JP2002288018A - File management method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To respond to the necessity for complementing the inconvenience of PC by application software. SOLUTION: In this device, an attribute acquiring part 14 acquires an attribute item corresponded to a file on the basis of the designation by a user, when a file creating part 12 creates a file. The attribute acquiring part 14 offers the user a choice of the attribute items held by a candidate holding part 18 in advance to allow the user to choose the attribute item. A file holding part 16 records the relationship between the file and the attribute item, and classifies and holds plural files on the basis of the relationship. A key acquiring part 46 receives the attribute item as a retrieving key from the user, and a list processing part 52 displays the file extracted by the retrieving key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a file management method and apparatus. The present invention particularly relates to a technique for managing a plurality of files on a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as personal computers).
It is called "PC". ) Has been widely used in general households, regardless of gender, from parents to children. Various markets that have been targeted at high-end users, such as business people and students, are creating new markets by redesigning for low-end users. These softwares are easy to operate even for beginners, especially GUI (Graphic User Inter
The design of the face) is important.

[0003]

However, it is still difficult to say that a PC is easy to use for many users. One of the causes is O
There is a dependency on S (Operating System). That is, although the standardization of the OS in recent years has progressed and the difference in the use procedure for each model has almost disappeared, there is still room for improvement in the common use procedure, and software that depends on this is also covered by the GUI. An impossible puzzle is born. There is a growing need for application software to complement OS functions to counteract such difficulties.

The present inventor has made the present invention based on the above recognition, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for facilitating file management on a PC.

[0005]

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a file management method. This method allows a user to designate an attribute item conceptually indicating the content of a created file as a substitute for a file name, and saves and classifies the file based on the correspondence with the attribute item, thereby allowing the user to specify the file. Manage multiple files using a method that omits name entry.

Here, the "file" includes a document file created by software such as a word processor (hereinafter referred to as "word processor"), as well as an image file, a sound file, and a moving image file created by various software. It is. An “attribute item” is an item that conceptually expresses the information content recorded in a file. The item may be determined by the user subjectively, or selected by the user from objectively determined items. It may be in the form of doing. With respect to the contents of the file, attribute items may be determined based on concepts such as time, place, person, and purpose. “File name” may include a directory name, a path name, or a folder name in a hierarchical directory structure. The user does not need to give a file name to the created file and does not need to specify a storage location.

[0007] Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a file management device. The apparatus includes a file generation unit that creates a file, an attribute acquisition unit that receives an attribute item conceptually indicating the content of the file from a user, and a file holding unit that classifies the file based on a correspondence relationship with the received attribute item. Parts.

The present apparatus classifies and manages a plurality of files based on an attribute item specified by a user. The present apparatus may prepare options of attribute items in advance, present the options, and allow the user to select them. Icon display may be used as a presentation method. The present apparatus may create and manage a correspondence table between files and attribute items,
File storage locations may be hierarchized based on attribute items.

Still another preferred embodiment according to the present invention relates to a computer program. The program executes on a computer a process of creating a file, a process of receiving an attribute item conceptually indicating the content of the file from a user, and a process of classifying the file based on a correspondence relationship with the received attribute item. Let it. Further, a step of holding a plurality of options in advance as attribute items, a step of presenting the options to the user, and receiving a selection instruction for the presentation from the user,
May be executed by a computer.

Any combination of the above components,
What replaced the components and expressions of the present invention among methods, apparatuses, systems, computer programs, recording media storing computer programs, and the like is also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A file management apparatus according to the present embodiment sets an attribute item relating to the content of a file instead of setting a file name and a storage location when a user creates the file. Let it. The user can set a plurality of easy-to-remember concepts as attribute items.

When a file name is set for a file, a character string relating to the contents of the file is usually set. However, if the number of characters in the file name is limited, it is difficult to directly reflect the contents of the file. Although there is a method of assigning file names based on predetermined rules, it is difficult to determine appropriate rules, and if file names become redundant, management becomes complicated when the number of files increases. , It's hard to remember the file name.

In order to manage files efficiently, there is a method of hierarchizing storage locations. At present, the mainstream OS adopts a hierarchical directory structure as a file management method, but a user who is not accustomed to using a PC often cannot understand this structure. For example, an inappropriate directory may be specified as a file storage location, folders may be hierarchized irregularly, or an infinite number of files may be stored in one folder. As a result, a desired file cannot be found later, and it is difficult to organize the files.

The present apparatus improves user convenience by omitting input of a file name and a storage location. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the file management device is expressed as a file processing device having both a file management function and a file search function.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the file processing device.
The file processing device 10 includes a file generation unit 12, an attribute acquisition unit 14, a file storage unit 16, a candidate storage unit 18, a data processing unit 40, a key acquisition unit 46, and a list processing unit 5.
2 inclusive. The file generation unit 12, the attribute acquisition unit 14, the file storage unit 16, and the candidate storage unit 18 mainly relate to the file management function, and the file storage unit 16, the key acquisition unit 4
6, and the list processing unit 52 mainly relate to the file search function. This device can be realized by hardware such as a CPU of a computer in terms of hardware, and is realized by a program having a file management function and a file search function in terms of software. It depicts the functional blocks that are realized. Therefore, these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

The file generator 12 creates a file such as a document. The file generation unit 12 includes a new file creation unit 20 and a template holding unit 22. The new file creation unit 20 may create a file in a blank state, or may create a file using a template stored in the template holding unit 22. The template mainly indicates a fixed format that can complete the document only by partially editing the content, and "template"
Also called.

The attribute acquisition section 14 receives from the user an attribute item conceptually indicating the contents of the file. Attribute acquisition unit 1
4 includes an option presenting unit 24 and a selection receiving unit 26.
The option presenting unit 24 presents to the user a concept related to at least one of time, place, person, and purpose regarding the file created by the file generating unit 12 as an attribute item option. The option presenting unit 24 may present the option to the user in the form of an icon symbolizing the attribute item. The selection accepting unit 26 includes the option presenting unit 24
A selection instruction for the presentation by the user is received from the user. The selection receiving unit 26 may receive a concept other than the option from the user as an attribute item.

The candidate holding unit 18 holds in advance options of attribute items presented to the user by the option presenting unit 24. The candidate holding unit 18 includes an option holding unit 36 and an icon holding unit 38. The option holding unit 36 stores a concept as an option. For example, as attribute items related to time (hereinafter, referred to as “time attribute items”), there are concepts such as “today”, “this week”, “this month”, and “this year”. The file creation date and time may be included in the options. As attribute items relating to a person (hereinafter, referred to as “person attribute items”), there are concepts such as “dad”, “mother”, “old brother”, “one sister”, and the like. The options may be changed based on the user's family structure.

The attribute items relating to a place (hereinafter, referred to as "place attribute items") include concepts such as "house", "school", and "company". The place name or the like set by the user may be included in the options. Attribute items related to purpose (hereinafter,
It is called "purpose attribute item". ) Includes concepts such as "letter", "diary", and "album". "word processor",
A file type such as “e-mail” or “household account book” may be selected.

The icon holding unit 38 includes an option holding unit 36
Manages the icons associated with the options stored by. A face icon may be set for a person attribute item, and an icon symbolizing a concept may be set for a target attribute item.

The file holding unit 16 classifies and holds files based on the correspondence with the attribute items received from the user by the attribute acquisition unit 14. The file holding unit 16
It includes a correspondence relationship recording unit 28, a file recording unit 30, a correspondence table holding unit 32, and a storage file storage unit 34.
The correspondence recording unit 28 records the correspondence between the file in which the attribute item is specified and the attribute item in the correspondence table holding unit 32 in the form of a correspondence table. The correspondence table may represent the correspondence between the file name and the attribute item. The file name may be automatically generated according to the concept specified as the attribute item, or a unique identification number may be given instead of the file name. The identification number may be assigned serially. The file recording unit 30 stores the file in which the attribute item is specified in the storage file storage unit 34. The directory may be hierarchized based on the correspondence with the attribute item.

The data processing section 40 processes data recorded in a file. The data processing unit 40 includes a data reproducing unit 42 and a data editing unit 44, and these functions may be realized as application software. The data reproducing unit 42 reproduces an image file, a moving image file, an audio file, and the like. Data editor 44
Displays or edits the contents of the document file by a text processing function.

The key acquisition unit 46 receives an attribute item from a user as a key for extracting a file of interest from a plurality of files. The key obtaining unit 46 includes an option presenting unit 48
And an option receiving unit 50. The option presenting unit 48
The concept of the attribute item recorded in the correspondence table holding unit 32 is presented to the user as an option. The option may be presented to the user in the form of an icon symbolizing the attribute item. The options and icons are held by the candidate holding unit 18. The option receiving unit 50 receives a selection instruction for the option presenting by the option presenting unit 48 from the user.

The list processing section 52 narrows down a plurality of files stored in the storage file storage section 34 with a key and displays them on a screen. The list processing unit 52 includes a file extraction unit 5
4 and a list display section 56. File extraction unit 54
Receives an attribute item as a key from the key acquisition unit 46 and extracts a file corresponding to the key. For example, if the user specifies "this week" as the time attribute item, the file associated with "this week" is extracted. When the user further specifies "Dad" as a human attribute item, files associated with both "This week" and "Dad" are extracted. As the number of attribute items increases, the number of files to be extracted is reduced. The list display unit 56 displays the extracted files on a screen in a list.

FIG. 2 shows a menu screen displayed when a file is created or opened. Menu screen 60
, A plurality of purpose attribute items 62 are presented as options. For example, “word processor”,
There are concepts such as "household account book" and "calendar", each of which indicates a file type. A new creation button 64 and an open button 66 are displayed for each purpose attribute item 62. When the user clicks the new creation button 64, a new file corresponding to the purpose attribute item 62 is created. For example, when a "Create New" button displayed in the "Word Processor" column is clicked, a new document file is created, and the screen is switched to a screen for specifying another attribute item. When the open button 66 is clicked, the screen is switched to a screen for specifying an attribute item for extracting a file to be opened. The new creation button 64 and the open button 66 may display the contents of the file in the form of an icon shown as a picture.

FIG. 3 shows a screen for designating attribute items.
The attribute item designation screen 70 may be used to allow a user to designate an attribute item as a substitute for a file name when saving a file. It may be used to cause the user to specify an attribute item as a substitute for the file name when extracting the target file to be opened.

On the attribute item designation screen 70, as the columns of attribute items to be designated, a time attribute item 72, a person attribute item 74,
A place attribute item 76 and a purpose attribute item 78 are displayed. In the column of the time attribute item 72, a time option 80 and a time setting column 82 are displayed, and in the column of the human attribute item 74, a person option 84 and a person setting column 86 are displayed. A place option 88 and a place setting field 90 are displayed in the field of the place attribute item 76, and a purpose option 92 and a purpose setting field 94 are displayed in the field of the purpose attribute item 78. The concept presented as the goal option 92 corresponds to the goal attribute item specified in FIG. For example, the term "word processor" is limited to concepts such as "letter" and "thank-you note".

The user may specify the time attribute item 72 based on the file creation date, or may freely specify the time attribute item 72 in relation to the contents of the file such as a past date or a future date. The person attribute item 74 may specify the person or the person to whom the file is sent. The location attribute item 76 may specify the location where the file is created, or the destination of the file or the location where the file is used. In the purpose attribute item 78, the type of the file may be specified, or it may be freely specified in relation to the content of the file.

The user can specify any concept for any attribute item. The number of concepts and attribute items to be specified is also arbitrary. For example, "Today" and "This Week" are designated as the time attribute item 72, nothing is designated in the person attribute item 74, "Home" is designated as the location attribute item 76, and the purpose option 92 is designated. May be a combination that specifies an option of “letter” and a character string of “greeting”.

