Abstract:
File management machines, computer readable media, and methods of file management, are provided. An exemplary file management machine includes a file management server configured to receive or retrieve user files through an electronic communication/computer network to provide categorical organization and establishment of albums. The file management server can also function to create member user and visitor accounts. The visitor accounts can be provided individual custom access by the member user to provide individualized tailored access to a subset of the files uploaded by the member user. The visitor accounts can be used as to gather information about the file unknown to the member user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Related Applications 
         [0002]    This application is a continuation of and claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/494,928, filed on Sep. 24, 2014, titled Machine, Computer Readable Medium and Computer-Implemented Method For File Management, Storage, and Display, which claims priority to and the benefit of: U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/028,232, filed Sep. 16, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,874,580, titled “Machine, Computer Readable Medium, and Computer-Implemented Method for File Management, Storage, and Display,” which is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/620,995, filed Nov. 18, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,538,966, titled “Machine, Program Product, and Computer-Implemented Method for File Management, Storage, and Access Utilizing a User-Selected Trigger Event,” which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/116,814, by Reese et al., titled “System, Program Product, and Method for File Management, Storage, and Retrieval” filed Nov. 21, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/116,831, by Reese et al., titled “System, Program Product, and Method for File Management, Storage, and Retrieval” filed Nov. 21, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/116,862, by Reese et al., titled “System, Program Product, and Method for File Management, Storage, and Retrieval” filed Nov. 21, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/116,894, by Reese et al., titled “System, Program Product, and Method for File Management, Storage, and Retrieval” filed Nov. 21, 2008; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/116,914, by Reese et al., titled “System, Program Product, and Method for File Management, Storage, and Retrieval” filed Nov. 21, 2008, all of which are each incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. This application also relates to: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/620,944, by Reese et al., titled “Machine, Program Product, and Computer-Implemented Method for File Management, Storage, and Display” filed on Nov. 18, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/440,871, by Reese, et al., titled “Machine, Computer Readable Medium, and Computer-Implemented Method For File Management, Storage, and Display filed on Apr. 5, 2012; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/620,963, by Reese et al., titled “Machine, Program Product, and Computer-Implemented Method for File Management and Storage” filed on Nov. 18, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/621,059, by Reese et al., titled “Machine, Program Product, and Computer-Implemented Method for Randomized Slide Show of Files” filed on Nov. 18, 2009, now abandoned; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/621,033, by Reese et al., titled “Machine, Program Product, and Computer-Implemented Method for File Management, Storage, and Display in Albums Utilizing a Questionnaire” filed on Nov. 18, 2009, now abandoned, all of which are each incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
         [0003]    2. Field of Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates generally to file management and organization, and, more particularly, to machines, program products, and methods of file management, storage, and display, including computer scrapbooking and journaling. 
         [0005]    3. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    With the proliferation of inexpensive digital cameras, including the ubiquity of camera phones, personal photography has never been more common. It is known, however, that many photographs are underutilized. Typically, personal photographs are haphazardly stored in drawers and boxes (if prints) or computer folders and memory devices (if digital files), uncategorized and rarely viewed by anyone. Photo albums provide well known means for storing and viewing photographs. A photo album is a book with blank pages used for making a collection of photographs. However, the tasks associated with organizing, storing, and selecting photographs for photo albums are quite time-consuming and require extensive decision-making. While photo albums generally display photographs with or without captions, scrapbooks feature other mementos in addition to photographs, such as, e.g., ticket stubs, letters, announcements, invitations, bulletins, programs, receipts, and the like. Due to the inclusion of these mementos, scrapbooks often provide better context for photographs than photo albums, but at a cost of even more extensive decision-making. 
         [0007]    Similarly, it is known that the proliferation of movie clips, audio clips, and other electronic files has resulted in unorganized, underutilized clutter on computer and file storage systems. Likewise, it is well known that personal documents are often haphazardly stored and uncategorized, including, e.g., personal financial records such as brokerage receipts and tax records, personal medical records such as immunization charts, and government documents such as marriage licenses. 
         [0008]    Digital slide shows and rotating picture frames are known, and the inclusion of a photograph in a particular computer folder typically determines its inclusion in the slide show or rotation. That is, the location of the file, whether in a particular folder (or not), determines its inclusion (or exclusion) from the slide show. 
     
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0009]    In view of the foregoing, Applicant has recognized a need for file organization systems, machines, program products, and methods of file management, storage, and display. 
         [0010]    Embodiments of the present invention provide for converting photographic prints and documents, i.e., hardcopies, into digital or computerized files, i.e., softcopies, and then into organized electronic albums and the display thereof. The conversion from photographic prints and documents to digital files, i.e., from hardcopies to softcopies, can include, for example, use of a scanner or other input device that digitizes an optical image into an electronic image represented as binary data as understood by those skilled in the art. The conversion from digital files to organized electronic albums can include, for example, the use of an icon palette as described herein, with the icons corresponding to a plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user. In addition to scanned photographic prints and documents, digital files can include, for example, digital photographs, i.e., images originally captured using a digital camera and digital documents, i.e., documents originally created on a computer. Through the user action assigning the digital files to the predetermined categories, the digital files can be organized and accessed differently, i.e., with a different arrangement and presentation, using the icon palette. Furthermore, this assembling of individual images and documents into aggregations and collections of related elements can result in new and enhanced displays, such as albums, electronic scrapbooks, and slide shows as described herein. In addition, embodiments of the present invention facilitate the creation, preservation, and accessibility of historical archives from otherwise unorganized and underutilized clutter on computer and file storage systems. 
         [0011]    Embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, for a file management system, responsive to the problems associated with unorganized and underutilized files, including but not limited to photographs. The system includes an icon palette displayed on a user computer, with the icons corresponding to a plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user. The plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user includes predefined default categories and user-defined categories. The predefined default categories can include, for example, marriage, faith, family, children, friends, school, music, film, books, travel, work, sports, pets, military, health, and others as understood by those skilled in the art. The icon palette includes a palette boundary. User action, including, for example, dragging and dropping one of the plurality of unsorted files across the palette boundary onto an icon on the icon palette assigns the file to one of the plurality of predetermined categories. A file can be assigned to one or more predetermined categories. The file management system also includes a file management server, which then stores the file remotely from the user computer and allows for retrieval of the file through an electronic communications network, e.g., the Internet. The file management system includes a client-server architecture, including a thick-client or application client and also a thin-client or browser, as understood by those skilled in the art. The file management system can include a plurality of users associated with a plurality of user computers. 
         [0012]    The user can select the icons to be shown on the icon palette, including adding or deleting icons. The user can create icons corresponding to user-defined categories and delete icons corresponding to predefined default categories. The user can select an order for the icons on the icon palette and group icons together. In addition, the user can expand or collapse the icon palette to suit the user&#39;s preferences, including altering an x-dimension, a y-dimension, or both x- and y-dimensions of the icon palette, as understood by those skilled in the art. In an exemplary embodiment, the user can match the scale of the icon palette to the user&#39;s good vision, or alternately the user&#39;s poor vision. In addition, the user can move the icon palette throughout the screen associated with the user computer as understood by those skilled in the art. The icon palette preserves the user-selected order for the icons on the icon palette through changes in its size and location. Moreover, the icon palette can use various indicia of a painter&#39;s palette, including, for example, color, to identify the icons with the predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user. For example, the color of the icon for the category “School” can be selected by the user to be the color of the user&#39;s alma mater, such as, for example, burnt-orange. 
         [0013]    Features of the file management system, according to embodiments of the present invention, allow a user to quickly sort, organize, categorize, and store files, including photographs. The photographs can, for example, include digital photographs or scanned prints. Countless other files, such as, for example, medical and immunization records, school report cards, and newspaper clippings, can also be scanned as digital files and then managed, stored, and displayed according to embodiments of the present invention. The use of icons and predetermined categories provides the user with a visualization and a taxonomy for the sorting and organizing of files. In addition, the predefined default categories allow the user to begin sorting and organizing files without having to create from scratch a categorization scheme. User-defined categories allow the user to create additional categories and personalize the file management system. For example, a predefined default category can include the category children; whereas user-defined categories can include categories Dick and Jane, one for each child. In addition, the user can edit the icon associated with each category so that the icon for the category Dick is an image of Dick the child, an icon for the category Jane is an image of Jane the child, and an icon for the category children is an image of Dick and Jane, instead of a default icon of generic children. In addition, the use of a remote file management server provides the user portability, as files can be accessed anywhere the Internet is available, and fault tolerance, in the event of a flood, a fire, or severe equipment failure. 
