (i.e. characterization
attributes). This is a much more efficient way to dispose information
than to take information elements coming from multiple sources and trying
to make links between them using the type of file or the location in the
memory device of the computer system.
[0032]It is another aspect of the present invention to have a third vector
which may represent the variation in time of a given information element.
Variations can mean versions, annotations, and updates of a given
information element.
[0033]Another aspect of the present invention provides a progressive zoom
in and zoom out of the vectorial space. A user can then see only a part
of one information element, one complete information element; or many
information elements on one or more information elements vectors.
[0034]Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a global
interface and a plurality of specific information element interfaces so
that each information element has its own specific interface where it is
possible to visualize and to act on its particular characterization
attributes. This aspect of this invention allows a user to act globally
on the system while using the global interface as well as the possibility
to act locally on each individual information element representation on
the display device using the specific information element interface.
[0035]One other aspect of the present invention provides a method for
displaying and navigating documents by displaying documents along axes in
accordance with a choice of attributes, the choice of attribute can be
performed based on an document on a first axis of documents and generate
a second axis of documents having the selected attribute, the second axis
is graphically aligned with the document on the first axis from which the
attribute has been selected to emphasis the relationship between the
axes.
[0036]An aspect of the present invention provides a method for visualizing
and manipulating data on a display of a computer, the method comprising
retrieving a plurality of documents from a file system operably connected
to the computer, each said document having at least one attribute
associated therewith; graphically organizing the plurality of documents
retrieved from the file system along a first substantially linear axis on
the display; selecting a selected attribute associated with a related
document among the plurality of documents organized along the first
substantially linear axis; and graphically organizing a subset of the
plurality of documents retrieved from the file system along a second
substantially linear axis on the display, the first and second axes being
organized such that the first and second substantially linear axes are
non-parallel to one another, wherein the subset of the plurality of
documents only includes documents having attributes associated therewith
that match the selected attribute.
[0037]An aspect of the present invention provides a method for organizing
a plurality of music files in a system having a display device and being
capable of manipulating a plurality of music album elements and song
elements, each music album element having a least one song attribute, the
method comprising generating a music album element axis based on a music
album attribute, the music album element vector comprising a group of
music album elements having the music album attribute and being selected
from the plurality of music album elements; causing the display device to
display a representation of the music album element axis at a position;
selecting a music album element; generating a song element axis based on
the selected music album element, the song element axis comprising a
group of song elements related to the selected album element and being
selected from the plurality of song elements; and causing the display
device to display a representation of the song element axis non-parallel
to the position of the representation of the music album element axis.
[0038]Another aspect of the present invention provides a program storage
device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of
instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for managing
user-selectable elements, the method comprising displaying on a user
interface a first array of user-selectable elements; allowing a user to
select a given attribute associated with at least one of the
user-selectable elements in the first array of user-selectable elements;
and displaying a second array of user-selectable elements non-parallel
with the first array of user-selectable elements, a plurality of
user-selectable elements in the second array of user-selectable elements
being associated with the given attribute selected by the user.
[0039]These and other advantages and features of the present invention
will become apparent from the following description and the attached
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040]FIG. 1 is a block-diagram of the sources of information leading to
knowledge growth;
[0041]FIG. 2 depicts a schematic representation of the growth of an
individual's knowledge in time;
[0042]FIG. 3 depicts a schematic representation of multiple individual's
vectors in time;
[0043]FIG. 4 depicts a schematic representation of parallel vectors of
individuals in time and the contacts leading to the exchange of
information between them;
[0044]FIG. 5 depicts a schematic representation of the "bicephal"
(personal/professional) aspect of an individual's path in time;
[0045]FIG. 6 is a block-diagram of an integrated hardware and software
computer system;
[0046]FIG. 7 is a block-diagram of a filing process controlled by the
SMLOI;
[0047]FIG. 8 is a block-diagram of the multiple unique filing process
controlled by a prior art operating system;
[0048]FIG. 9 is a block-diagram depicting the multiple-link part of the
filing process controlled by the SMLOI;
[0049]FIG. 10 is a block-diagram depicting the information insertion
levels in the SMLOI;
[0050]FIG. 11 depicts the notions of information's layer, version and
assembly in the SMLOI;
[0051]FIG. 12 depicts one SMLOI information element;
[0052]FIG. 13a depicts an information element with a date and time
counter;
[0053]FIG. 13b depicts a unified format representation of an information
element;
[0054]FIG. 14 depicts a more detailed view of the characterization
attribute window from the attribute sub-area in the SMLOI;
[0055]FIG. 15 depicts a SMLOI information element illustratively having a
unified format representation of an audio document;
[0056]FIG. 16 depicts an alternate dynamic assembly of an audio unified
format representation document in the SMLOI;
[0057]FIG. 17 depicts a SMLOI information element illustratively having a
unified format representation of a video document;
[0058]FIG. 18 depicts an alternate dynamic assembly of a unified format
representation video document;
[0059]FIG. 19a depicts a unified format representation of an Internet
sourced document;
[0060]FIG. 19b depicts an alternative unified format representation of the
document of FIG. 19a;
[0061]FIG. 20 depicts an unified format representation of an odd-sized
document;
[0062]FIG. 21 depicts an unified format representation of an odd-sized
document resized in a standard SMLOI information element size;
[0063]FIG. 22 depicts an unified format representation of a reference to a
non-electronic document;
[0064]FIG. 23 depicts a SMLOI basic entry sequencing applied to an unified
format representation of a document as it is inserted in the SMLOI;
[0065]FIG. 24 depicts an alternative "pile" methods of graphically
representing the information element order in the SMLOI;
[0066]FIG. 25 depicts an alternative "roll" method of graphically
representing the information element order in the SMLOI;
[0067]FIG. 26 depicts the use of bookmarks in the SMLOI;
[0068]FIG. 27 depicts a bi-dimensional view of two intersecting
information element vectors in the SMLOI;
[0069]FIG. 28 depicts a bi-dimensional view of multiple intersecting
information element vectors in the SMLOI;
[0070]FIG. 29 depicts a tri-dimensional view of three information element
vectors in the SMLOI;
[0071]FIG. 30 depicts a tri-dimensional view of three information element
vectors in addition to a fourth vector in the SMLOI;
[0072]FIG. 31 depicts the second relative information element vector
possibilities according to the fourth vector;
[0073]FIG. 32 depicts a typical corporate bloc diagram;
[0074]FIG. 33 depicts an alternative SMLOI illustratively applied to a
multi-user corporate environment;
[0075]FIG. 34 depicts an access grid from a SMLOI in a multi-user
corporate environment;
[0076]FIG. 35 depicts an alternative SMLOI in a multi-user corporate
environment;
[0077]FIG. 36 depicts an alternative SMLOI access bloc diagram for a
typical corporate environment;
[0078]FIG. 37 depicts a uni-dimensional view of the SMLOI with access
codes;
[0079]FIG. 38 depicts a uni-dimensional limited access view of the SMLOI;
[0080]FIG. 39 depicts a privacy-enhanced view of the SMLOI;
[0081]FIG. 40 depicts a bi-dimensional limited access view of the SMLOI;
[0082]FIG. 41 depicts a uni-dimensional view of the SMLOI;
[0083]FIG. 42 depicts a uni-dimensional view of the SMLOI in
privacy-enhanced mode;
[0084]FIG. 43 depicts a proposed graphical interface for the SMLOI;
[0085]FIG. 44 depicts multiple view size windows of the SMLOI;
[0086]FIG. 45 depicts a proposed "radar-screen" in the SMLOI;
[0087]FIG. 46 depicts a proposed "radar-screen" presenting the future in
the SMLOI;
[0088]FIG. 47 depicts a proposed view of the SMLOI in a web browser
window;
[0089]FIG. 48 depicts SMLOI as part of a typical game console;
[0090]FIG. 49 depicts a typical game console controller;
[0091]FIG. 50 depicts a path using multiple information element vectors;
and
[0092]FIG. 51 depicts a bi-dimensional view of the SMLOI with non-parallel
information element vectors intersecting in distinct planes.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION
[0093]A System and Method for Locating and Organizing Information (SMLOI)
illustratively stored in the memory of a computer system will now be
described in detail. The following description, specific steps,
procedures, method, commands, graphic representation, computer user
interface and other specifics are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be
apparent to one skilled in the art that the present description of the
invention provides only one example of how someone skilled in the art can
produce the claimed invention. It will also be apparent to one skilled in
the art that the present invention may be practiced without or with only
a portion of the specific details disclosed herein. In other instances,
well known systems and methods are shown in schematic and diagrammatic
form or not shown at all in order not to obscure with unnecessary details
the present invention.
The "Vector" Knowledge Theory
[0094]In order to build a good knowledge management system it is necessary
to analyze how knowledge is acquired and how it is processed by a human
being. A model was created to help understand how people are managing
information and knowledge.
[0095]To improve the efficiency of knowledge management, the usefulness of
the knowledge should be increased. If the knowledge is defined as the sum
of the information retained, it can be said that the increase in
efficiency of knowledge management can be attained by improving the
usefulness of the retained information. The usefulness of the information
lies in its ability to be understood, recorded, classified, visualized,
anticipated, retrieved, extracted and shared.
[0096]FIG. 1 illustrates how someone's knowledge level 10 increases.
Information is acquired through contact 14 with other individuals or
learned 12. The learned information 12 can be provided by actions 16 and
events 18. FIG. 1 illustrates also that information acquired through
contact 14 with other individuals can come from meetings or minutes 20,
messages or conversations 22, and documents 24.
[0097]The information gathering process is continuous for an individual.
FIG. 2 shows the path of an individual, schematized by a cylindrical
shape 30, relative to the absolute time vector 32, as being a continuous
gathering of information. The cylindrical shape 30 is a schematized
vector and will be explained in details later in this description. The
gathering process is illustratively operating through actions "a" 34,
contacts "c" 36 and events "e" 38 for the purpose of this description.
The amount of the knowledge or information is represented by the cross
area 40 of the cylindrical shape 30, and, as information is acquired
through time 32, the knowledge is increased, hence, diameter D.sub.2
44>diameter D.sub.1 46.