FIG. 4 shows a correspondence table between files and attribute items. In the correspondence table 130, the file name column 1
32, a time field 134, a location field 136, a person field 138, and a purpose field 140 are included. A file name is recorded in the file name column 132, and a concept corresponding to the file is recorded as an attribute item in the time column 134, the location column 136, the person column 138, or the purpose column 140, respectively. A plurality of concepts may be recorded in one attribute item in one file, or an attribute item column in which no concept is set may be left blank.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of specifying an attribute item which is a premise of file management. First, when a new file is created according to the user's instruction (S
10), the user is presented with the option of the attribute item as a substitute for the file name (S12). On the other hand, the user specifies an attribute item by selecting an arbitrary concept from options (S14). A correspondence table is created based on the correspondence between the designated attribute item and the file (S1).
6) and save the file under the correspondence (S1).
8), the user edits the contents of the file (S20).
After such editing, the user may re-save the file, or may automatically save the file during editing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of designating an attribute item which is a key for file extraction. First, a screen for extracting a file is displayed (S30), and options of attribute items are presented on the screen (S31). In response to this, the user selects an arbitrary concept from the options, and A key attribute item is designated (S32). With reference to the correspondence table (S34), a file corresponding to the designated attribute item is extracted (S36), and a list is displayed on the screen (S38). If the attribute item is further specified (S40Y), the processes from S34 to S38 are repeated to narrow down the files. When narrowing is completed (S40
N), the file finally selected by the user is opened (S42).

(Second Embodiment) In this embodiment,
The procedure is simplified by using a template and a calendar for specifying attribute items when creating a new file. The template is associated in advance with attribute items according to the contents, and the target attribute item is specified only by the user specifying the template. Further, the time attribute item is designated by the user selecting a date on the calendar.

FIG. 7 shows an attribute item designation screen. On the attribute item designation screen 150, a template column 152 and a calendar 153 are mainly displayed. The user selects and drags a desired template from the template column 152, and drops it at a position of a desired date on the calendar 153. In the calendar 153, the vertical axis is divided by date as the time attribute item 156, and the horizontal axis is divided by the face icon as the human attribute item 154. For example, the user selects and drags the template icon 158 indicating the diary, and drops it in the space 160. In this space 160, “child's face” is associated as a person attribute item 154, and “3 /
27 (Tuesday). As a result, three attribute items of purpose, time, and person are designated at once by simply moving one icon. Further, the options of the location attribute item may be displayed in the location designation field 164 in the form of an icon 166. Calendar 15
A plurality of date switching buttons 162 are displayed in the lower part of 3. When the user clicks any of these buttons, the date of the time attribute item 156 switches to last month, last week, next week, or next month.

(Third Embodiment) In the present embodiment, options of attribute items are presented in a complex form on a file extraction screen. That is, the information is presented using three types: an icon format, a pull-down menu format, and a tab format.

FIG. 8 shows a file extraction screen for presenting a plurality of options of attribute items. File extraction screen 1
00 includes a purpose specification field 102, a person specification field 104, a place specification field 106, a time specification field 108, and a preview display field 110. In the purpose designation field 102, the choices of the purpose attribute items are presented in icon form, and the person designation field 104
Shows options of human attribute items in an icon format.
The user may select a plurality of icons. In the place designation field 106, choices of place attribute items are presented in a pull-down menu format. In the time designation column 108, options of time attribute items are presented in a tab format. The tab format is in the form of a folder index. When any tab is selected, the displayed folder is switched. At least a part of the content of the selected file is displayed as a preview in preview display field 110. Attribute information such as file size, file type, creation date, and update date may be displayed in the preview display column 110.

For example, the user selects two target icons 112 and 114 as target attribute items, and selects a face icon 116 as a human attribute item. The concept of “house” is selected from the location options 122 as the location attribute item, and “this month” is selected as the time attribute item. Files corresponding to all of these attribute items are displayed in a list in the folder 123. When the user clicks the file icon 120 from among them, a sentence that is a part of the file is displayed in the preview display section 110. The user checks the displayed text and finally selects a file, and the file is opened. The file icon 120 may be configured such that an arbitrary icon is set based on a user's designation when a file is created.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the present embodiment,
Using a calendar on the file extraction screen simplifies the file extraction procedure. As in the second embodiment, the date pointed on the calendar is directly specified as a time attribute item.