         [0014]    An exemplary embodiment of a file management machine includes a first computer configured as a file management server adapted to communicate through an electronic communications network with a plurality of remotely located user computers associated with a plurality of member and visitor users and configured as the user computers, with each user computer being remote from the file management server. The file management server can include at least a processor, memory, and a computer program operable on the file management server and stored in the memory or other non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program can include a set of instructions that, when executed by the file management server, cause the file management server to perform operations comprising: generating a member account for a member user, causing display of an icon palette to the member user on one of the remotely located user computers, the icon palette having a palette boundary and icons representing a plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the member user, and assigning one of the plurality of files to at least one of the plurality of predetermined categories responsive to member user action. The user action can be such that dragging and dropping one of the plurality of files onto a selected one of the icons on the icon palette causes the file management server to execute the operations of: extracting a copy of the file from a memory element associated with the respective remotely located user computer and transferring the copy of the file through the electronic communications network to a memory element associated with the file management server, and establishing a relation between the file and the respective predetermined category represented by the selected icon. 
         [0015]    The operations can also include repeating the operation of the assigning for each other of the plurality of files to thereby define a plurality of member uploaded files, associating each of the plurality of member uploaded files with one or more of a plurality of albums responsive to member user selection thereof, and generating a plurality of visitor accounts for a corresponding plurality of visitors. Each visitor account of the plurality of visitor accounts is associated with the member account and configured by the member user to provide each respective different visitor with custom visitor access permissions. 
         [0016]    The operations can also include assigning the visitor access restrictions to each of the plurality of visitors through custom visitor access configuration of the plurality of visitor accounts, with each custom visitor access configuration providing member user-selected access to one or more subsets of the plurality of member uploaded files according to one or more of the following bases: a file-by-file basis, an album-by-album basis, and a category-by-category basis. 
         [0017]    According to an embodiment, the custom visitor access configuration for each respective visitor includes selectable access to the one or more subsets of the member uploaded files on the file-by-file basis and one or both of the following bases: the album-by-album basis and the category-by-category basis. According to another embodiment, the custom visitor access configuration for each respective visitor includes selectable access to the one or more subsets of the member uploaded files on the file-by-file basis, the album-by-album basis, and the category-by-category basis. 
         [0018]    According to an embodiment, the operations can also or alternatively include generating a visitor access configuration webpage form providing a visitor account creation input section including visitor name and password input fields, a visitor listing section, and two or more of the following: a categorical access section providing one or more input fields for member user selection of one or more of the predetermined categories, an album access section providing one or more input fields for member user selection of one or more of the plurality of albums, and a file access section providing one or more input fields for member user selection of one or more specifically identified member uploaded files of the plurality of member uploaded files. 
         [0019]    According to an embodiment, the operations can also include employing one or more of the plurality of visitor accounts to facilitate gathering missing information related to description of material displayed in a member uploaded file. The operation of employing one or more of the plurality of visitor accounts to facilitate gathering missing information can include causing the display of one of the plurality of member uploaded files to a visitor associated with one of the plurality of visitor accounts configured to provide access to the respective member uploaded file, and receiving the missing information related to the description of material displayed in the respective member uploaded file. In a typical scenario, the displayed file is a photograph, the material displayed include people, and the missing information received includes a name of at least one of the people displayed in the photograph which was left unnamed as a result of being unknown to the member user. 
         [0020]    According to an embodiment, the computer program described above can be stored on a standalone non-transitory computer readable medium to form a standalone product. 
         [0021]    Example embodiments of the present invention provide for a method, e.g., a computerized method, of file management, which include a combination of computer implemented steps performed in conjunction with user manipulation to perform the operations described above. The method can also or alternatively include prompting a user to fill out a questionnaire associated with the file responsive to a user action assigning the file to a predetermined category. The questionnaire can include any additional categories, album data, a journal entry, event information, and display information. The data from the questionnaire can be ultimately stored in a database on a remote file management server. The event information can include, for example, the time, date, and location associated with the file. The event information can be used for search and display purposes. For example, to locate a particular file, a user can limit a search to a particular date or a particular date range. In addition, the questionnaire can include a data field for search words to facilitate a later search for the file. 
         [0022]    Embodiments of the present invention can provide, for example, for displaying an album of files in pre-selected formats on a display device, responsive to the questionnaires associated with the files. Through the questionnaire, the user can assign a file to an album and provide a relative picture size. With multiple albums possible for each category, the files associated with a particular album can relate to a single event or theme, such as, for example, a child&#39;s birthday party or other event as understood by those skilled in the art. The relative picture size can include, for example, a value of “1” indicating a small picture, a value of “5” indicating a large picture, and values of “2”, “3”, and “4 38   in between, as understood by those skilled in the art. A single page in an album can, for example, display only one file with a picture size of “5”; whereas, a page in an album can, for example, display two files with a picture size of “4” and many files with a picture size of “1”, as understood by those skilled in the art. By automating the display of files into albums, including, for example, any formatting (once an album assignment is determined by the user), embodiments of the present invention provide an easy and effortless way to view multiple collections of files. 
         [0023]    Embodiments of the present invention include other features and benefits, including a program product that prompts the user for login information. Login information can include, for example, a username, a password, and a status to thereby allow complete access to a member and restricted access to a visitor or a trial user. The benefit of a visitor status is to allow a user to share photographs and other files, without providing complete and unrestricted access to the member&#39;s other documents. For example, in-laws can share pictures of a common grandchild without sharing personal medical or military service records. Because the user determines the level of access for a visitor account, different visitor accounts can have different access configurations allowing, for example, an adult child who has a medical power of attorney access to the member&#39;s prescription records, but denying a minor grandchild with a different visitor account access to those files. Another benefit of a visitor status is to increase the number of people and the amount of information or context. For example, photographs of a picnic often include dates and other guests whose names or complete names are unknown to the host. The use of visitor accounts facilitates the gathering of this and other missing information. 
         [0024]    Embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, for allowing the user to indicate a desire or intention to make a file (and associated journal entry) publicly available after the death of the user, or alternately to delete the file. A user can also use another event, time, or combination besides the death of the user, to trigger a file being made public, such as, for example, the year 2075 or, in the alternative, 25 years after the death of the user. The user can specify such access on a file-by-file basis, or alternately on a category-by-category basis, so that private, personal information is deleted, but otherwise the files can be accessible by third parties, for the benefit of history. Embodiments of the present invention include legal arrangements and associated documents necessary to carry out the intentions of the user. In an exemplary embodiment, a wealth of information regarding notable events in a life of the user would be preserved for future generations of historians, both professional and personal. 
         [0025]    Embodiments of the present invention can also include application software, i.e., program product, and a local database on a user computer. The local database can store settings and preferences for user accounts and can also record recent changes made by the user. The system further includes an electronic communications network connecting the remote computer server and the user computer. According to embodiments of the present invention, the user computer connects to the remote server computer only when data needs to be transferred and upon initial login by the user to synchronize the data in the local database and the server database. The system can include a plurality of users associated with a plurality of user computers. 
         [0026]    Embodiments of the present invention can also include file management machines, i.e., computers, including client or user computers, and computer servers. The file management machines can be configured, i.e., programmed, with computer program product to implement various processes and operations as described herein. In addition, embodiments of the present invention include enhancements and other systems, machines, program products, and associated methods of file management, storage, and display, as understood by those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    So that the manner in which the features and benefits of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, may be understood in more detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings, which form a part of this specification. It is also to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only various embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention&#39;s scope as it may include other effective embodiments as well. 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is an environmental view according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a computer screen view of an icon palette according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is another computer screen view of an icon palette according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a client-server architecture of a file management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a client-server architecture of a file management system according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a schematic flow diagram of a file management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a web browser architecture of a file management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a schematic flow diagram of a file management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a logic diagram for a launch sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is a logic diagram for a launch sequence using a browser according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is a logic diagram for a method of file management according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  is a logic diagram for a method of file management according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 13  is a logic diagram for an icon palette according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 14  is a logic diagram for an icon palette according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 15  is a logic diagram for a method of file management according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 16  is a logic diagram for a method of file management according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 17  is a logic diagram for a method of file management according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0045]      FIG. 18  is a logic diagram for a method of file management according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 19  is a logic diagram for a method of file management according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 20  is a logic diagram for a method of file management according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0048]      FIG. 21  is a logic diagram for a method of file management according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 22  is a data view according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0050]      FIG. 23  is second data view according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0051]      FIG. 24  is a third data view according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0052]      FIG. 25  is a fourth data view according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0053]      FIG. 26  is a questionnaire according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0054]      FIG. 27  is a questionnaire according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0055]      FIG. 28  is a visitor access configuration screen according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 29  is a randomizer setup screen according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0057]      FIGS. 30A and 30B  are views of a randomizer slide show according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0058]      FIG. 31  is a logic diagram for a method of file management, storage, and retrieval according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0059]      FIG. 32  is a logic diagram for a method of file management, storage, and retrieval according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0060]      FIG. 33  is a computer program product according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0061]      FIG. 34  is a computer configured as a file management machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0062]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0063]    Embodiments of the present invention provide for converting photographic prints and documents, i.e., hardcopies, into digital or computerized files, i.e., softcopies, and then into organized electronic albums and the display thereof. The conversion from photographic prints and documents to digital files, i.e., from hardcopies to softcopies, can include, for example, use of a scanner or other input device, such as, a voice recorder, a video camera, or a digital camera. A scanner is an input device, e.g., a computer peripheral, that digitizes an optical image into an electronic image represented as binary data as understood by those skilled in the art. Other input devices, e.g., digital cameras, can communicate with a computer through standard input-out (I/O) devices and ports as understood by those skilled in the art, allowing the transfer of a file from memory associated with the input device, e.g., the digital camera, to memory associated with the computer for use with the embodiments of the present invention. The conversion from digital files to organized electronic albums can include, for example, the use of an icon palette as described herein, with the icons corresponding to a plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user. In addition to scanned photographic prints and documents, digital files can include, for example, digital photographs, i.e., images originally captured using a digital camera; digital documents, i.e., documents originally created on a computer or other electronic device; and sound or video recordings. Through the user action assigning the digital files to the predetermined categories, the digital files can be organized and accessed differently, i.e., with a different arrangement and presentation, using the icon palette. That is, files stored conventionally in electronic folders on a computer, e.g., a document folder having subfolders for pictures, music, and other classifications, or files stored conventionally on various memory media, such as, compact disks (“CDs”), digital video disks, (“DVDs”), memory sticks, hard drives, subscriber identity module (“SIM” module or cards), and others as understood by those skilled in the art, are transformed, according to embodiments of the present invention, in location, including to remote servers away from the user as described herein and accessible through, e.g., the Internet; in arrangement, including into a plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user; and in presentation, including through icons. This assembling of individual images and documents into aggregations and collections of related elements can further result in new and enhanced displays, such as albums, electronic scrapbooks, and slide shows as described herein. Moreover, journal entries and other associated data, as described herein, provide and keep context so that the new and enhanced displays are greater, i.e., more beneficial, than the sum of the parts. These new and enhanced displays can provide, for example, a visual depiction or representation of notable events in a life of the user, including, for example, family or faith. In addition, embodiments of the present invention facilitate the creation, preservation, and accessibility of historical archives from otherwise unorganized and underutilized clutter on computer and file storage systems, including boxes of photographic prints, documents, mementos, and records. That is, embodiments of the present invention can efficiently change the physical into the digital (or electronic), the unexplained into the annotated, and the inaccessible into the accessible. 
         [0064]    Embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, for a file management system, illustrated in  FIGS. 1-34 , responsive to the problems associated with unorganized, unsorted, and underutilized files, including but not limited to photographs. The system includes an icon palette  103 ,  200 ,  300 , (see also, e.g.,  FIGS. 22 and 23  for alternate embodiments  2203  and  2303 ), displayed on a user computer  101 ,  407 ,  507 ,  711 , i.e., a machine, with the icons  105 ,  203 A-E,  303 A-E, corresponding to a plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user. The system can also include a computer, i.e., a machine, remote from the user configured as a file management server  111 . The predetermined categories associated with the life of the user include predefined default categories and user-defined categories. The plurality of predefined default categories can include a number, e.g., three (3), of the following: marriage, faith, family, children, school, travel, military, health, and others as understood by those skilled in the art. Other embodiments for the plurality of predefined default categories include friends, music, film, books, work, sports, and pets (see, e.g.,  2903  in  FIG. 29 ). The icon palette includes a palette boundary  201 ,  301 . User action, including, for example, dragging and dropping one of the plurality of unsorted files across the palette boundary  201 ,  301  onto an icon  105 ,  203 A-E,  303 A-E on the icon palette  103 ,  200 ,  300  assigns the file to one of the plurality of predetermined categories. A file can be assigned to one or more predetermined categories. 
         [0065]    User action on a computer can include, for example, utilizing a computer mouse. A computer mouse is a pointing device that detects, e.g., mechanically or optically, two-dimensional motion relative to a supporting surface. The motion is typically generated by the user to driver a cursor  207  on the computer screen. That is, the mouse&#39;s motion typically translates into the motion of a pointer on a display, which allows for fine control of a graphical user interface (“GUI”). Physically, a mouse can be an object held under one of the user&#39;s hands, with one or more buttons. Other input devices for user action can include trackballs, joysticks, and various game controllers as understood by those skilled in the art. Directing the cursor  207  “on top” of a file being displayed on a computer screen and then clicking the button of the mouse allows the computer to select the file for action. Action can include, for example, opening the file (typically through a double-click as understood by those skilled in the art), including automatically launching an application associated with the file as necessary. Action can also include, for example, dragging and dropping the file onto a folder or application, such as an icon palette embodiment of the present invention. As understood by those skilled in the art, dragging a file involves selecting the file, then holding down the mouse button while moving the mouse; likewise, dropping a file involves releasing the mouse button when the cursor  207  on the screen is “on top” of or associated with a location, file, or application on the computer screen. As part of user action assigning the file to a predetermined category, e.g., dragging and dropping the file on an icon on the icon palette, the program product obtains information about the file, including its name, file type or extension, and location in memory, i.e., its path, and uses this information to copy the file to file management server. 
         [0066]    The user (see, e.g., U in  FIG. 1 ) can select the icons  105 ,  203 A-E,  303 A-E to be shown on the icon palette  103 ,  200 ,  300  including adding or deleting icons. Through menu screens and use of I/O devices, the user U can create icons or modify icons  105 ,  203 A-E,  303 A-E corresponding to user-defined categories and delete icons corresponding to predefined default categories. The user U can select an order for the icons on the icon palette and group icons together. In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the user can adjust the relative size, i.e., expand or collapse, the icon palette to suit the user&#39;s preferences, including altering an x-dimension, a y-dimension, or both x- and y-dimensions of the icon palette, as understood by those skilled in the art. Compare, e.g., the size of icon palettes  205  and  200  in  FIG. 2 . In an exemplary embodiment, the user U can match the scale of the icon palette to the user&#39;s good vision, or alternately the user&#39;s poor vision. In addition, the user U can move the icon palette throughout the screen associated with the user computer as understood by those skilled in the art. That is, a location of the icon palette on the display screen is controllable by the user U. The icon palette  103 ,  200 ,  300  preserves the user-selected order for the icons on the icon palette through changes in its size and location. (See, e.g.,  FIGS. 2 and 3 .) Moreover, the icon palette  103 ,  200 ,  300  can use various indicia of a painter&#39;s palette, including, for example, color and shape, to identify the icons with the predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user. For example, the color of the icon for the category “School”  203 C can be selected by the user to be the color of the user&#39;s alma mater, such as, for example, burnt-orange. For example, the spacing of the icons on the palette can suggest or evoke the spacing of separate portions of paint on a painter&#39;s palette. 
         [0067]    Features of the file management system, according to embodiments of the present invention, allow a user to quickly sort, organize, categorize, and store files, including photographs. See, e.g.,  FIG. 3 . The photographs  307  can, for example, include digital photographs or scanned prints. Countless other files  311 , such as, for example, medical and immunization records, school report cards, and newspaper clippings, can also be scanned as digital files and then managed, stored, and retrieved according to embodiments of the present invention. The use of icons  303 A- 303 E and predetermined categories provides the user with a visualization and a taxonomy for the sorting and organizing of files. In addition, the predefined default categories allow the user to begin sorting and organizing files without having to create from scratch a categorization scheme. Moreover, the existence of predefined default categories facilitates the sharing of files, allowing two users to share files categorized as Travel, without having to further cull, sort, or organize for an exchange. User-defined categories allow the user to create additional categories and personalize the file management system. 
         [0068]    Embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, for a method of file management. See, e.g.,  FIG. 11 . The method includes prompting a user to fill out a questionnaire  1113  associated with the file responsive to a user action assigning the file to a predetermined category  1103 . The questionnaire can include any additional categories, data, a journal entry, event information, and display information. See, e.g.,  FIG. 22 . The data from the questionnaire is ultimately stored in a database on the remote file management server. The event information includes, for example, the time, date, and location associated with the file. The event information is useful for searching and display purposes. For example, to locate a particular file, a user can limit a search to a particular date or a particular date range. In addition, the questionnaire includes a data field for search words to facilitate a later search for the file. As understood by those skilled in the art, the questionnaire can include multiple screens, forms, pages, windows, or queries. Because the questionnaire provides access to and stores input in a database, questionnaire data may be added or modified at once, in batches, or incrementally, as understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0069]    Embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, for displaying an album of files in pre-selected formats  2213  on a display device, responsive to the questionnaires associated with the files. Through the questionnaire  2600 , the user can assign a file to an album and provide a relative picture size  2609  so that a pre-selected format for an album page includes a large number of files with a relatively small picture size, and a pre-selected format for an album page includes a small number of files or a single file with a relatively larger picture size. With multiple albums possible for each category, the files associated with a particular album can relate to a single event or theme, such as, for example, a child&#39;s birthday party or other event as understood by those skilled in the art. By automating the display of files into albums, including, for example, any formatting (once an album assignment is determined by the user), embodiments of the present invention provide an easy and effortless way to view multiple collections of files. 
         [0070]    Embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, for allowing the user to indicate a desire or intention to make a file (and associated journal entry) publicly available after, for example, the death of the user, or alternately to delete the file. See, e.g.,  2705  in  FIG. 27 . Through the questionnaire, the user can specify a desire or intention to make a file accessible to the public so that the user can designate a portion of the plurality of files and associated journal entries to be made publicly available after a user-selected trigger event. See, e.g.,  2703  in  FIG. 27 . In addition, the questionnaire can include a hyperlink to terms  2707  and an approval box for the user to select to approve the terms for future access to the files. A user can also use a calendar event, a death of the user, a time period after the death of the user, and other events to trigger a file being made public, such as, for example, the year 2075 or, in the alternative, 25 years after the death of the user. The user can specify such access on a file-by-file basis, or alternately on a category-by-category basis, so that private, personal information is deleted, but otherwise the files can benefit history. Embodiments of the present invention include legal arrangements and associated documents necessary to carry out the intentions of the user. These arrangements can include the establishment of a recipient entity  109 , including non-profit or for-profit organizations, to acquire ownership rights to the files, for example, to own or jointly own or otherwise license the files and copyrights associated with the files. These arrangements and associated documents can further include a joint ownership with right of survival, a trust, a perpetual license, an assignment of copyright ownership, a dedication to the public domain, limited powers of attorney and other forms of agency, and other legal arrangements and associated documents as understood by those skilled in the art. In an exemplary embodiment, a recipient of files according to such legal arrangement could charge for and license access (and other rights) to the files, either directly or indirectly, through subscriptions, sponsorships, advertising, and other forms of payment. That is, publicly available does not necessarily mean freely available. In an exemplary embodiment, a wealth of information regarding notable events in a life of the user would be preserved for future generations of historians, both professional and personal historians. In an exemplary embodiment, a death of the user can be verified by a published obituary or by a contact list supplied by the user through the questionnaire, or otherwise as understood by those skilled in the art. In another embodiment, a journal entry recording the death of the user can be created. In addition, funeral-related files, including, for example, an order of service, a program, a video or audio recording of services, a guest book, a eulogy text, an obituary, and others as understood by those skilled in the art, can be added to the files on behalf of the user and for the benefit of history. 
         [0071]    Embodiments of the present invention further include, for example, a journal  2201 . A master journal  2301  for the user&#39;s account is an aggregation of individual journal entries  2215 , each associated with a file and entered through a questionnaire. See also  2201 ,  2501  and  2401  for portions of the master journal for an album or category. Embodiments include displaying a portion of the master journal on the display device responsive to user criteria so that a user can view journal entries for a category, a particular date range, or files in an album. 
         [0072]    Embodiments of the present invention include, for example, a randomizer module for displaying a slide show of randomized files responsive to user criteria. See, e.g.,  FIGS. 30A and 30B . To use the randomizer module, the user specifies in a database a plurality of files for inclusion in a slide show of randomized files so that only appropriate files are displayed. The randomizer module randomly selects a set of files from the plurality of files specified in the database for inclusion in the slide show responsive to user criteria, displays the randomly selected set of files in the slide show on a display device, and repeats the steps of randomly selecting and displaying the set of files in the slide show responsive to user criteria. Embodiments of randomizer module can include, for example, random number generators, i.e., applications that generate series of numbers that are, attempt to be, or appear to be random, or as if by chance. As understood those skilled in the art, random number generation can use a seed value, such as the current time, to generate a random number. Alternately, embodiments can include prior collections of numbers, known as random number tables. The random numbers generated or retrieved from a table can be scaled to match the need. For example, if fifty (50) files are associated with a category, a random number be scaled so that each of the files has a similar chance of being selected in the slide show for that category. Included in the definition of random are so-called pseudo-random generation and tables, in which certain results are ignored or eliminated because although generated randomly, the results do not appear to be. For example, if a given image is selected for display and then, by random, the same image is selected again for the next position, the pseudo-random generation or table may eliminate this result, i.e., skip to the next number in sequence. Likewise, pseudo-random schemes in which missed or underselected files are favored or weighted are considered as random for purposes of this application. 
         [0073]    The user specifies files for inclusion in a slide show of randomized files through the questionnaires. The randomizer module can then display the slide show on the display device attached to the user computer and external devices, such as, for example, electronic picture frames and televisions. External devices can communicate with the user computer wirelessly as understood by those skilled in the art. The user criteria can include one or more categories to display, a quantity of files to select, a start date, an end date, a duration the selected files will be presented by the program, and a number of cycles to repeat selection and presentation. See, e.g.,  FIG. 29 . 
         [0074]    The benefits of the randomizer include the quick and effortless display of various and numerous files maintained by the file management system on various display devices, including the user computer and digital picture frames. The randomizer module also greatly improves the utilization of the numerous files by providing a convenient way to view files that otherwise would remain scattered or stored. In addition, because the user previously specified files for inclusion in the randomizer, only appropriate files are displayed, preventing the inadvertent display of a private file. By allowing the user to select categories to display, the user can also tailor the randomizer slide show to an audience. 
         [0075]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , embodiments of the present invention include a user U, using a user computer  101  to view an icon palette  103 ,  200 ,  300  on a display screen  102  associated with the user computer  101 . The user computer  101  can communicate with a file management server  111 , associated with a recipient entity  109  established for acquiring ownership rights to files and located remote, i.e., in a remote location, from the user U and the user computer  101 . The icon palette  103 ,  200 ,  300  includes icons  105 ,  203 A-E,  303 A-E corresponding to a plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user U, such as, for example, family  107 . As the user U assigns one of a plurality of unsorted files  311 , such as, e.g., a recent picture of his family, to one of the plurality of predetermined categories through dragging and dropping  309  one of the plurality of unsorted files across the palette boundary  201 ,  301  onto an icon on the icon palette. The unsorted file  307 ,  311  can originate on the desktop  313  or within a folder, such as, for example, a folder of photos  305 , as understood by those skilled in the art. As understood by those skilled in the art, the user U can use a mouse or other such device to drive a cursor  207  on the computer. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the icon palette  200 ,  300  is scalable by the user and can be moved about the screen. Compare, e.g., the size of icon palettes  205  and  200  in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0076]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , embodiments of the present invention include a system  400  with a client-server architecture for file management, storing, and display. The system  400  includes a first computer server  401 , i.e., a machine. The first computer server  401  includes a database engine  403  and stores a database  405 . In an exemplary embodiment, the database  405  is a relational database, such as, e.g., an SQL database. The database  405  contains records for a plurality of user account settings, preferences, journal entries, and files  406 . The files can include various formats such as, for example, JPEG, JIFF, MPEG, GIF, MP3, MP4, PDF, WAV, and others as understood by those skilled in the art. The system also includes a second computer associated with a user defining a user computer  407 , i.e., a machine. In an exemplary embodiment, the user computer  407  is a MACINTOSH or WINDOWS computer running an operating system from Apple Inc. or Microsoft Corporation, as understood by those skilled in the art. In an exemplary embodiment, the user computer  407  is configured via new and enhanced program product  3301 ,  3402  to implement features and functionality as described herein. The user computer  407  can include a local database  411  and a thick-client or application software client  409 , i.e., computer program product, as understood by those skilled in the art. The local database  411  stores settings and preferences for user accounts and also records of recent changes made by the user  408 . The user computer  407  can temporarily store the file and data associated with the file so that the user can assign files and associate data with the file in the event of slow or interrupted communication with the remote server  401 . The system  400  further includes an electronic communications network  413 , for example, the Internet, connecting the computer server  401  and the user computer  407 . Accordingly, the first computer server  401  is a remote server, being remote from the user computer  407 . The remote file management server  401  stores files remotely from the user computer  407  and allows for retrieval of files through an electronic communications network  413 , e.g., the Internet. The system can include a plurality of users associated with a plurality of user computers. 
         [0077]    In an alternate embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the database engine  503  can access a database or portions of a database  505  located a database server  510  or storage device  515 , remote from the computer server  501 . The database can include user account settings, preferences, and other data  506 . The user computer  507  can operate a user application  509 , which may include a local database  511  storing user account settings, preferences, and recent changes  508 . In the system  500 , the user computer  507  can communicate with the file management server  501  machine through the electronic communications network  513 , e.g., the Internet. The system can include a plurality of users associated with a plurality of user computers. These embodiments allow for a scalable database architecture with robust security and fault-tolerant properties as understood by those skilled in the art. In addition, these embodiments allow for rarely accessed data to be archived  517  on tape device or other storage device  515 , perhaps resulting in a delay for the user to access the archived data, as understood by those skilled in the art. Such storage devices can further be located remote from the server  501 . In an exemplary embodiment, the file management server  501  machine can a computer or computers running a WINDOWS, MACINTOSH, UNIX, LINUX, or other operating system as understood by those skilled in the art. In an exemplary embodiment, the file management server  501  machine is associated with one or more remote (from the user) data centers providing hosting, processing, and storage capabilities. As understood by those skilled in the art, International Business Machines Corp. (“IBM”) and various other organizations operate such facilities and can provide additionally hardware, software, and services and support. Such facilities can offer redundant and fault-tolerant implementations. Redundant systems can include, for example, multiple power sources, communication networks, computers and other hardware, and associated monitoring and switching infrastructure, as understood by those skilled in the art, so that no single component failure results in a system failure. According to a method  600  of communicating with the server, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the user computer connects to the remote server computer only upon initial secure login by the user  601  and after a data change when data needs to be transferred and to synchronize the data in the local database and the server database  603 . Requests to access the server are validated through a secure login  605 . In addition, the use of a remote file management server provides the user portability, as files can be accessed anywhere the Internet is available, and fault tolerance, in the event of a flood, a fire, or severe equipment failure. 
         [0078]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , embodiments of the present invention also include a system  700  with a thin-client or browser-based implementations of a client-server architecture for file management, storing, and retrieval, as understood by those skilled in the art. The system  700  includes a first computer server  701 . The first computer server  701  includes a web server  703 , a database engine  705 , and a database  707 . The database  707  contains records for a plurality of user account settings, preferences, journal entries, and files  709 . In an exemplary embodiment, the first computer server  701  machine is associated with a remote (from the user) data center providing hosting, processing, and storage capabilities. The system also includes a second computer associated with a user defining a user computer  711 . In an exemplary embodiment, the user computer  711  is a MACINTOSH or WINDOWS computer running an operating system from Apple Inc. or Microsoft Corporation, as understood by those skilled in the art. The user computer  711  includes a thin-client or browser client  713  as understood by those skilled in the art. According to this embodiment of the present invention, no local database is required on the user computer  711 , and communication with the server  701  is necessary. The system  700  further includes an electronic communications network  715 , for example, the Internet, connecting the computer server  701  and the user computer  711 . The system can include a plurality of users associated with a plurality of user computers. According to a method  800  of communicating with the server, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the user enters the URL into the browser address bar  801 . The URL, which stands for uniform resource locator or universal resource locator, is the address of a resource, such as, for example, a document or Web site, on the Internet that consists of a communications protocol followed by the name or address of a computer on the network and that often includes additional locating information, such as, for example, directory and file names. The server sends a secure page requesting user name and password information  803 . Then the computer connects to the remote server computer through a secure connection  805 , as understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0079]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , embodiments of the present invention provide launch sequences  900 ,  1000 . The user launches the application  901  or enters an URL address into the browser on the user computer  1001  and is prompted for login information  903 ,  1003 , including, for example, a username and password, as understood by those skilled in the art. Embodiments of the present invention further provide during the login for a user&#39;s status as, for example, a member, a visitor, and a trial  927 ,  1027 . A member has an existing account. A visitor is associated with a member account but is restricted to allowed areas and permitted operations. See also  FIG. 28  for a visitor access configuration screen. A trial status denotes a user without an account. If a user is not a member  905 ,  1005 , an offer to sign up, or become a member, can be presented  907 ,  1007 . If the user so indicates a sign-up window  909  or sign-up page  1009  can be presented to the user. The data entered in the sign-up window  909  or sign-up page  1009  can be communicated to the database  913 ,  1013  on the file management server through the electronic communications network  911 ,  1011  to create or deny a new account. Other launch sequence embodiments of the present invention send the user&#39;s name, password, and status  915 ,  1015  through the electronic communications network  917 ,  1017  to the database on the remote file management server to validate login information and return account preferences  919 ,  1019 . The file management server then returns user settings, categories, and icons to the user computer  921 ,  1021 . If necessary, the file management server synchronizes the settings, categories, and icons with those stored locally on the user computer  923 ,  1023 . Upon a successful launch sequence, the software displays the user-appropriate icon palette and icons and awaits user action  925 ,  1025  so that the user is displayed the icon palette on the desktop  929 ,  1029 . 
         [0080]    The benefit of a visitor status embodiment is to allow a user to share photographs and other files, without providing complete and unrestricted access to the member&#39;s other documents. For example, in-laws can share pictures of a common grandchild without sharing personal medical or military service records. Because the user determines the level of access for a visitor account, different visitor accounts can have different access configurations allowing, for example, an adult child who has a medical power of attorney access to the member&#39;s prescription records, but denying a minor grandchild with a different visitor account access to those files. Another benefit of a visitor status is to increase the number of people and the amount of information or context. For example, photographs of a picnic often include dates and other guests whose names or complete names are unknown to the host. The use of visitor accounts facilitates the gathering of this and other missing information. 
         [0081]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 11-12 and 26-27 , embodiments of the present invention provide methods  1100 ,  1200  for prompting a user to fill out a questionnaire  1113 ,  1213  associated with a file responsive to a user action selecting the file or assigning the file to a category  1103 ,  1203 . In a thick-client embodiment, the software application receives a user action  1101  associated with the icon bar, i.e., the icon palette. In a thin-client or browser-based embodiment, a browser page displays the icon palette  1201  and awaits a user action. The kind of user action determines the next step or operation  1103 ,  1203 , as understood by those skilled in the art. For example, dragging the cursor  207  over an icon through use of a mouse or similar input device can result in the icon under the cursor  207  being highlighted, or selected  1105 ,  1205 , as understood by those skilled in the art. For example, clicking on the icon palette  1127 ,  1227  provides for modification of the icon palette. See, e.g.,  FIGS. 13 and 14 . The user action can also include assigning a file to a predetermined category by, for example, dragging and dropping an icon representing the file onto an icon on the icon palette representing the category  1204 . The user action can also include selecting the file through a menu as understood by those skilled in the art. Responsive to the user action, the path to the file, e.g., the dropped object, is captured, along with the assigned category, i.e., the category associated with the icon  1107 ,  1207 . A determination is made whether the object, i.e., the file, is acceptable  1109 ,  1209 . If not, because the file type is unknown, the size is too big or too small, the file contains a virus or other mal-ware, the file is corrupted or otherwise defective, or other reasons as understood by those skilled in the art then the user can be alerted  1111 ,  1211 . Then the action can be aborted and the user is returned to a listening state  1125 ,  1225 , or ready state as understood by those skilled in the art. If the object, i.e., the file, is acceptable, then the user is prompted to fill out a questionnaire  1113 ,  1213 . See, e.g.,  FIGS. 26-27 . Upon completion, if the questionnaire form is not acceptable  1115 ,  1215 , the action is aborted, and the user is returned to a listening state  1125 ,  1225 , or ready state as understood by those skilled in the art. If the form is acceptable, multiple files are handled. That is, if multiple files are dropped, each file is attached to the questionnaire  1117 ,  1217 . In a thin-client or browser-based embodiment, the data is sent to the server  1223 . In a thick-client embodiment, an addition determination can be made whether the server is available  1119 . If not, the questionnaire data and files can be saved in a local database for later uploading and synchronization to the server  1121 . Once the server is available, the data and files can be sent to the server  1123 . 
         [0082]    As illustrated in  FIG. 26 , prompting the user for the questionnaire  2600  can result in the category and journal information being sent to the application or browser  2651 , so that the user is displayed the questionnaire with some information already populated  2653 . The questionnaire  2600  can include, for example, data for a category  2601 , an album  2603 , a name for the file  2605 , and a data field for search words to associate with the file  2607 . The questionnaire can include event information, including data fields for an event date  2619  and an event time  2617 , a location description  2621 , a city  2623 , a state  2625 , and a country  2627 . In addition, the event information can include a description of the weather  2629 , a temperature  2631 , a status of the moon  2633 , and other attributes as understood by those skilled in the art. As understood by those skilled in the art, the file name  2605  and category  2601  can be automatically populated responsive to a user action that assigns the file to a category. In addition, the event time  2617  and date  2619  can be automatically populated, including from the time and date associated with the file, if available. Other fields can also be automatically populated, including with default values or a prior or common value or a value derived from the user action or the file itself as understood by those skilled in the art. The questionnaire  2600  can display a thumbnail of the file  2637  or an icon that represents the file type  2639 . The questionnaire  2600  can also include a relative picture size  2609  for displaying in an album, with, for example, a value of “1” indicating a small picture, a value of “5” indicating a large picture, and values of “2”, “3”, and “4” in between, as understood by those skilled in the art. A page in an album can, for example, display only one file with a picture size of “5”; whereas, a page in an album can, for example, display two files with a picture size of “4” and many files with a picture size of “1”, as understood by those skilled in the art. Through the questionnaire  2600 , the user can also specify the files for inclusion in a slide show of randomized files  2611 . As illustrated in  FIG. 27 , through the questionnaire  2701 , the user can specify a desire or intention to make a file publicly available  2703  (or delete a file as understood by those skilled in the art) and select a trigger event to make the file publicly available  2705 . Examples include making a file public upon death of the user  2705 , making the file public 25 years after the death of the user, and others as understood by those skilled in the art. In addition, the questionnaire  2701  can include terms of a legal document  3410 , or a hyperlink to the terms, and an approval box for the user to select to approve the terms  2707  for future access to the files. As illustrated in  FIG. 34 , the legal document  3410  can include, for example, an electronic legal document stored in the memory  3401  of the file management machine  3400 . 
         [0083]    The questionnaire also includes recall information  2613 ,  2615  as illustrated in  FIG. 26 . To utilize the recall feature, the user fills out a recall date  2613  for a future date in the questionnaire. The recall date can be, for example, the date a bill is due, the date an insurance policy expires, an upcoming anniversary, an upcoming birthday, or other future date. The user also fills out a threshold, e.g., a number of days before the recall date to receive an alert  2615 . Later, when the user logs in near the recall date  2613 , within the number of days indicated by the recall before data  2615 , then the user receives an alert, including, for example, a pop-up or notice screen. Alternately, the alert can be an e-mail or other message as understood by those skilled in the art. The alert can include the file or a thumbnail of the file  2637 . 
         [0084]    The questionnaire  2600  also includes a journal entry  2635  associated with the file. Individual journal entries are aggregated into one master journal for the user  2301 , as illustrated in  FIG. 23 . In addition, a portion of the master journal can be displayed on the display device. The portion can correspond to user criteria, such as, for example, a category  2601 , a particular data range, or files in an album  2201 ,  2501  as shown in  FIGS. 22 and 25 . 
         [0085]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , if the server is unavailable  1119 , the questionnaire can be saved in the local database on the user computer  1121  for later uploading to the file management server  1123 . 
         [0086]    In addition, according to embodiments of the present invention, multiple files may share a questionnaire for data entry purposes and for ease of use  1117 ,  1217 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 11-12 and 25 . If the data associated with a file changes, that file can get a separate questionnaire. 
         [0087]    Embodiments of the present invention provide for predefined default categories and also user-defined categories and associated icons. The user can add, delete, or edit the categories associated with the life of the user, as well as the icons that represent the categories, as illustrated in  FIGS. 13-19 and 30 . Embodiments of the present invention include pop-up menus  1307 ,  1407  so that a user can performs methods of editing  1500 ,  1600 , adding  1700 ,  1800 , and deleting  1900  categories associated with the life of the user, as well as the icons that represent the categories. The predefined default categories associated with the life of the user can include, for example, marriage, faith, family, children, friends, school, music, film, books, travel, work, sports, pets, military, and health  2903 . Other categories are possible and within the scope of the present invention, as understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0088]    Embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , can include methods  1300 ,  1400  of utilizing the icon palette to access and manipulate the files, associated data, and categories. In a thick-client embodiment, for example, a user U can click on the icon palette  1301 . The kind of click is determined  1303 . For a left or double-click, as understood by those skilled in the art, data can be displayed  1305 . See, e.g.,  FIG. 20 . For a right click or long click, as understood by those skilled in the art, a pop-up memo is displayed  1307 . From the pop-up menu  1307 , the user U can edit a category name  1309 . See, e.g.,  FIG. 15 . The user U can direct that the edits, i.e., changes, can be saved and displayed  1311  or canceled and discarded  1313 , as understood by those skilled in the art. The user can also direct that a category be added  1315  (see  FIG. 17 ) or deleted  1317 . The method  1300  can also include altering the local icon palette while pending a request to a remote server, e.g., hiding a deleted category  1319 . In a thin-client embodiment, for example, a user U can click on the icon palette  1401 , and a web page is sent  1403  responsively. The web page can provide a subcategory list  1406 , e.g., a list of albums, with navigation links, as understood by those skilled in the art, that lead to a display of data  1419 . Clicking on a navigation link by the user U can cause the display of an album&#39;s files  1421  or journal entries associated with an album&#39;s files  1423 . The web page can also provide a pop-up menu  1407 . From the pop-up menu  1407 , the user U can direct that data be displayed  1405  (see  FIG. 21 ), and the user U can edit a category name  1409 . See, e.g.,  FIG. 16 . The user U can direct that the edits, i.e., changes, can be saved and displayed  1411  or canceled and discarded  1413 , as understood by those skilled in the art. The user U can also direct that a category be added  1415  (see  FIG. 18 ) or deleted  1417  (see  FIG. 19 ). 
         [0089]    Embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , can include methods  1500 ,  1600  of customizing, i.e., editing, the icon palette. For example, a user U can select the icon palette for editing  1501 ,  1601 . In a thick-client embodiment, for example, a paste icon modal dialog window, e.g., an edit category window, is opened, displaying a category name and picture, or icon  1503 . As understood by those skilled in the art, a modal dialog window remains the front-most window and captures all user action until it is closed  1521 . In a thick-client embodiment, for example, an edit page is displayed, having a category name and picture, or icon  1603 . As understood by those skilled in the art, the “save” button on the edit category window  1505  or page  1605  can be deactivated. The edit category window  1505  or page  1605  can include a category name and a graphic of the current picture. The user U can edit the category name  1507 ,  1607 , by renaming the category “children” with specific names, e.g. “Jack and Jill.” The user U can also drag a file, i.e., a new image, over the graphic area  1509 ,  1609  to determine if the file type is appropriate  1511 ,  1611 . The user U can also paste or drop a file, e.g., for an image or picture, into the graphical area  1513 ,  1613 . Whether the file type is appropriate is determined  1515 ,  1615 . If not, the user U is alerted  1517 ,  1617 . If the file type is appropriate, the image in the file is sized and displayed in the graphic box  1519 ,  1619 . After customizing the icon palette, the “save” button is activated, and the user can cancel or save the edits, then return to the calling procedure  1523  or page  1623 , as understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0090]    Embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , can include methods  1700 ,  1800  of creating new categories. For example, once a user U has selected a new category  1701 ,  1801 , a temporary category record is created  1703 ,  1803  having a default name, such as, “Untitled Category” with a default picture of icon. The user U is prompted to edit the new category  1705 ,  1805 . In a thick-client embodiment, for example, the temporary category record can be saved, resulting in changes to the display of the icon palette locally and changes added to the upload queue for the remote server  1707 . In a thin-client embodiment, for example, the temporary record is saved, and refreshed web pages are sent from the web server  1807 , as understood by those skilled in the art. If the user cancels the temporary new category, the temporary record is discarded  1709  and the previous view returns, i.e., the prior icon palette  1809 . 