[0098]FIG. 3 shows three cylindrical shapes 30 that represent the
continuous, parallel paths of three different individuals 50, 52, and 54,
respectively, relative to time 32. Interaction 72 occurs between
individuals 50, 52, and 54 at time point 56 on the absolute time vector
32 over a period of time.
[0099]FIG. 4 shows the continuous, parallel path of individuals 50, 52,
54, 60, 62, 64, and 66, respectively, relative to time 32. Interaction 76
occurs between individuals 64 and 66 at time point 68, interaction 74
occurs between individuals 50 and 60 at time point 70, and interaction 72
occurs between individuals 50, 52 and 54 at time point 56. At
interactions 72, 74, and 76 the contacts are likely to generate an
exchange of information. The information can be of a personnel or a
professional nature. For example, if individuals 50, 52, and 54 are
employees of the same company their professional information transmitted
during event 72 at time point 56 may be labeled as corporate.
[0100]FIG. 5 shows the path of individual 50, 52, 54 and 60 with one
professional interaction 72 at time point 56 and one personal interaction
74 at time point 70. Personal interaction 74 is labeled and considered
differently than a professional interaction 72.
[0101]The cylinder 30 diameter variation, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5,
represents the amount of knowledge 10 acquired by an individual.
Equations and algorithms can be applied to that cylindrical
representation 30 of the increasing diameter 46. Some of the variables
may be the time vector 32, the cross area 40 of the cylinder 30, the time
between contacts, the number of individuals, the nature of contacts, the
diameter variation rate, the contact rate, the event rate, and the
communication rate.
[0102]Accordingly, this theory, as schematized by this model, considers
the time as a major reference in the knowledge gathering process of an
individual. Other references, maybe less intuitive, will be listed later
and are within the scope of the present invention. Different interactions
between individuals generate information exchange. Further in the
description it will be useful to understand that the schematized
cylindrical shape 30 is a vector, further described as 230 and 232, in
the SMLOI.
The Computer System
[0103]The System and Method for Locating and Organizing Information
(SMLOI) of the present invention is part of a computer system such as the
one shown in FIG. 6. The computer system shown in FIG. 6 is a complicated
one, it could have been described only by an input/output interface unit,
a system bus or network, a storage device and a processor. The type of
computer system presented in FIG. 6, that is well known by one skilled in
the art, includes a processing means, such as a microprocessor, a memory
mean 84, such as system RAM, and a storage means that can be network
based, such as a hard disk or other storage means having a high capacity
for storing documents and other information maintained by the filing
system. The processing means 82, the memory means 84, and the storage
means 86 (which may have its own I/O controller 88) are interconnected by
a system bus 90 which includes control signals as well as address lines
and data lines for sharing information, including data and instructions,
between the components of the computer system. Also connected to the
system bus 90 is an I/O controller 92 which controls the signals received
from a keyboard 94, a mouse 96, an image capture device 100, a touch
screen (not shown), a microphone 102, and a game control 98 and provide
those signals, which indicate instructions from the user, to the computer
system. A display controller 104 is coupled to the system bus 90 and
receives commands and data from the processing means 82 and from the
memory means 84 via system bus 90. Display controller/adapter 104
controls a display device 106 in order to provide images for the user. It
will be appreciated that the typical computer system includes a bit
mapped screen stored in memory, which may be a dedicated frame buffer
memory 105 or the system memory. As shown in FIG. 6, a display means 106
displays on a display screen 108 a cursor 110, which is controlled by the
pointing device 96. The display means 106 may be any one of a variety of
known display systems, such as a video (CRT) display monitor or a liquid
crystal display or plasma screen. Future display devices such as E-paper,
rolled screen and other display devices such as direct retina projection,
direct brain stimulation means, and means for 3D representation are also
considered as appropriate display devices. The SMLOI can also use a
gaming console, a portable data assistant (PDA), a portable digital music
player or a wireless phone as a computer system.
[0104]The pointing device 110 of the present invention may be
substantially identical to the cursor control means shown in U.S. Pat.
No. Reissue 32,632. However, it will be understood by those skilled in
the art that many other types of cursor control means may be utilized,
such as graphic tablets, keyboard, touch tablets, trackballs, pen input
mechanisms, touch screens, game controller for game console, etc. Indeed,
any device capable of indicating x-y locations and capable of controlling
a cursor on a display means of the computerized system may be utilized in
the present SMLOI as a pointing device. This includes the "target point"
illustratively located in the center of the display means in action video
games.
[0105]The pointing device, such as a mouse 96 will often include a signal
generation means that typically includes a switch connected to a button
97. A user presses the button 97 to send one signal to the computer and
releases the button to send another signal to the computer. Other signal
generation means, as is well known in the art, may be used such as using
certain keys on a keyboard 94 or using a pen input device which positions
a cursor and, by pressing the pen's tip against the display screen,
selects the item pointed to/pressed at on the display screen.
[0106]Other kind of devices can be utilized as pointing devices and can
also work to indicate x-y and x-y-z locations if the display device
allows the user to perceive a third dimension. Game pad, tactile glove,
voice activation and other kind of pointing devices means are considered
as appropriate pointing devices and are within the scope of the present
invention.
[0107]Entering a document, which can be any kind of digitized information,
can be made in more than one way, through at least one action on the
computer system. One way is as the user is working on a document through
an application software to click on the designated SMLOI icon located in
typical windows-like operating system in the "task bar" or "status bar".
One alternate way in a typical windows-like operating system is to drag a
document (opened or not) on the SMLOI icon on the "desktop" and drop it.
One other alternate way is for the user to consider his/her SMLOI as a
printer, and do a print-to-the-SMLOI command. One other alternative way
could be for the user to consider his/her SMLOI as a drive, and do a
save-under-the-SMLOI command. The SMLOI icon can sit in the "dock" in an
Apple-computer-like environment. The SMLOI can also have embedded
functions in other applications that automatically achieve the same
actions or tasks.
[0108]In the SMLOI, the management of the computer memory space allocation
can be handled by the SMLOI. FIG. 7 shows a block-diagram of such a
handling from the SMLOI. The document 102 is linked to the
characteristics (or attributes) 117 and stored 109 under the SMLOI. The
SMLOI can generate a standard file 114 on the storage means 86. The SMLOI
could provide the added benefit of automatically encoding and/or
encrypting all files and illustratively generate a unique or multiple
".SMLOI" type files 115 making their access without the SMLOI impossible,
thus increasing security.
[0109]All existing documents or other data in a computer system directory
can be entered in the SMLOI as the SMLOI is installed on the computer.
All existing files found on different memory devices and storage devices
such as a floppy disk, a hard drive, magnetic tape, optical drive, RAM,
Flash memory, DVD, CD-ROM, USB key or other memory support can be entered
as SMLOI elements as a result of a single enter-in-SMLOI command. All
incoming e-mails and their attached files can be entered in the SMLOI as
a result of the choice of such a default mode in the SMLOI setup options.
It is understood all technologies available for wireless data transfer
are encompassed by the present invention. Illustratively, the information
elements, the axis, the files associated with the information elements
and all other data related to the SMLOI can be wirelessly transferred
using Wi-Fi networks, cellular phone lines, microwaves, AM and FM band,
satellites-based networks and other means for transferring data without
physical wires.
[0110]The SMLOI reduces the number of times a document file has to be
saved in the computer memory means. FIG. 8 shows a block-diagram of a
prior art system, where a document 112 gets linked to four different
subjects or topics, namely A, B, C and D. This is accomplished by filing
copies of the document into four different directories 120, occupying
four locations 121 in the computer's memory and four times the memory
space. FIG. 9 presents a block-diagram of the SMLOI where a document 112
is singly stored in the computer's memory (through the operating system
(OS) or SMLOI) and entered in the SMLOI. The document is then attributed
related attributes/characteristics. The only memory spaces occupied are
then for the document itself 124, and its SMLOI-only information 126,
respectively.
[0111]FIG. 10 shows a block-diagram of the system levels. Level zero
corresponds to the level without the SMLOI. Level one 130 is attained
through installation of the SMLOI. Level one 130 allows the SMLOI to
record a document with minimum interaction with the user. Level one 130
considers the primary insertion 133 as a "drag and drop" like means
action from the user. The SMLOI automatically records the information
linked to the document 112 such as (but not limited to) the file format
135, the time the insertion in the SMLOI was made, and the size of the
file. These characteristics are considered as intrinsic characteristics
136 (e.g. intrinsic characterization attributes) because they only ask
for the insertion action from the user.
[0112]Level two 131, as presented on FIG. 10, is the same as level one 130
with the addition of extrinsic characteristics 138. Extrinsic
attributes/characteristics 138 correspond to the information known by the
user that helps with understanding the meaning and the relation of the
document 112, to that which it relates, and all other information that
can assist with understanding the value of the document 112. Simply, each
document has its own unique extrinsic attributes/characteristics. The
addition of the extrinsic attributes/characteristics requires more
actions from the user. As such, level two 131 is considered a secondary
insertion 140 because it can be done at a different time from the primary
insertion 133 in the SMLOI. Level two 131 also allows the user to modify
intrinsic characteristics 141. Level one 130 and level two 131 do not
alter the document in the SMLOI itself.
[0113]Level three 132 brings the user to a level where the document may be
modified in the SMLOI. Annotations 142 can be made by the user in order
to add more meaning to the document already entered in the SMLOI. The
annotation, namely a layer 143, can be considered as a distinct document.
FIG. 11 shows an annotation 142 on which the user can chose to merge 146
the layer 143 so it will become an assembly 144. An assembly 144 is an
independent document. Actions on documents through application software
can be monitored by the SMLOI and altered documents being saved and
entered automatically as new annotations in the SMLOI as a level one 130
insertion.
[0114]If source file associated to an information element in an axis of
the SMLOI is moved to another location the SMLOI follows the movement of
the source file and automatically creates a link between the new location
and the information element to which the source file relates to keep the
SMLOI's database up to date.
[0115]In order to increase the efficiency of the SMLOI, computer
peripherals that are well known in the art such as printers, scanners, or
safety systems such as the ones used for biometrics recognition of the
user can be under direct control of the SMLOI. The SMLOI can also rely on
the operating system (OS) to accomplish these tasks. To further increase
the efficiency of the SMLOI without requiring too much of the user, links
between the SMLOI and certain application software for functions such as
e-mail, agenda/schedule or network access may also be provided.
[0116]In order to capture ongoing audio stream media or video stream
media, a memory buffer allows the user to constantly record information
so the user can keep information before he/she gives the recording order.
The memory buffer continuously records the streaming media that was seen
and/or heard by the user. The buffer has a user's specified time length
and eliminates old data to record new data unless the user has instructed
the system to keep what has been recorder in the memory. Useful data is
then kept in another memory location for further consultation.
The Information Element
[0117]Each document, music album, music track, picture, code, voice mail,
e-mail, copy of a webpage, E-book, video and other formats of information
managed by the SMLOI is called an "information element" and is referred
to as types of information. Most of them are files one can save on a
computer's memory. Illustratively, a file containing a single music track
(illustratively data type 1) could be juxtaposed in the SMLOI to a PDF
document (illustratively data type 2), then a complete music album
(illustratively data type 3) and followed by a text document
(illustratively data type 4). A document, any information, or any other
kind of data recorded in the SMLOI is illustratively represented using a
"unified format". Even if a "unified format" is desirable the SMLOI is
not limited to use a "unified format". Many different formats can
cooperate in the SMLOI, each having its own visual appearances. One of
the goals of a unified format is to provide an easy and constant manner
of presenting various documents or data, using the same pattern. An
information element can also be created by direct writing by the user
inside the SMLOI using any mean like a keyboard, a touch screen, voice or
image recordation or a pen-pointing device. An information element
generally presents an image of the information, the multiple
characteristics linked to the inserted document, and other information
related to document and to the SMLOI. The information element presents
either an image of the document or the real document itself. The user can
access the real document using the application program on the computer
system directly through its information element.
[0118]Each information element is composed by a document and by "areas".
The "areas" are presenting, in a standardized manner, the information
related to the document in order to give the user an instantaneous
overview of what is related to a given document. The areas are distinct
for every information element and are illustratively superposed on the
related document thus providing an intuitive graphical assembly while
letting the underneath document image appear in order to allow the user
to see the complete document. The areas are also utilized to manipulate
the SMLOI functionalities and are considered as a specific interface for
each information element in the SMLOI. The SMLOI then provides a global
interface acting on many information elements and multiple specific
interfaces respectively acting on their associated information element.
[0119]FIG. 12 shows a complete information element 150 with its proposed
unified representation. The information element's image 154 is completed
by an information area 156, an anterior assemblies area 158, an
intra-document multi-page area 160 and an ulterior assemblies information
area 162. Alternatively, the anterior and ulterior assemblies information
areas can be located at the information element bottom 163.
[0120]The information area 156 is itself divided between a date of entry
sub-area 165, an event-task-action sub-area 166, a information element
characterization attributes sub-area 167, a hyperlink sub-area 168 and an
entry sequence number sub-area 169. The information area 156 as presented
by FIG. 12 is partially superposed on the document so it is easy to see
which area is related to a specific document.
[0121]The date of entry sub-area 165 indicates the moment where the
information element was inserted in the SMLOI. Generally the user keeps
the entry date generated automatically by the SMLOI but it is possible
for the user to voluntarily modify the date of entry. The date of entry
can be modified if the user wants the information element to appear in
the SMLOI at a different sequential order. If the date of entry is
modified, the original date of entry is preferably kept by the SMLOI. The
information element that has multiple dates of entry can be seen at
multiple places in the sequential order of the SMLOI.
[0122]FIG. 12 shows the event-task-action sub-area 166. This sub-area has
the specific role to provide all kind of time-related information to the
SMLOI user. Time-related information includes meetings, tasks, alarms,
status (in force, expired or pending in the case of a patent document),
reminders, or the like. Icons and text are mixed to give a visual effect
in addition to sounds that attract the user's attention. The background
color of the event-task-action sub-area can change to give the user
further visual indications. For instance, green could mean that
everything related to that information element is completed, while yellow
could mean that something is currently ongoing and red that something is
late or past-due. Flashing background color may also have a specific
meaning. Selection of this sub-area 166 or selection of the text/icon
using the pointing device acts on specific functions as the creation or
the modification of a task, an event, or an alarm. The information
contained in this sub-area may also generate a to-do list or be fully
integrated with the agenda. The colors or other indications related to
the event-task-action sub-area 166 can be used to, illustratively,
completely fill the information element to provide a high level view of
the status of any time related information noted above. These
information-elements-presenting-reduced-content are helpful to abstract a
portion of the content to focus the attention of the SMLOI user to some
more important meaning carried by the information elements.
[0123]The characterization attributes sub-area 167 as shown in FIG. 12
presents intrinsic (metadata) and extrinsic characteristics that provide
the relationship meaning related to each information element according to
the SMLOI user. Each information element and each characterization
attribute have their own distinct meaning (i.e. either the information
element or the characterization attribute, when taken separately, means
something). The characterization attributes can be categories,
information element types, status, specific sequences illustratively
according to time of entry in the SMLOI, last time printed, last time
read, last time selected, alphabetical order, types of songs, length of
songs or statistic results; it is in fact any means that gives order or
additional meaning to contextualize the information elements. The user
can have its own characterization attributes and can have
characterization attributes that are shared by a group of SMLOI users.
Each characterization attribute selected by the user to be linked with
the information element will be presented in this sub-area 167. The
visual presentation of each characterization attribute will preferably be
in the form of a button or an icon so the SMLOI user can easily select
anyone of them individually or in group with the pointing device. No
characterization attribute can appear associated with a information
element meaning there is only one information attribute associated (or
selectable by the user). In this case, selection of the information
element itself has the effect of selecting the only characterization
attribute. The later action will allow the user to generate relative
vectors that will be further explained in this description. The visual
aspect of the selected characterization attributes will change so the
user will easily know which characterization attribute has been selected.
The background color of the sub-area 167 can change to give the user
further visual indications. The order in which the characterization
attributes are presented in the sub-area is set according to the user
preferences. Statistical organization of attributes can be performed by
the SMLOI. Favorite or "most often used attribute" can remain, to the
user's preference, on top of the list. Alphabetical ordering of the
attributes is also possible. Automatic creation of attributes cluster
according to occurrence statistical order or any desired relationship can
be performed by the SMLOI. The user can be offered first the attributes
he is the most likely to select.
[0124]The hyperlink sub-area 168 as shown in FIG. 12 contains external
hyperlinks and internal hyperlinks. External hyperlinks are generally of
two types, internet related hyperlinks and other users' SMLOI direct
access. Internal hyperlinks are generally direct links to other
information elements in the SMLOI of the same user. This has the purpose
to give direct access to the information element references so the user
can have a quick overview of the links to the information element he or
she is visualizing.
[0125]The entry sequence number sub-area 169 as shown in FIG. 12 presents
a sequential number that indicates the sequence in which the information
elements are entered in the SMLOI. The entry sequence number helps the
user to have an intuitive way of classifying the information element. The
entry sequence numbers are hyperlinks in the SMLOI so it is possible for
the user to use them to draw quick access path between different
information elements in the SMLOI. The entry sequence number can be used
as hyperlinks between multiple distinct SMLOI thereby giving direct
access to other users information elements using the same intuitive
method; although, when a user has another user entry sequence number in
its SMLOI, this entry sequence number will be preceded by the other SMLOI
user number.
[0126]FIG. 12 also shows the anterior assemblies area 158. This area gives
the user a direct view of the anterior assemblies, versions, or
annotations of the visualized information element according to the time
vector 32. The user can directly access another information element
assembly by selecting the desired assembly in the anterior assemblies
area 158.
[0127]FIG. 12 shows the ulterior assemblies area 162. This area gives the
user a direct view of the ulterior assemblies, versions, or annotations
of the visualized information element according to the time vector 32.
The user can directly access another information element assembly by
selecting the desired assembly in the ulterior assemblies area 162.
[0128]FIG. 12 also presents an alternate way for presenting the anterior
and ulterior assemblies. The alternate anterior and ulterior assembly
area 163 presents various assemblies, versions, or annotations, according
to the time vector 32. The current information element 150, in FIG. 12,
is also presented in the anterior and ulterior assembly area 163 as the
assembly at location 170. Variation in the size of the presented assembly
helps the user to perceive the closest assembly from the currently
visualized information element 150, 170.
[0129]The multi-pages document area 160 as shown by FIG. 12 presents to
the user a few other pages from the information element 150 if the
information element 150 includes more than one page. If the information
element 150 includes for instance 5 pages, the multi-pages document area
160 will present the four that are not shown in the document image 154.
The user can select them if he or she wants to have a bigger picture of
the desired page. If the number of pages is larger than the space
available arrows 171, 172 will indicate that there is more pages to see
so the user can scroll up or down to visualize them.
[0130]FIG. 13a presents an information element 150 with its information
area 156. The date of entry area 165 generated by the SMLOI is applied to
the information element in FIG. 13b. The date the information element is
entered in the SMLOI can be seen in its date of entry area 165. The
background color of the date of entry area can change to give the user
further visual indications. Selection of this sub-area using the pointing
device acts on specific functions.
[0131]When the user inserts a document in the SMLOI he or she can select
the appropriate characterization attributes. FIG. 14 presents a means to
select the appropriate characterization attributes for an information
element 150. Entry window 174 is used for the display of the intrinsic
and extrinsic characterization attributes. FIG. 14 also presents, for
instance, only extrinsic characterization attributes. When the user
clicks on the characterization attribute sub-area 167, the information
element characterization entry window 174 opens, allowing the user to
add, modify, or delete information element characterization attributes
while getting access to his/her list of "favorites" characterization
attributes. The user can either type in a new 176 characterization
attribute or click on the proposed attribute or click on the arrow to
have the characterization attribute list appear on a specific topic.