FIG. 9 shows a file extraction screen using a calendar. The file extraction screen 170 includes a calendar 171, a place designation column 180, and a preview display column 1
72. In the calendar 171, the vertical axis is divided by date as the time attribute item 176, and the horizontal axis is divided by the face icon as the human attribute item 174. A file icon is displayed at a position determined by the correspondence between the time attribute item 176 and the person attribute item 174. Location designation field 18
0 indicates a plurality of icons 18 as options for the location attribute item.
2 is presented, and if one of them is specified, the file icons displayed in the calendar 171 are narrowed down to those corresponding to the specified location. When the user selects the file icon 184 in the calendar 171, a part of the content of the file is displayed in the preview display column 172 in the form of a preview. When the date switch button 178 is clicked, the date of the time attribute item 176 is switched to one of last month, last week, next week, or next month.

The present invention has been described based on several embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are exemplifications, and that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. . Hereinafter, some modified examples will be described.

In the above embodiment, classification was made using all four concepts of date, person, place, and purpose as attribute items. However, in the modified example, not all of them but only fewer attribute items are used. It may be classified. Also,
Other concepts may be added to the attribute item.

Although the calendar used in the above embodiment is in units of one week, in a modified example,
This may be done on a daily, monthly or yearly basis. Further, it may be configured to switch between these several types. For example, in the case of displaying a daily calendar like a so-called daily calendar, by arranging the events and anniversaries of the day, the user can easily store the time attribute items associated with the file.

In the above embodiment, the choices of the attribute items are fixed. However, in the modified example, each time the choices of a certain attribute item are designated, the choices of another attribute item are dynamically changed. You may comprise.

[0045]

According to the present invention, a plurality of files can be managed in a manner that is convenient for the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a file processing device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a menu screen displayed when a file is created or opened.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen for specifying an attribute item.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a correspondence table between files and attribute items.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of specifying an attribute item which is a premise of file management.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of specifying an attribute item that is a key for file extraction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an attribute item designation screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a file extraction screen for presenting attribute item options in a plurality of forms.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a file extraction screen using a calendar.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 file generation unit, 14 attribute acquisition unit, 16
File holding unit, 18 candidate holding unit, 46 key acquisition unit, 52 list processing unit.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A method for managing a file, comprising: allowing a user to designate an attribute item conceptually indicating the content of a created file as a substitute for a file name; and storing the file based on a correspondence relationship with the attribute item. A file management method, wherein a plurality of files are managed by storing and classifying the files so that the user does not need to input a file name. 2. An apparatus for managing a file, comprising: a file generation unit that creates a file; an attribute acquisition unit that receives from a user an attribute item conceptually indicating the content of the file; A file management device, comprising: a file holding unit that classifies the file based on the correspondence. 3. The file management device according to claim 2, wherein the attribute acquisition unit receives the attribute item in association with at least one of time, place, person, and purpose. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a candidate holding unit that holds a plurality of options in advance as the attribute item, wherein the attribute acquiring unit presents the options to a user and receives a selection instruction for the presentation from the user. 4. The file management device according to claim 2, wherein: 5. The file management device according to claim 4, wherein the attribute acquiring unit presents the option to the user in the form of an icon symbolizing the attribute item. 6. A computer program for managing a file, comprising: a step of creating a file; a step of receiving an attribute item conceptually indicating the content of the file from a user; and a correspondence relationship with the received attribute item. And a step of classifying the file based on the computer program. 7. The method further comprising: causing a computer to further execute a step of holding a plurality of options as the attribute item in advance, and a step of presenting the options to a user and receiving a selection instruction for the presentation from the user. A computer program according to claim 6,