Generating a selection representation for items in tree structures
AssigneeEMC Corporation
InventorMu Chai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for generating a selection representation for items in a tree structure using an include modifier and an exclude modifier. The method exemplarily includes analyzing a parent node of the tree structure to determine if the parent node is an inclusive selection, including a path of the parent node in the selection representation if the parent node is an inclusive selection, analyzing a first child node of the parent node to determine if the first child node is a different selection type than the parent node, and including a path of the first child node if the first child node is a different selection type than the parent node.
Claims18
In a computer system that uses a tree structure for organizing data, each node of the tree structure being definable by a path, a method for creating a selection representation of selected items in the tree structure, the method comprising:
- analyzing a parent node of the tree structure to determine if the parent node is an inclusive selection;
- including a path of the parent node in the selection representation if the parent node is an inclusive selection;
- analyzing a first child node of the parent node to determine if the first child node is a different selection type than the parent node;
- and
- including a path of the first child node if the first child node is a different selection type than the parent node.
A computer system for generating a selection representation of items selected in a tree structure, the computer system comprising:
- a file system that stores data using a hierarchy;
- a graphical user interface that interacts with the file system to present the data in the tree structure to reflect the hierarchy of the data in the file system and receives input from a user of at least one of:
- positive selections from a user of various items in the tree structure for performing a predetermined function on the positively selected items;
- or
- positive unselections from a user of various items in the tree structure for excluding from performing a predetermined function on the positively unselected items;
- and
- a selection module programmed to use the input of the user and generate a selection representation, the selection module operative to:
- analyze a parent node of the tree structure to determine if the parent node is an inclusive selection;
- include a path of the parent node in the selection representation if the parent node is an inclusive selection;
- analyze a first child node of the parent node to determine if the first child node is a different selection type than the parent node;
- and
- include a path of the first child node if the first child node is a different selection type than the parent node.
In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a selection device, a method of providing and selecting items in a tree structure on the display, the method comprising:
- retrieving a tree structure that reflects a hierarchy of data from at least one of memory or storage;
- displaying the tree structure on the display;
- receiving input from a user of at least one of:
- positive selections from a user of various items in the tree structure for performing a predetermined function on the positively selected items;
- or
- positive unselections from a user of various items in the tree structure for excluding from performing a predetermined function on the positively unselected items;
- analyzing a parent node of the tree structure to determine if the parent node is an inclusive selection;
- including a path of the parent node in the selection representation if the parent node is an inclusive selection;
- analyzing a first child node of the parent node to determine if the first child node is a different selection type than the parent node;
- and
- including a path of the first child node if the first child node is a different selection type than the parent node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.