Picking one with a pointing device from the list will make it appear with
a button in the characterization attribute sub-area. To increase the
first-glance impact, symbols and colors are added to the characterization
attribute sub-area 167 as well.
[0132]In the event of a subsequent alteration of these characterization
attributes, a trace can be kept of both the change details and the
original information. Not all extrinsic characteristic attributes need to
be typed in each time. That is, user should be able to build his/her list
of favorites, and to select from it. The most frequently characterization
attribute can be displayed automatically at the top of the list by the
SMLOI. The user is also able to link an information element to a task he
or she has to perform or to an event, such as a meeting minutes being
linked to the agenda. These are statutory characterization attributes.
[0133]The SMLOI provides a unified format for audio and video documents.
FIG. 15 shows an information element 150 that is a unified format
representation of an audio document with its title 180, duration 181, and
audio symbol 182.
[0134]FIG. 16 shows a dynamic layer over the unified format representation
of an audio document. The title 180 and symbol 182 are part of the basic
audio information element 150. Dialog box 185 is part of the layer and
allows the commentaries to be displayed/sounded as the basic audio
information element is displayed. The display bar 187 gives an idea to
the SMLOI user on the position of the audio listening. The position
indicator 189 moves from left to right as the video document is played in
typical media player fashion; using the pointing device, the user can
drag this position indicator 189 to the left or the right, and resume
listening to the document at another point. The musical symbol 190 in
FIG. 16 is the indicator of additional audio comments added to a layer
over the audio information element 150. The triangular symbol 192 is (for
instance) an indicator of a written comment added to a layer over the
audio document and shown at a specific time. The camera symbol 194 is an
indicator of a video comment added to a layer over the audio document. A
duration indicator shows up when the user points the pointing device to
one of the comment indicators and displays in the window 185 the time at
which the comment has been inserted over the total duration of the
original information element.
[0135]In FIG. 16 are buttons 194 typical of media player and are pause,
stop, play, fast reverse, and fast forward, respectively, and are, in
addition, commands for the displaying/activating the comments. Comment
window 185 shows the written and video comments as their insertion point
is reached while the document is played or as the user clicks on the
related indicator. If so desired by the user, the document can be
automatically stopped from playing momentarily as comments 192, 195 and
190 are "reached".
[0136]FIG. 17 shows an information element 150 that is a unified format
representation of a video document with its title 180, duration 181,
video symbol 196 and projection window 198 that is used for displaying
the video information element 150 of FIG. 17. FIG. 18 shows an assembly
built from the addition of a dynamic layer over the unified format
representation of a video document. The title 180 and symbol 196 are part
of the basic information element and are visible through the clear
substrate of the layer. The functions are generally the same as the ones
presented previously for an audio document in FIG. 16
[0137]FIG. 19a shows an information element where image 200 is the actual
picture of a web page as an information element in the SMLOI. The user
may either copy information as presented by FIG. 19a into the SMLOI or
just writes a hyperlink to reach the information as in FIG. 19b. FIG. 19b
shows an alternative representation of the same element with only the
symbol 198 on the center of the page and the web address (URL) 199.
[0138]Numerous software applications are available to help users keep
track of their schedules and of the tasks they need to accomplish. The
tasks of the user can be displayed as information elements in the SMLOI,
and be graphically recognizable within the SMLOI. Tasks as information
elements can be associated with related sub-space (item 166 in FIG. 12)
and linked to appropriate characterization attributes. Color and other
types of coding are part of the unified format representation of such an
information element to graphically inform the user of the status of a
given task as previously described. The appropriate sub-area will display
codes related to the task as well as the due date characterization
attribute. Events from the agenda (such as meeting) or not (such as voice
messages or conversations) can be displayed as information elements, and
be graphically recognized as such within the SMLOI. Details of the event
such as date, time or location are accessible directly form the
information element. The user can graphically visualize linked tasks
(such as preparation for meeting or an action resulting from a voice
mail) as well as linked information element (such as a list of documents
he or she may need to recover to go to a given meeting). The user is able
to visualize linked tasks graphically, as well as linked elements of
information (such as a list of document he or she may need to recover as
part of the task). The user can create work lists, prioritized or not,
from the tasks inserted in the SMLOI.
[0139]Information elements can be linked to individuals (such as a list of
participants present at a meeting where a given report has been
distributed). Such a link can be established by 1) entering the event as
an information element, with its participants as characterization
attributes as well as indicating another element (the report) as an
hyperlink and 2) by asking on that information element or on the areas of
the information element to visualize the linked elements, which would
then show the event among other information elements on the relative
representation vector, which means the second dimension that will be
explained later in details.
[0140]For an information element of an event entered in the SMLOI, the
statutory sub-area would become the event sub-area by displaying codes
such as "preparatory task to be done", "past event" or "event to come",
etc . . . A direct link to another information element can be included in
the characterization attribute sub-area or in the hyperlink sub-area.
[0141]The SMLOI can display documents that were meant to be printed on
paper formats different than the user-specified default format ("letter"
or "A4" paper size for example). FIG. 20 shows an example of such an
odd-sized document, where the proportions of the image are similar to the
ones of the real document. Such an approach could, however, prove to be
rather inconvenient if more than one element is to be viewed at the same
time. It then may be desirable that all the information elements be
displayed within a common-size "sheet size". FIG. 21 shows such an
arrangement, where the image 202 of the document and a label 203
indicates the true size of the document. The information element
"envelope" would then always be the same for "letter" paper size
proportions.
[0142]The user can keep track, via his/her SMLOI, of all of his/her
information elements, even if they are not under an electronic format. A
numbering system for those external reference materials may be created
and a short comment for each may be written. FIG. 22 shows a unified
format representation for an information element linked to an external
reference material where a symbol 205 used to designate such external
reference material. A title 206 given to the document by the user, a
label 207 showing the number of the document as per the user's numbering
system, and the location 208 where the actual document is physically kept
may also be implemented.
[0143]Some information elements collected by a user can be made available
for viewing by others as a means to stimulate creativity. For instance,
interesting articles could be sent to a "pool" and available for browsing
by other SMLOI users or be sent one at a time at a specific rate through
e-mail to selected SMLOI users. A user may also choose to have old
clippings sent to him/herself after a certain delay to refresh his/her
own memory. Random order element visualization is also an option. Such
elements could be sent through e-mails or be used as the "desktop
wallpaper of the day", the "screensaver of the day", or even be displayed
in SMLOI as "publicity stripes".
[0144]The SMLOI user can select the "SMLOI web site" attribute. By doing
so, the user may build a "SMLOI web site" with the selected information
element. The user website will present the selected information elements
in a web page for others to visualize the information elements on the
Internet using an SMLOI browser "plug-in". This way, the SMLOI user can
share to everyone on the internet the selected information elements
without any complicated task. The other SMLOI functions that will be
further described are also enabled within a browser plug-in.
[0145]The SMLOI includes a "collection tool" allowing for easy gathering
and organizing of a series of information elements. Options for display
are also offered to the user such as a formal portfolio, scrap book,
logbook, notebook, or slide show. These collections may be sent to other
SMLOI users, not as memory-consuming-bunch of files, but rather as a list
of links and punctual access rights.
[0146]The SMLOI has an enabled collection process. For instance, five
elements are selected by the SMLOI user who then creates a collection
therefrom. The collection then becomes an element which, among its
attributes, has the intrinsic characterization attribute "collection" and
is inserted in the SMLOI. The user can then use the collection in many
ways. For example, the user may send access rights to another user or do
a full or partial print of the information elements. The user could also
visualize or print a list of the information elements contained in the
collection or create a slide show of the information elements that could
be sent or become presentation material.
[0147]It may also be desirable for the SMLOI to narrow the gap between the
electronic data management and the more traditional handwritten
information. This may be accomplished with the SMLOI through the
integration of handwriting recognition, applicable software, and
electronic signature capability. This may also be accomplished by
integrating in the SMLOI the capability of generating encoded note-taking
material and properly filing the digitized hand written material. A
purpose-printed note paper (or template) may also be generated by the
SMLOI and printed. The template is then used as normal paper for taking
notes and is scanned for its insertion in the SMLOI. During the scanning
process, the SMLOI recognizes identification marks on the template (such
as a printed bar code or a hand filled boxes) and assigns intrinsic
attributes accordingly as it creates a new information element in the
SMLOI.
The Multi Dimensional Representation
[0148]In order for a user to keep track of the sequence in which the
information elements are related to each other, the SMLOI provides a way
to keep specific sequences between information elements. One means of
establishing such a sequence is by representing the entry of an
information element. The SMLOI is also providing an entry sequence number
to keep the information elements in the order that they have been
entered. FIG. 23 shows an element 150 that is added to a pile of elements
210 where the entry sequential number for the first element 212 entered
has number one and the last, "n". The new element 214 added then gets the
sequential entry number "n+1".
[0149]The invention provides a way to see part of a sequence through
preceding and following information elements. For example, FIG. 24
illustrates that the information elements 150 are placed side by side and
in the order that they had been entered. The last information element
added to the sequence would be the one at the extreme right 216 according
to the time vector 32. FIG. 25 shows another way of viewing the sequence.
The information elements 150 are placed side by side and are rolled in
that order on a roll 218 still according to the time vector 32.
[0150]The time vector 32 usually represents the absolute chronological
order that is applied on information element vectors whether they are
including all the information elements 150 or only a portion of them.
Absolute information element vectors and relative information element
vectors are then linked to a time vector 32. The time vector 32 sequence
can be replaced by a specific sequence vector that is not necessarily
related to time. In that order, only the sequential aspect of the time
vector 32 would be kept and applied with some other consideration, like
statistical considerations, to a specific sequence. Hence, an information
element vector can be related to the number of times an information
element has been selected. That is, the information element vector 32
presents the information elements in a incremental order. The information
element vector 32 can also be generated ascendingly or descendingly
considering the memory size of the information elements 150. The
information element vector may also present the information elements 150
based on the number of characterization attributes 178 applied to each
information element.
