Patent ID: 8549434
Filing Date: 2013-10-01
Classification: G06F,G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for use on a computer having a graphical operating environment, comprising: providing a collection of items within a container, the container having an outer appearance; enumerating the items that exist within the container; determining whether a graphical preview can be generated for each enumerated item; generating a list of items for which a graphical preview can be generated; selecting, from the generated list, a desired number of items to display on the outer appearance based upon a sort criteria, wherein the sort criteria selects the items based upon those items which were most recently modified in some way; displaying graphical previews for the selected items on the outer appearance of the container, wherein the graphical previews are not folders, and the graphical previews are generated by a thumbnail extractor based on extensions associated with the selected items; and locating the graphical previews on the outer appearance in a desired location, thereby enabling a computer user to more easily identify the contents of the container without opening the container.