Method, system, and program product for organizing a database

The invention provides a method, system, and program product for organizing a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user. In one embodiment, the invention includes accessing a database containing a plurality of objects; defining at least one of the plurality of objects as included in a task list of a user; displaying the defined object(s); determining a time at which each defined object was last accessed by the user; modifying the display based on at least one determined value; and searching the modified display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates generally to databases, and more particularly, to the organization of a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user.

2. Background Art

It is common for a number of individuals to collaboratively work on a common project using a database of files or other objects related to the project. However, in most cases, each individual will not need to access every file in the database. Rather, individuals will normally be assigned various tasks requiring the use of a subset of the files or objects in the database. In complex projects, such as software development, a database may include hundreds or thousands of files or other objects and dozens of individuals each assigned tasks requiring the use of a different subset of these files or objects. In such a case, it is clearly undesirable for an individual to have to view and/or navigate his or her way through all of the files or objects in the database simply to use those within his or her subset.

Currently, a user must rely on date stamps associated with individual files or objects or simple filters, such as keyword or file extension filters, in order to narrow his or her view of the database to the files associated with his or her subset. This requires a great deal of time and effort on the part of the user and often provides less-than-satisfactory results, with relevant files excluded and/or irrelevant files included.

To this extent, a need exists for a method for organizing a database based on a task list of a user that does not suffer from the defects known in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method, system, and program product for organizing a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user. In one embodiment, the invention includes accessing a database containing a plurality of objects; defining at least one of the plurality of objects as included in a task list of a user; displaying the defined object(s); determining a time at which each defined object was last accessed by the user; modifying the display based on at least one determined value; and searching the modified display.

A first aspect of the invention provides a method for organizing a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user, the method comprising: accessing a database containing a plurality of objects; defining at least one of the plurality of objects as included in a task list of a user; and displaying the defined object(s).

A second aspect of the invention provides a system for organizing a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user, the system comprising: a system for accessing a database containing a plurality of objects; a system for defining at least one of the plurality of objects as included in a task list of a user; and a system for displaying the defined object(s).

A third aspect of the invention provides a program product stored on a computer-readable medium, which when executed, organizes a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user, the program product comprising: a system for accessing a database containing a plurality of objects; a system for defining at least one of the plurality of objects as included in a task list of a user; and a system for displaying the defined object(s).

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a method for deploying an application for organizing a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user, comprising: providing a computer infrastructure being operable to: access a database containing a plurality of objects; define at least one of the plurality of objects as included in a task list of a user; and display the defined object(s).

The illustrative aspects of the present invention are designed to solve the problems herein described and other problems not discussed, which are discoverable by a skilled artisan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As indicated above, the invention provides a method, system, and program product for organizing a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user.

Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1shows a graphical user interface (GUI)100of a computer program operating in accordance with the invention. GUI100includes a file tree window102, a content window104, and an activities window106.

File tree window102contains a number of categorized files112A,114A,118A, which a user has defined as being included on his or her task list, the files being selected from a larger database of files associated with a project on which the user is working. As shown, files are categorized as text files112, HTML files114, user manual files116, and images118. However, it should be recognized that any number of categorizations may similarly be used. In addition, while shown as a file tree, any number of visual representations of relationships among files may also be used.

Content window104includes the contents of a file selected from file tree window102. For example, as shown, content window104includes the HTML code120of the file “TOC.html”114A.

Activities window106contains a number of categories130. . .138representing a user's activities with respect to the files included on his or her task list. That is, rather than simply providing a user with a system-wide list of recently-accessed or recently-modified files as in known programs, activities window106provides the user with lists limited to files on his or her task list and/or within the broader database of files or other objects, based on the type of activity each listed file has seen. For example, files accessed132may include only those files accessed (e.g., opened, modified, written, or searched or, alternatively, opened but not modified, written, or searched) by the user and/or other individuals working on the project (i.e., Project1). Similarly, files searched138may include files searched but not written or modified. It should be recognized that any number of other categorizations may be employed, based on the needs of an individual user or project (e.g., files moved, files transferred/emailed, files deleted, files completed, etc.), those shown inFIG. 1being for purposes of illustration only.