[0151]The spreading-the-information-elements exercise, shown on FIG. 24
and FIG. 25, directionally towards the right may also be done in any
direction. The display of the information elements in such a manner
creates an information element vector allowing the user to visualize the
information elements 150 entered as well as the absolute sequence into
which entry has been done.
[0152]The system user can introduce "breaks" and "bookmarks" in the
information element vectors to have reference points within the sequence
of information element entry. FIG. 26 shows such an implementation of
bookmarks 220, 224 where, in that case, the bookmarks are relative to a
period of time. For instance, two information elements 150 have been
entered during the period P 222 which is delineated by bookmarks 220 and
224. The bookmarks may also be specifically placed by the user as period
markers as shown in FIG. 26 and/or automatically by the SMLOI at every
period of time and/or in any user-defined manner.
[0153]FIG. 27 shows a bi-dimensional information element vector
disposition where all the information elements 150 from the user's SMLOI
are represented along a first (horizontal) vector 230, where the most
recent is shown on the right side according to the time vector 32.
Information element vector 230 is the first, or absolute, information
element vector in the sense that all information elements 150 are present
on the vector 230 (although a subset of all information elements can form
vector 230). The first vector is illustratively horizontally disposed but
a person skilled in the art would appreciate a different position is
encompassed by the present patent application.
[0154]A second information element vector 232, that can be a subset of the
first information element vector 230, is graphically represented, non
parallel to, or intersecting the first information element vector 230.
The second information element vector 232 is created when a desired
characterization attribute, illustratively the "E" characterization
attribute 234, is selected by the SMLOI user on at least one information
element 246 from the first information element vector 230. The selection
of the "E" characterization attribute 234 might automatically create the
second information element vector 232. Illustratively, the selection of
the desired "E" characterization attribute can be achieved by pressing a
button "E" 234 on the desired information element 246. The information
element 246 can also be automatically selected when the characterization
attribute "E" 234 is selected without any other action. Conversely, if
one characterization attribute, for instance the information attribute
"E" 234, is primarily associated with desired information element 246
then selecting the desired information element 246 itself would
automatically use the information attribute "E" 234 to generate the
second information element vector 232 based on information attribute "E"
234. A single information attribute can be blindly associated to its
related information element. The first information element can become
invisible when the second information element vector becomes visible on
the display device.
[0155]The second information element vector 232 is generated by the SMLOI
at a different angle (illustratively at a 90.degree. angle from the
absolute vector 230, on a 2D display) or on a different plane than the
first information element vector 230 using the selected information
element 246 as a reference (that is illustratively the intersection
information element between the two vectors as appreciated on FIG. 51).
On the second information element vector 232 are shown only the
information elements, from the first information element vector, commonly
sharing the "E" characterization attribute 234 (illustratively visually
presented in the characterization attribute sub-area). The second
information element vector 230 could also present a set of other
information elements not present in the first information element vector
230 but related to the selected desired information element 246. The most
recent information elements 150 is being shown at the upper end of the
information element vector 232 according to the relative time vector 236.
As a result, the information element vector 232 is built according to a
pre-selected order e.g. in the present situation it is illustratively a
chronological order.
[0156]Information elements 238 and 240 are actually the unified format
representation of the same repeated information element 240 because it
appears in both the absolute (or first) information element vector 230
and the second information element vector 232 sorting the "E"
characterization attribute 234. The duplicated information elements
appear on the second information element vector 232 at their respective
chronological positions. This is also true for elements 242 and 244. The
generation of the second information element vector 232 can also be made
according to the combinative logic equation of multiple characterization
attributes (for instance: "A" AND ("B" OR "E")).
[0157]In the event only one characterization attribute is intended to be
selectable from an information element the selection of the information
element itself can automatically select the single selectable information
attribute. The visual aspect of the information element could then not
show the potential characterization attribute to simplify the amount of
visual data associated to the information element. For instance,
selecting a music album on a first vector would lead to generate a second
vector displaying the songs contained in the album if the only
characterization attribute of the album is "songs in the album". If the
characterization attribute is associated to more than one type of
information elements (i.e. songs and pictures for instance) the selection
of the album would generate a second vector displaying the songs and the
pictures associated with the album.
[0158]The absolute and relative information element vectors 230 and 232 in
FIG. 27 illustratively create a plane (accordingly, they are co-planar
but, as it will be explained later, they could also intersect on distinct
planes). A volume can be generated depending on the number of information
element vectors when depth is used for a third dimension as depicted by
FIG. 29. This plan, or volume if the depth is used, can be considered as
a vectorial space 250. The user of the present system can select the
vertical or the horizontal axis as default axis. Any axis in any given
direction could be selected, according to the preference of the user, to
be the "main" axis. The default axis will be the axis presented when only
one axis is visible when the user logs in the SMLOI.
[0159]More than one relative information element vectors be generated.
Each relative information element vector 232 is intersecting an
information element on the first information element vector 230 when the
selected characterization attribute appears on elements found on the
absolute information element vector 230. As shown in FIG. 28, two
additional vertical vectors 248 and 252, aligned with elements 254 and
256, respectively, are provided. Other variations might be appreciated by
a skilled person.
[0160]FIG. 29 shows the SMLOI, now "tri-dimensional" with the addition of
assemblies 257, 258 and 259 (or information element versions) related to
their respective information elements 262, 263 and 264. The first
dimension is the absolute information element vector 230 according to the
absolute time vector 32. The second dimension is the relative information
element vector 232 containing the attribute "E" 234 according to the
relative time vector 236 with its intersection centered on the desired
information element 246 from which the characterization attribute "E" is
illustratively selected. The third dimension is another relative
information element vector relative to time vector 265 and shows the
assemblies relative to information elements that possess at least one
assembly. The more recent information element in the latter assembly is
shown on top according to the time vector 256.
[0161]FIG. 30 shows that the system may have four dimensions. The four
dimensions are presented on the SMLOI where 230, 270 is the first
dimension, or absolute information element vector, 232, 271 is the second
dimension or relative information element vector and 257, 272 is the
third dimension or relative information element assemblies vector. Item
273 represents the fourth (illustratively) "circular" characterization
attribute dimension. The characterization attribute choice, in order to
generate the second dimension 232, 271, is a dimension that can be
schematically represented as a "circular vector" because of the multiple
different possible characterization attribute selection leading to
various different second dimension information element vectors. This
possible plurality of second information element vector can be visualized
as orthogonal 273 to the first information element vector axis 230, 270.
[0162]FIG. 31 shows that since there are at least as many relative
information element vectors 271, 275, 276 as there are characterization
attributes, all the relative sequences can be represented as many rays
278 coming out of a center hub 280 that is the selected information
element 246 on the absolute information element vector 270. The fourth
dimension 273 as it appears on FIG. 31 is an array 278 (or rays) of
information element vectors and the selection of one characterization
attribute (or composition of many) dictates which relative sequence of
information elements will lead to the generation of the relative
information element vector 232. The SMLOI user can group the information
elements by combination or segregation of characterization attributes.
Using combinative logic, this actually would turn the fourth dimension
273 into an almost infinite number of rays around the center hub 280.
[0163]Association of characterization attribute(s) with an information
element, or selection of characterization attribute(s), in order to
generate an information element vector can be made automatically by the
SMLOI. Algorithms, statistics and other mathematical equations are might
help to choose the most applicable characterization attributes for a
specified information elements or group of information elements in order
to create an information element vector.
[0164]The SMLOI also provides an intuitive and efficient system for
managing the user's elements of information, personal or professional in
nature. The user and his or her professional information can be part of a
bigger picture if he or she is an employee of a corporation for example.
The SMLOI user is able to visualize his/her personal and
professional/corporate SMLOI (distinction coming from one major
attribute) at once or separately, and that that option be carried out
through a single command.
[0165]A corporation is considered a moral user of the work related
information of its employees. A corporation or other multi-user
environment can have all its employees dealing with information elements
in a similar manner for training purposes, and for the preservation of
the "corporate knowledge" (structured and unstructured data), and for
prior art recording purposes. The "corporate knowledge" is considered as
a series of "parallel SMLOIs" with an SMLOI for each of its employees in
a similar fashion to the previously described parallel paths for
individuals. That way, some members of the corporation are able to access
the information in the corporation's employees SMLOI.
[0166]Multiple and distinct SMLOI can seamlessly be presented on a same
time line or axis. Personal and professional SMLOI can be presented on
the same time line just as if both personal and professional SMLOIs are
only one single SMLOI even if they are not. They just appear to be the
same for the user. All the SMLOI of a corporation are similarly mixed and
presented as a unique SMLOI, even if in reality they are not,
representing the whole corporation's SMLOI.
[0167]At least one member of the corporation has the "knowledge
administrator" status such an individual has full access to the corporate
SMLOIs, can forward corporate messages to employees' SMLOI, and create
standardized corporate characterization attributes to ensure cohesion in
the filing, among other functions and capabilities. Such an administrator
may have a formal role in a quality-assured environment, such as one
governed by the ISO 9000 standard or a sophisticated information
management analysis in order to provide an information management score
that can quantitatively show the user's ability to manage its
information.
[0168]The corporate administrator can represent the corporation in an
intuitive manner, such as the corporation organizational chart 282 as
presented in FIG. 32 and directly link to every corporate SMLOI in the
corporation as shown on FIG. 33. FIG. 33 shows the corporate SMLOI of an
employee that has the position 283 in the organizational chart 282. The
planar representation on the organizational chart is considered as the
fifth dimension of the SMLOI. The organizational chart for that purpose
can be replaced by a grid 285 on FIG. 34 and is, to the corporation user
or administrator, a graphical representation of the multiple users. In
this case, a two-vector system, for instance "5x" 287 and "5y" 288 is
used to "name" different SMLOI users in the corporation, using an alpha
numeric format. Other formats may also be implemented.
[0169]FIG. 34 shows the fifth-dimension grid 285 where squares are filled
using different patterns according to possible access. The grid of FIG.
34 is seen through the eyes of a user represented by box 294 of FIG. 36.
As indicated by square 292 of FIG. 34, total access is given at that
position of the grid. Hatched squares as in box 296 indicate the SMLOI of
fellow employees to which the user 294 (FIG. 36) has full access
(professional/corporate side only). Cross-hatched squares in box 297
indicate an SMLOI where punctual or microscopic access has been granted
to user 294 (of box 292) allowing visualization of selected elements
only. Smaller cross-hatched squares as in box 298 indicate the SMLOI to
which the user of box 292 has absolutely no access to.
[0170]FIG. 35 shows the multi-dimensional graphic user interface of an
employee of the corporation SMLOI where dimension one 270, dimension two
271, dimension three 272, and dimension four 273, as presciently
described, can be seen. Dimension five 287, 288 may also be added. The
darkened square contour of the grid 283 at the position "B2" indicates
that the SMLOI 290 is the SMLOI of the "B2" employee.
[0171]An employee may allow access to his or her SMLOI, in part or in
whole, to another employee or user. The user has only access to a portion
of its SMLOI (such as the professional part) while maintaining the
privacy of the remaining portion (such as the personal part).
[0172]FIG. 37 presents the absolute information element vector of the
SMLOI of a user "A" where it is possible to see that information elements
315 and 316 have no access restriction. Information elements 309, 310 and
311 can be locked so the user can block modification access to them. The
open padlock icon 313 is representing that access is open although it can
be locked. The lock 314 on information element 312 indicates the access
is denied (which is a default mode for personal information elements).
[0173]FIG. 38 shows the absolute information element vector of the SMLOI
of a user "A", as seen through the eyes of a user "B", where "B" has only
access to some information elements. Items that have a dark hatch filling
300, 301, 302, 303 are information elements for which access has been
denied to "B" (because of the professional/personal firewall and/or
specific access restrictions for a given element). Items 304, 305, with
no hatch filling, are seen as they would be through the eyes of a user
"A", the SMLOI owner. These information elements can be seen by the user
"B" through his/her SMLOI.
[0174]For privacy reasons it is desirable that non-accessible elements, or
their quantity be non-visible to other users. FIG. 39 shows the same
SMLOI, as seen through the eyes of user "B", where all non-accessible
elements are hidden, and space between accessible elements is reduced.
For similar reasons, some parts of the seeable information elements, such
as entry sequence numbers, may be hidden as well. Accessible information
elements vector 320 all have their entry number "blacked out" so that
neither the number of elements in the SMLOI or their relative position in
the sequence can be known of user "B".
[0175]FIG. 40 shows information element vectors of the SMLOI of one user
"A" where, the user has granted access to information elements 324, 325,
326, 327 to user "B" while refusing him/her access to elements 328, 329,
330, 331.
[0176]FIG. 41 shows an absolute information element vector, from the SMLOI
of a user "A", from which information elements 338 and 339 are locked so
they cannot appear in the "B" user's SMLOI. FIG. 42 shows the same SMLOI,
as viewed through the "eyes" (and SMLOI) of user "B". Information
elements are hidden and replaced by one empty space 342 having a size
that is irrelevant of the number of hidden information elements.
The Illustrated Interface
[0177]One proposed SMLOI interface using a typical windows-like
environment main screen is shown in FIG. 43 although, the SMLOI can also
be voice controlled. Item 450 is the operating system's bar displaying
SMLOI details such as version 454 and user ID 456 (user name and user
number). Item 452 is the menu bar of typical format and usage. Display of
this item is left to the user's discretion. Item 458 is the window
through which the SMLOI relays most of the information to the user. This
is the window where the SMLOI is displayed, is known as the SMLOI window,
and occupies the better part of the screen. This window completely fills
the space between the menu bar 452 (if displayed) and the status bar 460.
[0178]A typical information element 150 is shown in FIG. 43 with its date
of entry sub-area 165, an event-task-action sub-area 166, an information
element characterization attributes sub-area 167, a hyperlink sub-area
168 and an entry sequence number sub-area 169. The anterior and ulterior
assemblies area 170 are also shown as is the multi-pages document area
160. Scroll down buttons 462 are presented on some sub-areas. Margins
from the original document 464 are also presented in FIG. 43.
[0179]The multi-part toolbox 466 is presented and acts on different
functions available depending on the actions the SMLOI user is doing. The
toolbox 466 includes buttons identified by icons that allow the SMLOI
user to act on selected elements. In some cases the buttons may call
menus or dialog boxes.
[0180]The navigation box 468 of FIG. 43 includes buttons to navigate in
the SMLOI. It contains all the buttons, identified by icons, to allow the
user to surf or navigate in his/her SMLOI. Button 470 allows movement
along the absolute information element vector 230 according to positive
time vector 32. Button 472 allows movement along the absolute information
element vector 230 in the time vector 32 opposite direction. Button 474
allows movement along the relative information element vector 232
according to positive time vector 236. Button 476 allows movement along
the relative information element vector 232 in the time vector 236
opposite direction. Button 478 is for the "zoom window" function, while
button 479 is for "zoom-in" and "zoom out" functions. Button 481 is the
"back to the last view" function and button 483 is for "forward to the
next visualized view" function. These functions are similar to the "back"
and "forward" functions on a web browser. Button 485 allows the SMLOI
user to access his/her intra-SMLOI favorites' list while button 487
allows access to his/her Internet favorites' list.
[0181]Button 489 allows the user to return directly to the last
information element entered in the SMLOI while button 491 opens a new
"blank" information element in the SMLOI. This enables the user to work
directly on the new information element for inserting pictures or for
adding text on a particular project. This is one way the SMLOI can act as
a logbook or notebook.
[0182]The communication box 495 includes a communication information
window 497 for displaying all the information the SMLOI wants the user to
know when he or she is using it. The communication information window 497
concentrates all the communications in the same place; as such, it can
display alarms, chat, enter phone calls, instant messaging, provide an
image of another person when video conferencing or video phone calls.
E-mail features are also presented in the communication information
window 497 and usual functions such as in-box, new messages, attach
document to message, reply, reply to all, transfer, exchange an element,
sending box, sent box and contacts are available. The agenda and its
related functions including adding the agenda or linking an information
element to the agenda are also included. Both the e-mail and agenda
capabilities are fully integrated in the SMLOI.
[0183]FIG. 43 also illustratively shows the absolute relativisation bar
500 and the relative relativisation bar 502. The purpose of these bars is
to provide a broader, but still limited, point of view to the SMLOI user.
The user sets limit dates 504 and 506 for each bar so that the length of
the time frame represented is customized to the user's desires. Days 508,
weeks 510, months 512 and years 514 are displayed time marks,
illustratively as little bars (each with their own format), in the
relativisation bars 500, 502. The "relative" relativisation bar 502 is
only visible when a relative information element vector 232 (2.sup.nd
dimension) is displayed. Signs of different shape and colors (for
instance black triangle 516) can be added as bookmarks to keep trace of
important information elements. A cursor (not shown) providing the actual
viewing position of the SMLOI is provided so it is possible to drag it to
move quickly in the SMLOI.
[0184]The user can use its SMLOI in five distinct modes: information
elements consultation, information element insertion/creation,
information element modification, information elements list and
extraction. The toolbox 466 includes different functions related to those
different SMLOI modes. There is, for instance, different functions
related to the insertion mode: favorites (bookmark, hyperlink,
hyperpage), quick insertion (direct insertion without extrinsic
attributes), tasks, notes, events, video sequences, audio sequences,
digitalization (paper, other), and project creation (reports, slides
presentations, collections).
[0185]The toolbox 466 also includes functions related to the manipulation
mode. The buttons include square manipulation tool, copy, paste, element
selection, annotation manipulation, hide element (by sequence of entry
number, by date), and search (by sequence of entry number, by
characterization attributes, combinative logic, by date, by contact, by
key word, by document type, options). There are also functions related to
the extraction mode with buttons for deleting, information element
collection (add element, remove element, save collection as a new
information element, add note in collection, print collection, present
collection as slides). The toolbox 466 also includes a system functions
section including buttons for setup (personal setup, system setup,
general setup, corporate administrator), "favorites" setup,
authentication and signature (document authentication, electronic
signature), back-up, help, screen management (screen saver, wallpaper,
information element presentation sequence) and the like.
[0186]Window 458 of the SMLOI includes two buttons 503 and 509. If the
user clicks on the appropriate button, only the personal portion of
his/her SMLOI can be visualized 503. If he/she clicks on the second
button, only the professional/corporate portion of his/her SMLOI can then
be visualized 509. Clicking on both buttons 503, 509 (might be done with
or without the use of the CTRL and SHIFT keys) will allow visualization
of both portions of his/her SMLOI.
[0187]FIG. 43 shows a typical information element 150, with an information
element characterization attributes sub-area 167, into which each
characterization attribute is actually a button 527, or selecting means,
that can be clicked for picking the information elements to be included
in the information elements of the relative vector. Selecting blank
button 528 at the bottom pulls out the main attributes' list for
selection of the second dimension. Simple addition of characterization
attributes to the selection can also be achieved in a typical fashion by
using the CTRL and SHIFT keys from the keyboard. The user is also offered
the possibility of including any given attribute in a combinative logic
equation for the selection of the second dimension's vector 232 (a
pull-down menu can appear for additions and exclusions). Such combinative
logic capability can, for instance, allows the user to set border dates
for his/her selection of elements carrying the attribute "x", allows
him/her to set border entry numbers dates for his/her selection of
elements carrying the attribute "y", allows him/her to look for
attributes common to other system (such as events) or even allow element
selection based on common status (such as tasks).
[0188]FIG. 44 shows a view of a user's SMLOI where the central information
element is 520. Elements 522 and 521 are the preceding and following
information elements along the absolute information element vector 230,
respectively. Information elements 524 and 523 are the preceding and
following information elements along the relative information element
vector 232, respectively. Window 530 presents a close view of information
element 520. Window 531 presents a zoom-out view of information element
520 and shows, at the same time, the preceding and the following
information elements in order to provide a better perspective of the
visualized information element 520. Window 532 is a zoom-in view of a
part of information element 520 that provides the possibility for the
user to visualize details of the information element 520. The zoom-in and
zoom-out function can show a significant number of information elements
to get the big picture of the information element distribution along the
information element vectors 230, 232 or, conversely, could show only a
small portion of one information element to see or work on small details.
