Method and apparatus for automatic organization for computer files
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for automatically organizing computer files into folders, comprising the steps of:
- a. arranging computer files to form an initial directory of folders;
b. creating a description of substantially each of said folders based upon contents of said folders;
c. assigning a new computer file to a folder based upon said folder description, including searching for a similar folder description along a single path from a root folder to a leaf folder;
d. automatically creating an additional folder if an existing folder contains a number of files or folders larger than a predefined limit; and
e. placing at least one file or folder from said existing folder into said additional folder and retaining at least one file or folder in said existing folder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus to automatically organize computer files or web pages into meaning categories, to acquire new computer files or web pages, and to maintain the resulting organization in hierarchical directory tree structure. The method allows a user to provide a large number of unorganized files or an initial directory. The method partitions the unorganized files into hierarchically arranged categories that form an initial directory or allows a user to provide the initial directory. The method creates a description to summarize the contents of each of the categories in the directory. The method uses the descriptions in a classification step that assigns a newly given computer file to one of the categories. When the number of files in a category exceeds a user predefined limit, the method partitions some of the files into additional categories. The method updates the descriptions of a category and all its parent categories whenever additional files or categories are added into or removed from the category.
67 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for automatically organizing computer files into folders, comprising the steps of:
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a. arranging computer files to form an initial directory of folders; b. creating a description of substantially each of said folders based upon contents of said folders; c. assigning a new computer file to a folder based upon said folder description, including searching for a similar folder description along a single path from a root folder to a leaf folder; d. automatically creating an additional folder if an existing folder contains a number of files or folders larger than a predefined limit; and e. placing at least one file or folder from said existing folder into said additional folder and retaining at least one file or folder in said existing folder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 24)
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13. A computer system comprising a processor, memory, and software for automatically organizing computer files into folders, said software causing said computer system to execute the steps comprising:
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a. providing a directory of folders, wherein substantially each of said folders is represented by a description; b. providing a new computer file not having a location in said directory, said computer file being represented by a description; c. comparing said description of said computer file to descriptions of a plurality of said folders along a single path from a root folder to a leaf folder; and d. assigning said computer file to a folder having the most similar description. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 18)
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17. A computer system comprising a processor, memory, and software for automatically organizing computer files into folders, said software causing said computer system to execute the steps comprising:
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a. providing a directory of folders, wherein substantially each of said folders is represented by a description; b. providing a new computer file not having a location in said directory, said computer file being represented by a description; c. comparing said description of said computer file to descriptions of a plurality of said folders; d. assigning said computer file to a folder having the most similar description; e. updating a description of a folder when said computer file is added or removed from said folder; and f. propagating an updated description of a folder upward from a current folder to a root folder.
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19. A method for hierarchically representing computer files and folders in a directory comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a pre-existing directory comprising a plurality of folders, at least one of said plurality of folders containing a plurality of sub-folders, and at least one of said plurality of sub-folders containing a plurality of computer files; b. creating a description for substantially each of said computer files in said sub-folders; c. combining substantially all of said descriptions for said computer files within a sub-folder in order to create a description of said sub-folder; d. combining substantially all of said descriptions for said sub-folders within a folder in order to create a description of said folder; e. wherein the combination of said descriptions for said computer files and said sub-folders includes searching for descriptions along a single path from a root folder to a leaf folder. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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23. A computer system having a processor, memory, and software causing said processor to execute the steps comprising:
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a. arranging computer files to form an initial directory of folders; b. creating a description of substantially each of said folders based upon a content of said folders; c. assigning a new computer file to a said folder, including searching for a similar folder description along a single path from a root folder to a leaf folder; and d. automatically creating an additional folder if any one of said folders contain a number of files or folders larger than a predefined limit. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification