Apple Inc.

Timothy R Oren

Gitta B Salomon

Daniel Eric Rose

Yin Yin Wong

Susan L Booker

Richard I Mander

Stephanie L Houde

Kristee M Kreitman

A method and apparatus for organizing information in a computer filing system. The method and apparatus include the creation of a pile comprising a collection of documents and displaying a graphical representation of the collection of documents. The method and apparatus further include browsing the collection of documents by pointing a cursor at a particular item in the collection of documents to reveal an indicia for the particular item in the collection of documents. The filing system can automatically divide a pile (e.g. a collection of documents from an electronic mail network) into subpiles on the basis of the content of each document in the pile, and the filing system, at the user's request can automatically file away documents into existing piles in the computer system on the basis of a similarity match between the content (or other internal representation) of the document and the content (or other internal representation) of existing piles in the computer system. The filing system can also create a pile from a sample document by using the internal representation of the document as the internal representation of the new pile. The computer filing system provides various interfaces in connection with piles to the user of the system to provide feedback and other information to the user, including information concerning the documents and piles in the computer's filing system.

Method and apparatus for organizing information in a computer system

A method and apparatus for organizing information in a computer filing system. The method and apparatus include the creation of a pile comprising a collection of documents and displaying a graphical representation of the collection of documents. The method and apparatus further include browsing the collection of documents by pointing a cursor at a particular item in the collection of documents to reveal an indicia for the particular item in the collection of documents. The filing system can automatically divide a pile (e.g. a collection of documents from an electronic mail network) into subpiles on the basis of the content of each document in the pile, and the filing system, at the users request can automatically file away documents into existing piles in the computer system on the basis of a similarity match between the content (or other internal representation) of the document and the content (or other internal representation) of existing piles in the computer system. The filing system can also create a pile from a sample document by using the internal representation of the document as the internal representation of the new pile. The computer filing system provides various interfaces in connection with piles to the user of the system to provide feedback and other information to the user, including information concerning the documents and piles in the computer's filing system.

A user interface system and method for traversing a database. In one aspect the present invention includes providing a plurality of command options, each of the command options represented by a set of descriptive option index terms characterizing that command option. The set of descriptive option index terms characterizing the command options selected by a user are compared with sets of document index terms. Each set of document index terms being compared characterizes an electronic document in a hypertext-type database which is selectively linked in that database with the user's present position. The comparisons result in a ranked list of the selectively linked electronic documents. The electronic documents are ranked in accordance with the relevancy of each document with respect to the selected command option. In another aspect of the invention, a plurality of command options are generated and displayed on a computer controlled display system (CCDS), each command option being represented by a portrayed character or personality associable to the user as being biased toward a particular type of information. Each of the command options represent a set of option index terms which characterize that particular command option. The set of option index terms characterizing the command option presently selected are compared with sets of document index terms. Each set of document index terms characterize an electronic document located within the database. The comparisons result in a ranked list of electronic documents, the documents being ranked in accordance with the particular bias of the portrayed character or personality.

User interface system and method for traversing a database

A user interface system and method for traversing a database. In one aspect the present invention includes providing a plurality of command options, each of the command options represented by a set of descriptive option index terms characterizing that command option. The set of descriptive option index terms characterizing the command options selected by a user, are compared with sets of document index terms. Each set of document index terms being compared characterizes an electronic document in a hypertext-type database which is selectively linked in that database with the user's present position. The comparisons result in a ranked list of the selectively linked electronic documents. The electronic documents are ranked in accordance with the relevancy of each document with respect to the selected command option. In another aspect of the invention, a plurality of command options are generated and displayed on a computer controlled display system (CCDS), each command option being represented by a portrayed character or personality associable to the user as being biased toward a particular type of information. Each of the command options represent a set of option index terms which characterize that particular command option. The set of option index terms characterizing the command option presently selected are compared with sets of document index terms. Each set of document index terms characterize an electronic document located within the database. The comparisons result in a ranked list of electronic documents, the documents being ranked in accordance with the particular bias of the portrayed character or personality.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Timothy R Oren