[0189]The SMLOI also has a "radar screen" display format as illustratively
shown by FIG. 45. The absolute relativisation bar 500 and the relative
relativisation bar 502, as previously mentioned, have weekly time marks
510 (for instance, can be by days, months or other specific time length)
extended upward and to the right respectively to effectively create a
time grid. An absolute information element vector 550 appears on the
grid, and, accordingly, each of its information elements appears as
squares 541, 542, 543, 544. The color (and shape) of squares 541, 542,
543, 544 information elements and other visual particularities,
illustratively the information element may flash, be animated or have a
portion showing a different color or a sign that indicates something more
specific about the information element(s). For instance, it can show
search results or information elements representing tasks for which the
deadline is approaching, show an action is past due, the status of the
information element has changed since the last time the user has logged
in or simply to attract the SMLOI user's attention for a predetermined
reason. This can be linked to any particular area 156 related aspect or
any characterization attribute related to an information element. It has
to be noted the spacing between information elements might be constant
(when the time scale varies) or varies in accordance with the time that
has passed between each information elements (when the time scale is
fixed). The later is illustratively used for representing both the
absolute and the relative information element vectors 550, 551. The fixed
or unequal time scale can also be used when not in the radar mode
throughout the SMLOI. The relative information element vector 551
presents the same four information elements 542, 543, 544, 545 that
appear in the absolute information element vector 550 that share the same
selection of characterization attributes. A diagonal representation (not
shown) according to the two relativisation bars, referred as 500 and 502
on FIG. 43 but not numbered on FIG. 45, time frame can be utilized as
well. It also has to be noted this high level view of information
elements 541, 542, 543, 544 can be used outside the "radar screen" as
information elements representations in the SMLOI showing only a limited
amount of information to help the user focuses on a limited transfer of
knowledge from a series of information elements. Selecting,
illustratively to double click an information element in its reduced
visual appearance, can bring a more detailed view of the same information
element, show more details or trigger an action or, illustratively, open
a related file in another program.
[0190]The "radar screen" display format as shown in FIG. 45 allows the
user to have a meaningful overview of what is happening in its SMLOI.
Colors and movements add information to the visual distribution of the
schematized information elements. The background is used to visualized
and magnify a selected portion of the SMLOI found in the "radar screen"
and is represented by the box 557. As an alternate way of navigating in
the SMLOI, the user can drag, move or resize the selection box 557 and
the background view will change accordingly so that the user can
visualize whatever information element is in the "radar screen" selection
box 557. This function acts like a magnifying glass on a map. When the
user is switching from the visualization of an information element to the
radar mode, box 557 on the radar mode will show exactly how the presented
information element was on the display device. Also, change in the
selection box 557 will change the background view as well.
[0191]FIG. 46 shows the SMLOI in an alternate "radar screen" display
format, including the "future" area 550 that acts like an agenda.
Accordingly, information element 551 is a task to be done according to
the time frame of the relativisation bars 500 and 502. Separators 553 and
554 visually separate the past and the future and, in fact, 553 and 554
are the lines of the present and their intersection point is "now". This
is a way for the user to graphically represent his/her "to do" list.
[0192]In FIG. 47 is shown the SMLOI using a web browser or a plug-in
applied to a standard web browser. This way, everyone using a web browser
(i.e. for example Netscape.TM. Navigator.TM. or Microsoft.TM. Internet
Explorer.TM.) can add a plug-in (or means to adapt the web browser to
use, to visualize or to act on the SMLOI) that allows the
multi-dimensional data locating system to run on the web browser. A user
can access data, information elements, documents or standard web pages
using a web browser with the SMLOI. Non-users can visualize information,
adapted web pages or other documents using a web browser with a plug-in.
Users can allow access to specific information element to be viewed by
other authorized users and non-authorized users with an appropriate web
browser. Is considered here a web browser any device that allows
navigation on the Internet. While using a web browser it is understood
that the SMLOI can be web based and communication with the user is made
using a network.
[0193]FIG. 47 shows the SMLOI using a web browser as a base program. Item
560 represents the web browser software window. Item 562 represents the
web browser classic tools, icons and toolbars. Item 564 represents the
windows-like OS task bar, item 466 represents the multi-dimensional data
locating system SMLOI toolbox, item 568 represents the multi-dimensional
data locating system navigation toolbox, item 150 represents the
information element presented in the multi-dimensional data locating
system inside the web browser, item 570 represents a selected attribute
generating the second dimension in the multi-dimensional data locating
system, item 572 represents the absolute information element vector and
item 574 represents the relative information element vector.
Story, Game and Simulation with the SMLOI
[0194]In order to add meaning to the information contained inside the
SMLOI a story or a "game metaphor" can be applied to the vectorial space.
This would help to link information elements between them to improve the
user understanding. If necessary, when using a "game metaphor", a score
could be calculated using multiple parameters. The SMLOI can use a
3D/virtual reality environment and, to some extent, turn the "chore" of
SMLOI into some sort of a game; the system could keep records and
statistics of a user's performance as an information organizer and user.
[0195]Parameters can be as simple as the time to retrieve any information
element, the number of elements inserted in the SMLOI per period of time,
the number of information elements exchanged per period of time, the
average number of characterization attributes applied to the information
elements inserted in the SMLOI or the number of information elements
visualized in the SMLOI per period of time. Those examples are given to
explain that certain parameters can be evaluated and that a score can be
attributed according to pre-established standards. Statistic curves can
be used to represent what is considered by an individual or by a company
as "information management standards".
[0196]The possibility is given to the user to access his/her SMLOI and
some SMLOI functions and tools through other computerized devices, such
as a game console, an MP3 player or a PDA. In such cases, the program
could be "installed" by the insertion of a "game cartridge", i.e. a
self-contained software/memory block package, or by Internet download.
FIG. 48 shows the SMLOI as seen through a game console 582 and
computer-controlled display 580 such as a TV screen. The actions are
illustratively done using the game controller 585. FIG. 49 shows a
typical game console controller. Just as with any game, the user/player
can attribute specific commands to most buttons and knobs. Normally the
game controller includes a left trigger 590, a right trigger 592, a left
thumbstick 594, a left directional pad 596, a white button 598, a black
button 599, a "Y" button 600, a "B" button 602, a "X" button 604, a "A"
button 606, a right thumbstick 608, a "back" button 610 and a "start"
button 612. Multiple extension slots 615 can be used for connecting
additional memory or for connecting a microphone/headset device. Other
game controllers like the Wii.TM., where the user has not physical
connection with the computer or the game console is encompassed by the
present invention. Movements of the game controller influence the actions
on the SMLOI.
[0197]For example, illustratively with a more classic game controller, the
SMLOI commands could be allocated as follows: the left trigger 590 to
move between information elements going back in time, the right trigger
592 to move between information elements going forward in time, a left
thumbstick 594 to move on the absolute information element vector 230 and
the relative information element vector 232 and to move the box 557 when
in the previously described "radar screen" display format. A click on the
left thumbstick 594 selects the visualized information element 150, the
left directional pad 596 has basically the same functions as the left
thumbstick 594, the white button 598 inserts a new blank information
element 150 ready to be written while the black button 599 brings the
user directly to the last information element inserted into the SMLOI.
The "Y" button 600 accesses the "radar screen" display format, the "B"
button 602 accesses sequentially the different modes in the SMLOI when an
information element is selected, the "X" button 604 selects the
communication box 495 and the "A" button 606 selects the toolbox 466. The
right thumbstick 608 is used to move a "pan" view if no information
element is selected and moves into the different areas/sub-areas if an
information element is selected; a click on the right thumbstick 608
would select the pointed area part, the "back" button 610 would be
utilized just as the back button on a classic web browser and the "start"
button 612 would keep the same role as on a game console.
[0198]Multiple command interactions can also be described. For instance, a
click and hold on the left thumbstick in addition to the right/left
trigger would provide a zoom-in/zoom-out effect. Also, the white button
598 or the black button 599 could be used in conjunction with the right
or left triggers 590, 592 to provide other specific commands; this could
be fully customizable by the user. One of the goals of adding a "game
metaphor" is to improve the user experience and to bring him/her to a
point where managing information is not a burden anymore but a funny
intuitive interesting task. One other goal is to have a score that
quantify the efficiency of the user information management.
Other Uses of the SMLOI
[0199]Referring now to FIG. 50, it can be appreciated the SMLOI can become
a true relational search tool. Navigation in the SMLOI, beginning with an
information element, can move on a first information element vector until
the user wants to know more about a first information element encountered
on the first information element vector. A characterization attribute is
then selected on the first information element to generate a second
information element vector showing information elements possessing the
selected characterization attribute. The user continues the navigation on
the second information element vector until the user wants to know more
about a second information element encountered on the second information
element vector. A characterization attribute is then selected from the
second information element to generate a third information element vector
and so forth. This provides an intuitive spatial and graphical relational
navigation that could truly be represented on a display device.
[0200]FIG. 51 shows a first information element vector 230 and a second
information element vector 232 where the "base" intersecting element 246,
possessing characterization attributes A, E and H, is duplicated. This
superposition of the second information element vector 232 allows the
user to vertically move (or navigate, or scroll) the second information
element vector 232 while always keeping the first information element
vector 230 in the line of sight at the same place on the display device.
This helps the user to go explore the second information element vector
232 without loosing its "base" on the first information element vector
230. The second information element vector 232 is illustratively
superposing the first information element vector 230 in a distinct plane
on FIG. 51 but could perfectly be in the same plane and just curve above
the first information element vector 230 when it comes close to the first
information element vector. One skilled in the art would easily see other
variations to achieve similar results.
[0201]The vectors in the SMLOI can be disposed on the side of the screen
instead of in the middle of the screen. If the user wants to see what is
higher on the vertical axis he scrolls the vertical vector down, thus
moving the horizontal axis accordingly. The enlarged information element
remaining on the screen slightly moves higher to leave space (down) for
positioning the horizontal vector following the movement of the vertical
scrolling of the vertical vector. If the scrolling continues, the
information element gets bigger taking back the area left unoccupied by
the horizontal vector not anymore visible on the screen (because moved
lower than the lowermost portion of the screen). These movements can be
seen as animation of the vector and the enlarged information element on
the screen according to the movement of the vector dictated by the
SMLOI's user.
[0202]Referring now to FIG. 52, the positions of the first absolute
information element vector 230 and the second, or relative, vector 232
are disposed on the bottom-left side of the screen to maximize the useful
area 752 on the screen to, illustratively, present an information element
in bigger format allowing to see finer details. The position of
information element vectors 230, 232 can move, or be animated, to
maximize area on the screen to see a bigger picture of an element or any
other information useful to the SMLOI's user. This function is depicted
by FIG. 52 where the information element vectors 230, 232 changed
position to, respectively, reach positions 754, 756 and leaves useful
area 750 for illustratively visualizing an information element in greater
details. These movements on the vectors can be based on the navigational
actions of the user in the SMLOI. For instance, when the user moves along
an vector searching for a particular information element, it is possible
he/she moves the vector thus effecting the position of the vector on the
screen in order to maximize the useful area 752. If the relative
information element vector 232 moves from the left side of the screen to
the right side of the screen, the position of the useful area 752 moves
from the right side of the screen to the left side of the screen to
adjust with the position of the vector. Room can remain for the
navigation tools between the side of the screen (or any means for
visualizing the axis) and vectors. Other animations, like when an
information element is selected to be viewed in the useful area 752 it
progressively moves from the vector to the useful area 752, can also be
made.
[0203]Streamed media content can be automatically added to the SMLOI of a
user wanting such information to be added to his SMLOI. Newspapers,
magazine, financial data, web pages, weather forecasts, and other
information can be streamed in the SMLOI of a user. Copyright fees can be
automatically calculated and billed to the SMLOI user on a timely basis.
Each information element in the SMLOI that is not created by the user of
the SMLOI can be subject to copyright or other intellectual property
license. The amount due to owners of the intellectual property rights can
be automatically calculated by the SMLOI and collected from the SMLOI's
user.
[0204]Blogs are well known in the art. They are generally disposed as a
number of sequential communications posted one on top of the other. This
forms a vertical "stream" of distinct communications having at least one
common topic. The blog contains a number of information elements on the
form of a plurality of short texts related to a particular topic. In the
context of this patent application, the blog can be considered a vector.
It would become possible to generate another vector just as previously
described in this specification by selecting a particular message in the
blog. More precise navigation can be obtained by selecting more precise
blog attributes to generate more refined vectors.
[0205]Patent prior art management is a possible real life application of
this SMLOI. Standard patent information such as the title, the inventor's
name, the classification, the filing date, the priority date (if any) . .
. Are considered intrinsic attributes and can be gathered automatically
using an internet crawler. Once the image of each page of the patent is
collected by the SMLOI, the full text in searchable format and the
standard patent information are collected, extrinsic information element
attributes can be applied. Illustratively, all collected patents appear
on the absolute information element vector. The extrinsic information
attributes could be represented, illustratively, in the automotive field,
as the mechanical systems (i.e. drive, electrical, transmission, fuel,
suspension, brake, hydraulic, seating . . . ). These mechanical systems
can be subdivided in more refined sub-systems (i.e. suspension system
could be subdivided as: shock absorber, coil, rubber mounts, fasteners,
MacPherson type suspension, double a-arm suspension, bumpsteer . . . ).
These extrinsic attributes can be applied when patents are analyzed. This
classification would rapidly provide a precise and narrow search about a
specific patent using the SMLOI.
[0206]Each attribute can correspond to another completely different
attribute using a cross-reference table. A correspondence is made in the
table when two different attributes are related but are on different
topics and are unlikely to be selected together because they relate to
different users but could be useful for each of them. When one attribute
is selected the other will be automatically selected. Other actions may
be applied on the second attribute as a consequence of the first
attribute. One skilled in the art could make many other examples of
similar or related applications without departing from the scope of the
SMLOI.
[0207]Writing directly in an empty information element (i.e. blank page)
can be used as an e-mail to be sent because the e-mail messaging system
is fully embedded in the SMLOI. Each information element has its own
little "word processing" providing each information element with writing
or noting capabilities and therefore be a potential note or e-mail. The
server setup (SMTP, POP, POP3 . . . ) is embedded directly in the SMLOI.
Selected information elements, individually or by cluster, can directly
be sent by e-mail as an e-mail with or without attachments. Embedding in
the SMLOI the e-mail system procures the SMLOI a seamless communication
capability removing the need of having an e-mail system distinct from the
SMLOI. In fact, the SMLOI could fully integrate all functions of an
operating system and completely integrate all functions of the operating
system (which is not really seen as useful from a user point of view if
not to manage files and interconnect various third party applications).
Instant messaging, video communication and the like are also intended to
be part of the communication system embedded in the SMLOI.
[0208]When inserting a batch of information elements in the SMLOI from a
classic folder and subfolder classification, the classic folder
classification is transferred into attributes on each information element
entered in the SMLOI. This provides the possibility for a user to
retrieve an information element based on its former location despite the
information element is not really located in the folder/subfolder
classification.
[0209]The SMLOI can also be utilized with a MP3 music player to manage
music, albums and songs. The round multidirectional interface of the well
known iPod.TM. is quite similar to the navigation tool of the SMLOI
disclosed in the illustrative embodiment. The iPod's interface manages
navigation on the X (absolute) and Y (relative) vectors by simply
pressing the click wheel at 0, 90, 180 and 270 degree, by turning the
click wheel the user can zoom in/out. Conversely, pressing the click
wheel at 0, 90, 180 and 270 degree can zoom in/out the SMLOI interface.
Data synchronization is automatic with the SMLOI when the iPod is
connected with its base computer or on any computer in the case the SMLOI
is web-based. It is encompassed by the present patent application to
fully integrate the SMLOI to the iPod's interface and possible
functionalities. The SMLOI's attributes are integrated in the iPod menu.
The attributes would be managed by the iPod's interface just like the
music menu of the iPod. Similarly, the information element vectors might
be moved by directly using fingers on a touch screen.
Client-Server
[0210]A client-server structure is an alternative to a local software
installed on a single computer. The client-server option allows access to
the SMLOI from a plurality of different computers or other means for
accessing the network used by the SMLOI. Information elements are
illustratively stored on various memory devices that could be physically
located at various places. For instance the SMLOI user can access the
SMLOI from home, office and from the local library. Some information
elements based files are recorded on the PC at home, some others on the
PC at work, some other on a USB key and some others, needed more
frequently, are stored on the SMLOI server. Distribution of information
elements on many different computers could also be applied to a
peers-to-peers network with no real server managing the data. Each
information elements based files have a respective "image" that take less
memory space than the actual base file. This "image" is used with the
associated information element to display a representation of the
document in the SMLOI. The actual file associated with the image is
transferred by the SMLOI only when needed (e.g. when edition with the
native application is requested for instance).
[0211]The information elements visible on the display device (e.g. the
documents images and the characterization attributes amongst others) and
the database including the corresponding characterization attributes
associated with each information elements and all other information
associated with the information elements are stored on the server.
Storage on the server allows access to a usable SMLOI from anywhere
having access to the network (e.g. Internet or LAN or any other type of
network wired or wireless). Navigation along axis of the SMLOI is
possible using the documents' images even if the base documents are
stored on a different computer than the one used by the user of the
SMLOI. Access to the base documents from its respective information
element in the SMLOI can be done if the document is stored on the local
computer or, if access to the other remote storage device on which the
desired based document is stored (or recorded), is accessible via the
network. Using information element images are intended to reduce the
amount of data to be transferred between the clients and the server. The
base documents can be displayed and transferred via the network, if
bandwidth is sufficient, without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0212]The USB key might be utilized by the SMLOI user to carry base
documents (or files) that the user uses more often. The SMLOI will access
the network to contact the server and get the database and the
information elements to display on the display device used by the SMLOI
user. When a base document is requested from one (or many information
elements) the SMLOI will evaluate which base documents are available on
each accessible memory devices and will provide access to the accessible
based documents. The user will have to wait to get access to presently
non-accessible base documents when the memory device on which they are
stored is accessible by the SMLOI. In the case of the USB key, the SMLOI
will search available storage devices (local memory devices and external
memory accessible by the computer) and will allow access to the base
documents stored on the USB key.
[0213]When the user accesses the SMLOI on a remote computer and wants to
add a new document in the SMLOI but does not want to store it on the
remote computer or on the USB key then, the SMLOI will temporarily upload
the new document on the server and store it on, for instance, the home
computer the next time the user access the SMLOI from his home computer.
The base file could also remain stored on the server depending on the
user's preference (i.e. store the base document of information element
no. xyz on 1) USB key, and/or 2) home computer, and/or 3) office
computer, and/or 4) office network and/or 5) SMLOI server).
Peer-to-Peer Computer Network
[0214]Distribution of information elements on many different computers
with no real server managing the data could also be applied the SMLOI. A
peer-to-peer (P2P) computer network relies primarily on the computing
power and bandwidth of the participants in the network rather than
concentrating it in a relatively low number of servers. Peer-to-peer
networks are typically used for connecting nodes via largely ad hoc
connections. Such networks are useful for many purposes. Sharing content
files (see file sharing) containing audio, video, data or anything in
digital format is very common, and realtime data, such as telephony
traffic, is also passed using P2P technology.
[0215]A pure peer-to-peer network does not have the notion of clients or
servers, but only equal peer nodes that simultaneously function as both
"clients" and "servers" to the other nodes on the network. This model of
network arrangement differs from the client-server model where
communication is usually to and from a central server. A typical example
for a non peer-to-peer file transfer is an FTP server where the client
and server programs are quite distinct, and the clients initiate the
download/uploads and the servers react to and satisfy these requests.
[0216]The description and the drawings that are presented above are meant
to be illustrative of the present invention. They are not meant to be
limiting of the scope of the present invention. Modifications to the
embodiments described may be made without departing from the present
invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims:
* * * * *