         [0091]    Embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , can include a method  1900  of deleting categories. In a thick-client embodiment, for example, once a user U has selected to delete a category  1901 , a “delete” modal dialog box displays is opened, displaying information about the category  1903 . A confirmation prompt  1905  is displayed to the user. If the user U elects to cancel the deletion, the dialog box is closed  1907 . If the user elects to delete the category, the category can be hidden from the icon palette locally and a delete request can be added to the pending remote server upload queue  1909 . 
         [0092]    Embodiments of the present invention provide for the displaying on a list of albums associated with a category, as illustrated in  FIGS. 20-22 and 24-25 . By clicking on an icon  2001  or otherwise selecting a category from the server  2101 , an album list is retrieved  2003 ,  2103  and displayed to the user  2005 . Various data views, as illustrated in  FIGS. 22-25 , are available. A user action is determined  2009 ,  2109 . The user U can cancel the album list, and the window can be closed  2011 ,  2111 ; the user (U) can record and save changes  2013 ,  2113 . In addition, the user U can add files to a category by, e.g., dragging and dropping a file, or object, to the category as described herein  2015 ,  2115 . From the list of albums, the user has various other navigation options. Options for the user include displaying an album  2211 ,  2503  of files in pre-selected formats on the display device responsive to the questionnaires associated with the files, as illustrated in  FIGS. 22 and 25 . The pre-selected formats (see  2211 ,  2503 ) can include an album page displaying multiple files  2217 ,  2509  of the same or different sizes. Another option includes displaying a portion of the master journal  2201 ,  2501  on the display device comprising individual journal entries  2215 ,  2507  associated with files in an album. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention allow for simultaneously displaying an album  2503  and the portion of the master journal associated with the files in the album  2501 . According to embodiments of the present invention, the files displayed in pre-selected formats in the album of files can be linked to the associated journal entries in the displayed portion of the master journal so that when a user highlights a file, the associated journal entry is also highlighted, and when a user highlights a journal entry, an associated file is also highlighted, as illustrated in  FIGS. 22 and 25 . Specifically, see  2213  and  2215 , and also  2505  and  2507 . 
         [0093]    As further illustrates in  FIG. 22 , an alternate embodiment of the icon palette  2203  can display icons  2207   a - 2207   n  that represent a plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in the life of the user. In addition, navigation links to a journal  2205 , i.e., a master journal, can be provided on the icon palette  2203 . See also, navigation link  2305 , icon  2307 , and alternative embodiment of the icon palette  2303  in  FIG. 23 . Furthermore, by clicking on a icon, for example,  2207   b,  a subcategory list can be displayed  2209 , allowing the user to navigate to an album  2211  or to the journal  2201 , or to display both simultaneously, as illustrated in  FIGS. 22  and  25 . Other navigation paths and interactions are included in the embodiments, as understood by those skilled in the arts. 
         [0094]    Embodiments of the present invention provide for a member to allow restricted access to the member&#39;s account to a visitor, as illustrated in  FIG. 28 . The user, in this case a member, creates the login name  2811  and password  2813  for the visitor  2809 , through a visitor access configuration screen  2801  as illustrated in  FIG. 28 . Through the visitor access configuration screen or screens, the member determines the access level for the visitor on a file by file basis  2803 , on an album by album basis  2805 , on a category by category basis  2807 , or a combination of these as understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0095]    Embodiments of the present invention include a randomizer module  2901  for displaying a slide show of randomized files responsive to user criteria. The user specifies a file for inclusion in a slide show of randomized files  2611  through the questionnaire  2600 , as illustrated in  FIG. 26 . Configured through a randomizer setup screen  2901 , as illustrated in  FIG. 29 , the randomizer module can display the slide show on the display device attached to the user computer and external devices  2917 , such as, electronic picture frames and televisions. The user can name, save, and retrieve a particular randomizer configuration  2905 . The user criteria can include one or more categories to display  2903 , a quantity of files to select  2907 , a start date  2909 , an end date  2911 , a duration the selected files will be presented by the program  2913 , and a number of cycles to repeat selection and presentation  2915 . An example embodiment, as illustrated on  FIG. 29 , indicates that in the first cycle 50 files will be randomly selected from the checked categories, including marriage, family, children, friends, school, music, travel, and pets. The selection will be restricted to files with event dates on or between Jan. 25, 2007 and Jan. 25, 2008. The files will be displayed for 30 minutes, and then a new 50 files will be selected and available for display for 30 minutes. This process will repeat for five cycles. The files will be displayed on a USB picture frame. 
         [0096]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 30A and 30B , the randomizer module can consecutively display images  3002 ,  3004  on an electronic picture frame  3001 . For example, a first image  3002  can show a present  3003  having a bow  3005  prior to being opened, and a second image can show the aftermath of opening the present, including a toy  3011 , an open box  3007 , and a discarded ribbon  3009 . 
         [0097]    Embodiments of the present invention include a method  3100  of file management, as illustrated in  FIG. 31 . The method can include a start  3101 . The method can include prompting a user for login information  3103 . The login information can include a username, a password, and a status to thereby allow complete access to a member and restricted access to a visitor. The method can also include displaying an icon palette on a display device to the user  3105 . The icon palette has a palette boundary and includes icons representing a plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user. The method can include assigning one of a plurality of unsorted files to at least one of the plurality of predetermined categories through a user action so that dragging and dropping one of the plurality of unsorted files across the palette boundary onto an icon on the icon palette assigns the file to one of the plurality of predetermined categories  3107 . The method can include prompting the user to fill out a questionnaire associated with the file responsive to the user action assigning the file to the predetermined category  3109 . The questionnaire can include album data, a journal entry, event information, and display information. The method can include temporarily storing the file and data associated with the questionnaire in a database on a local computer  3111  so that the user can assign files and fill out questionnaires in the event of slow or interrupted communication with the remote server. The method can include storing the file and data associated with the questionnaire in a database on a remote server  3113  so that the user can access the file and associated data through an electronic communications network. The method can also include aggregating individual journal entries into one master journal for the user  3115 . The method can include displaying a portion of the master journal on the display device responsive to user criteria so that a user can view journal entries for a category, a particular date range, or files in an album  3117 . The method can include displaying an album of assigned files using pre-selected formats on the display device  3119 , responsive to questionnaires associated with the files. Each file is associated with the same predetermined category of the plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user. The method can include specifying in a database files for inclusion in a slide show of randomized files  3121 . The method can include randomly selecting a set of files from the specified files responsive to user criteria  3123  and displaying randomly selected set of files in the slide show on a display device  3125 . The method can also include repeating the steps of randomly selecting and displaying the set of files in the slide show responsive to user criteria  3127 . The method can include an end or stop  3129 . 
         [0098]    Embodiments of the present invention include a method  3200  of file management, as illustrated in  FIG. 32 . The method can include a start  3201 . The method can include establishing a recipient entity for acquiring ownership rights to files  3203 . The method can include storing in a database a plurality of files assigned by a user to a plurality of categories representing notable events in a life of the user so that the user can access the plurality of files through an electronic communications network  3205 . The method can include storing in the database a master journal for the user where the master journal including individual journal entries by the user and each journal entry is associated with one or more files of the plurality of files  3207 . The method can include prompting the user through a questionnaire to select a trigger event for making publicly available a file of the plurality of files and an associated journal entry and to approve legal terms so that the user can designate a portion of the plurality of files and associated journal entries to be made publicly available after the selected trigger event  3209 . The method can include receiving ownership rights by the recipient entity from the user according to the user-approved legal terms for the designated portion of the plurality of files and associated journal entries  3211 . The method can include providing access to third parties to the designated portion of the plurality of files and associated journal entries after the user-selected trigger event  3213 . The method can include verifying a death of the user through a published obituary or a contact list supplied by the user through the questionnaire  3215 . Embodiments can further include verification through a death certificate or governmental database. The method can also include creating a journal entry for the user recording the death of the user  3217 . The method can include an end or stop  3219 . 
         [0099]    Embodiments of the present invention include a method of file management. The method can include displaying an icon palette on a display device to a user  3105 . The icon palette includes icons representing predetermined categories associated with a life of the user. The method can also include assigning a file to a predetermined category through a user action so that dragging and dropping the file onto an icon on the icon palette assigns the file to the predetermined category  3107 . The method can include prompting the user to fill out a questionnaire associated with the file responsive to the user action assigning the file to the predetermined category  3109 . The questionnaire includes album data, a journal entry, event information, and display information. The method can further include displaying an album of files in pre-selected formats on the display device, responsive to the questionnaires associated with the files  3119 . 
         [0100]    Embodiments of the present invention include a method of file management for a randomizer module. The method includes specifying in a database a plurality of files for inclusion in a slide show of randomized files so that only appropriate files are displayed  3121 . Each file of the plurality of files has been assigned to at least one predetermined category associated with a life of the user through a user action. The method includes storing the plurality of files and the database on a remote server so that a user can access the plurality of files and the database through an electronic communications network  3113 . The method also includes randomly selecting a set of files from the plurality of files specified in the database for inclusion in the slide show responsive to user criteria  3123 . The user criteria includes a number of files to display, a start date of the files, an end date for the files, a duration to display the files, and a number of repetitions before selecting new files so that the user can tailor the randomized slide show for an audience. The user criteria also include a list of categories from which to draw files. The user can name, save, and retrieve the user criteria for a particular configuration. The method includes displaying the randomly selected set of files in the slide show on a display device  3125 . The method includes repeating the steps of randomly selecting and displaying the set of files in the slide show responsive to user criteria  3128 . 
         [0101]    Embodiments of the present invention include a system of file management, storage, and display. The system includes a first computer server associated with a file management provider defining a file management server, the file management server being positioned to manage, store, and retrieve files and associated data. The system also includes a plurality of second computers associated with a plurality of users defining user computers, each user computer in communication with the file management server through an electronic communications network. The system further includes a computer program product associated with user computer as discussed below. 
         [0102]    Embodiments of the present invention include a computer program product, stored on a tangible computer memory media, operable on a computer, the computer program product including a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform various operations. The operations include displaying an icon palette on a display device to a user. The icon palette includes icons corresponding to a plurality of predetermined categories representing notable events in a life of the user. The operations also include assigning a file to at least one predetermined category through a user action so that dragging and dropping the file onto an icon on the icon palette assigns the file to the predetermined category. The operations include prompting the user to fill out a questionnaire associated with a file responsive to the user action assigning the file to the predetermined category. The questionnaire can include any additional predetermined categories, album data, a journal entry, event information, and display information. The operations further include displaying an album of files in pre-selected formats on the display device, responsive to the questionnaires associated with the files. 
         [0103]    As illustrated in  FIG. 33 , embodiments of the present invention include a computer program product  3301 , stored on a tangible computer memory media  3305 , operable on a computer  3303 , the computer program product including a set of instructions  3307  that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform various operations. The operations include storing in a database a plurality of files assigned by a user to a plurality of categories representing notable events in a life of the user so that the user can access the plurality of files through an electronic communications network  3309 . The operations include storing in the database a master journal for the user where the master journal comprising individual journal entries by the user and each journal entry associated with one or more files of the plurality of files  3311 . The operations include prompting the user through a questionnaire to select a trigger event for making publicly available a file of the plurality of files and an associated journal entry and to approve legal terms so that the user can designate a portion of the plurality of files and associated journal entries to be made publicly available after the selected trigger event  3313 . The operations include logging a receipt of ownership rights by a recipient entity from the user according to the user-approved legal terms for the designated portion of the plurality of files and associated journal entries  3315 . The operations include providing access to third parties to the designated portion of the plurality of files and associated journal entries after the user-selected trigger event  3317 . The operations include verifying a death of the user through a published obituary or a contact list supplied by the user through the questionnaire  3319 . The operations include creating a journal entry for the user recording the death of the user  3321 . 
         [0104]    As illustrated in  FIG. 34 , a file management machine  3400  can include a computer, having a memory  3401  having stored therein program product  3402 , a processor  3403 , and an input-output interface, or an I/O device  3404 . The file management machine can include the file management computer  3400  as a separate component, module, program product, or server within an internal network of servers comprising the system. In this way, the file management computer may be configured as a plurality of computers or servers connected via a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). The file management system can be configured to include a file management machine  3400  further communicating through its I/O device  3404  with a database server  3405 , a telecommunications interface  3407 , a web server  3406 , and other equipment and components as understood by those skilled in the art. See also  FIGS. 4, 5, and 7 . 
         [0105]    Other architectures, implementations, and organizations will be understood by those skilled in the art to be included within the embodiments of the present invention. Program products can be implemented in a variety of software and programming languages, including without limitation hypertext markup language (“HTML”), Java, C, C++, XML, JavaScript, and others as understood by those skilled in the art. Multi-processor computers, cloud computing, server farms, multiple computer systems, multiple databases and storage devices (including hierarchies of storage and access), and other implementations will be recognized by those having skill in the art as encompassed within the embodiments of the present invention. For example, a single computer, a plurality of computers, a server, or server cluster or server farm may be employed, and this disclosure does not limit any configuration of computers and servers for each. Moreover, each may be deployed as at a server farm, data center or server cluster managed by a server host, and the number of servers and their architecture and configuration may be increased based on usage, demand, and capacity requirements for the system. Moreover, embodiments include clusters of computers, servers, storage devices, display devices, and components interacting together, as understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0106]    A person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various types of memory are readable by a computer such as described herein, e.g., user computer, file management computer server, or other computers and machine within embodiments of the present invention. Examples of computer readable media include but are not limited to: nonvolatile, hard-coded type media such as read only memories (ROMs), CD-ROMs, and DVD-ROMs, or erasable, electrically programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), recordable type media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD-R/RWs, DVD-RAMs, DVD-R/RWs, DVD+R/RWs, flash drives, memory sticks, and other newer types of memories, and transmission type media such as digital and analog communication links. For example, such media can include operating instructions, as well as instructions related to the system and the method steps described above and can operate on a computer. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that such media can be at other locations instead of or in addition to file management computer server to store program products, e.g., including software, thereon. 
         [0107]    This application is a continuation of and claims priority to and the benefit of: U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/494,928, filed Sep. 24, 2014, titled “Machine, Computer Readable Medium, and Computer-Implemented Method for File Management, Storage, and Display,” which is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/028,232, filed Sep. 16, 2013, titled “Machine, Computer Readable Medium, and Computer-Implemented Method for File Management, Storage, and Display,” which is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/620,995, filed Nov. 18, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,538,966, titled “Machine, Program Product, and Computer-Implemented Method for File Management, Storage, and Access Utilizing a User-Selected Trigger Event,” which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/116,814, by Reese et al., titled “System, Program Product, and Method for File Management, Storage, and Retrieval” filed Nov. 21, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/116,831, by Reese et al., titled “System, Program Product, and Method for File Management, Storage, and Retrieval” filed Nov. 21, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/116,862, by Reese et al., titled “System, Program Product, and Method for File Management, Storage, and Retrieval” filed Nov. 21, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/116,894, by Reese et al., titled “System, Program Product, and Method for File Management, Storage, and Retrieval” filed Nov. 21, 2008; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/116,914, by Reese et al., titled “System, Program Product, and Method for File Management, Storage, and Retrieval” filed Nov. 21, 2008, all of which are each incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. This application also relates to: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/620,944, by Reese et al., titled “Machine, Program Product, and Computer-Implemented Method for File Management, Storage, and Display” filed on Nov. 18, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/440,871, by Reese, et al., titled “Machine, Computer Readable Medium, and Computer-Implemented Method For File Management, Storage, and Display filed on Apr. 5, 2012; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/620,963, by Reese et al., titled “Machine, Program Product, and Computer-Implemented Method for File Management and Storage” filed on Nov. 18, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/621,059, by Reese et al., titled “Machine, Program Product, and Computer-Implemented Method for Randomized Slide Show of Files” filed on Nov. 18, 2009, now abandoned; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/621,033, by Reese et al., titled “Machine, Program Product, and Computer-Implemented Method for File Management, Storage, and Display in Albums Utilizing a Questionnaire” filed on Nov. 18, 2009, now abandoned, all of which are each incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
         [0108]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the illustrated embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.