FIG. 2shows an alternate view of GUI100in association with a database GUI200containing files212A-C,218A-B among a number of categories212,214,216,218, from which a user may define his or her task list. For example, in file tree window102of GUI100, the user's task list includes three files: Intro.txt112A, TOC.html114A, and Img1.tiff118A. These files were selected by the user from among the files shown in database GUI200. The user did not, however, select Index.txt212B, Glossary.txt212C, or Img2.jpg218B for his or her task list. Another user working on Project1would likely select a different combination of files in compiling his or her task list.

In any case, the files selected by a user for his or her task list are shown within GUI100only as representations of (e.g., links to) the underlying files in the database, as represented in database GUI200. That is, files are not copied or transferred from the database when a user selects files for his or her task list. Rather, links to the underlying files in the database are made in GUI100, such that the files remain available to all users working on a project. As such, a user can access the same file in the database and view, modify, etc. the work of another user. That is, the same file may be included on the task lists of more than one user. Similarly, in the case that a user is working on more than one project (and therefore has more than one task list), the same file may be included on more than one task list of the same user.

Referring now toFIG. 3, a detailed view of recent activities window106is shown. Here, the files searched folder138has been expanded to show its contents. As explained above, the files searched folder138includes links to files associated with the project (e.g., Project1) that have been searched. In one embodiment, the files shown in the files searched folder138include only those files defined by the user as on his or her task list and searched by the user. In an alternative embodiment, the files searched folder138may further include files associated with the project but not on the user's task list that have been searched by the user. In yet another embodiment, the files searched folder138may also include files associated with the project that have been searched by other users, whether included on the user's task list or not.

In the case that the files in the files searched folder138contain either files not on the user's task list or files not searched by the user, it may be helpful to distinguish the files according to such categorizations. For example, as shown inFIG. 3, the Intro.txt138A and Index.txt138B files are shown in bold typeface and by a shaded icon. Such techniques may be used, for example, to identify these files as included on the user's task list while the remaining files138C-L are not on the user's task list. Alternatively, such techniques may be used to identify these files as those searched by the user while the remaining files138C-L as searched by another user or users. Any known or later-developed method, technique, or device for so distinguishing such files may be employed and are within the scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that while searching a file may be considered simply a specific method of reading (e.g., accessing) the file, a distinction is made between the two as used herein. Specifically, searching includes some form of input from a user (e.g., a search string), while reading (e.g., accessing) a file, involves merely viewing the file's contents.

Files138A-L within the files searched folder138may be organized in any number of ways, as will be recognized by one skilled in the art (e.g., alphabetically, by file size, etc.). In a preferred embodiment, files are organized according to the recency in which each was searched. In another preferred embodiment, files are organized according to the frequency with which each has been searched.

FIG. 4shows a flow diagram of an illustrative method according to the invention. At step S1, a user accesses a database containing files or other objects associated with a project on which the user will work. At step S2, the user defines his or her task list by selecting from the database accessed at step S1one or more files on which the user will work. At step S3, the files or other objects selected at step S2are displayed to the user as his or her task list.

At optional step S4, the user may choose to search within his or her task list for files or other objects. As noted above, the ability to search within only those files on the user's task list saves a great deal of time, effort, and computational resources, particularly when the user's task list contains a small proportion of the files or other objects within the broader database.

At step S5, it is determined whether the user's task list has changed, e.g., whether a file or other object should be added to or removed from the user's task list defined at step S2. If so (i.e., YES at step S5), steps S1through S5may be iteratively looped. If not (i.e., NO at step S5), the flow may be ended at step S6.

FIG. 5shows an illustrative system10for organizing a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user. To this extent, system10includes a computer infrastructure12that can perform the various process steps described herein for organizing a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user. In particular, computer infrastructure12is shown including a computer system14that comprises a database organizing system40, which enables computer system14to organize a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user by performing the process steps of the invention.

Computer system14is shown including a processing unit20, a memory22, input/output (I/O) interfaces26, and a bus24. Further, computer system14is shown in communication with external devices28and a storage system30. As is known in the art, in general, processing unit20executes computer program code, such as database organizing system40, that is stored in memory22and/or storage system30. While executing computer program code, processing unit20can read and/or write data from/to memory22, storage system30, and/or I/O interface26. Bus24provides a communication link between each of the components in computer system14. External devices28can comprise any device that enables a user (not shown) to interact with computer system14or any device that enables computer system14to communicate with one or more other computer systems.

In any event, computer system14can comprise any general purpose computing article of manufacture capable of executing computer program code installed by a user (e.g., a personal computer, server, handheld device, etc.). However, it is understood that computer system14and database organizing system40are only representative of various possible computer systems that may perform the various process steps of the invention. To this extent, in other embodiments, computer system14can comprise any specific purpose computing article of manufacture comprising hardware and/or computer program code for performing specific functions, any computing article of manufacture that comprises a combination of specific purpose and general purpose hardware/software, or the like. In each case, the program code and hardware can be created using standard programming and engineering techniques, respectively.

Similarly, computer infrastructure12is only illustrative of various types of computer infrastructures for implementing the invention. For example, in one embodiment, computer infrastructure12comprises two or more computer systems (e.g., a server cluster) that communicate over any type of wired and/or wireless communications link, such as a network, a shared memory, or the like, to perform the various process steps of the invention. When the communications link comprises a network, the network can comprise any combination of one or more types of networks (e.g., the Internet, a wide area network, a local area network, a virtual private network, etc.). Regardless, communications between the computer systems may utilize any combination of various types of transmission techniques.

As previously mentioned, database organizing system40enables computer system14to organize a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user. To this extent, database organizing system40is shown including an accessing system42, a defining system44, a searching system46, an amending system48, and a displaying system50. Operation of each of these systems is discussed above. Database organizing system40may further include other system components52to provide additional or improved functionality to database organizing system40. It is understood that some of the various systems shown inFIG. 5can be implemented independently, combined, and/or stored in memory for one or more separate computer systems14that communicate over a network. Further, it is understood that some of the systems and/or functionality may not be implemented, or additional systems and/or functionality may be included as part of system10.

While shown and described herein as a method and system for organizing a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user, it is understood that the invention further provides various alternative embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides a computer-readable medium that includes computer program code to enable a computer infrastructure to organize a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user. To this extent, the computer-readable medium includes program code, such as database organizing system40, that implements each of the various process steps of the invention. It is understood that the term “computer-readable medium” comprises one or more of any type of physical embodiment of the program code. In particular, the computer-readable medium can comprise program code embodied on one or more portable storage articles of manufacture (e.g., a compact disc, a magnetic disk, a tape, etc.), on one or more data storage portions of a computer system, such as memory22and/or storage system30(e.g., a fixed disk, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a cache memory, etc.), and/or as a data signal traveling over a network (e.g., during a wired/wireless electronic distribution of the program code).

In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method that performs the process steps of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider could offer to organize a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user, as described above. In this case, the service provider can create, maintain, support, etc., a computer infrastructure, such as computer infrastructure12, that performs the process steps of the invention for one or more customers. In return, the service provider can receive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service provider can receive payment from the sale of advertising space to one or more third parties.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides a method of generating a system for organizing a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user. In this case, a computer infrastructure, such as computer infrastructure12, can be obtained (e.g., created, maintained, having made available to, etc.) and one or more systems for performing the process steps of the invention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified, etc.) and deployed to the computer infrastructure. To this extent, the deployment of each system can comprise one or more of (1) installing program code on a computer system, such as computer system14, from a computer-readable medium; (2) adding one or more computer systems to the computer infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/or modifying one or more existing systems of the computer infrastructure, to enable the computer infrastructure to perform the process steps of the invention.