# US 2021/0278959 A1 · Methods and Apparatus for Managing and Exchanging Information Using Information Objects

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- Number: US 2021/0278959 A1
- Document ID: US20210278959A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/314,953
- Filed: 2021-05-07
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2004-04-29
- Assignees: Paul Erich Keel
- Inventors: Paul Erich Keel; Jeffrey Huang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278959A1

## CPC

- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34)
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 16/22: Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
- G06F 16/258: {Data format conversion from or to a database}
- G06F 16/29: Geographical information databases
- G06F 16/9535: Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
- G06F 16/9537: Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
- G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management
- H04L 51/046: Interoperability with other network applications or services
- H04L 67/10: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46)
- Y10S 707/99933: Query processing, i.e. searching
- Y10S 707/99943: Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A computer-implemented method for interacting with at least one data item obtained from at least one source utilizes computer processes responsive to a user selection of the at least one data item and include causing configuring of each of the data items into a distinct information object by extracting, from each data item, extracted data including a picture, a heading, and a link to the data item, and causing storing of data corresponding to each of the information objects in a database system. The processes further include displaying a representation of each of at least two of the information objects in the database system, the representation being in a uniform format, wherein the format includes a card, and, within the card, in uniform locations thereof, the picture, the heading, a set of indicators, and a set of graphically accessible functions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method, in which at least one computer initiates execution of software instructions to perform computer processes, the method being for interacting with at least one information object obtained from at least one source and stored in a database system, the computer processes comprising:
causing display, in a computing device of a first user, a first view of a first set of information objects that constitute a first collection of the first user;
causing display, in a computing device of a second user, a first view of a first set of information objects that constitute a first collection of the second user;
wherein the first collection of the first user and the first collection of the second user share at least one information object;
wherein the first collection of the second user is accessible to the first user;
also causing display, in the computing device of the first user, a second view of a second set of information objects, wherein (i) the first collection of the first user lacks any member of the second set of information objects and (ii) the first collection of the second user also contains the second set of information objects; and
wherein each of the information objects in the second view of the first user can, on a user-entered command, be caused to be copied to the first view of the first user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein each information object is represented in a uniform format, wherein the format includes, in uniform locations, a picture and a heading.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein each information object contains a comment function, by which users having access to a given information object can exchange comments relating to the given information object, such comments being associated with the given information object.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein any given member of the second set of information objects is both included in a collection of another user and the other user has been selected by the first user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the information objects in the second view of the first user is displayed in an order determined by a criterion selected from the group consisting of the information object's creation time, its access time, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, further comprising using a relation algorithm to cause discovery of a set of relations among information objects within a selected one of the views of a given user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A method according to claim 6, wherein the selected one of the views of the given user is the second view of the first user and causing display of the second view includes causing display of the information objects therein in an order determined by the discovered relations.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A method according to claim 6, wherein using the relation algorithm causes identifying of at least one relation based on a spatial arrangement of the information objects in the selected view as determined by their positional information.

### Claim 9

A computer-implemented method, in which at least one computer initiates execution of software instructions to perform computer processes, the method being for interacting with at least one information object, the computer processes comprising:
causing display of a representation of each of at least two of the information objects in the database system, the representation being in a uniform format, wherein the information objects can be spatially arranged, and wherein the format includes a heading, a set of indicators, and a set of graphically accessible functions, and
wherein the set of functions includes:
a comment function, by which users having access to a given information object can exchange comments relating to the given information object, such comments being associated with the given information object;
an attachment function, by which users having access to the given information object can exchange links and attachments relating to the given information object, such links and attachments being associated with the given information object;
wherein the set of indicators includes:
commenting activity associated with the given information object; and
wherein the database system has been configured to allow each user to have at least one user-selected collection of information objects in the database system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A method according to claim 9, wherein the given information object includes a user-accessible record relating to access history of the given information object.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A method according to claim 9, further comprising:
on a user-entered command, causing the given information object to be shared with another user when the given information object and the other user have been graphically selected.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A method according to claim 9, further comprising:
on a user-entered command, causing the given information object to be shared with another user via an instant message sent through an integrated instant messaging system as a result of graphical selection by a first user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

A method according to claim 9, wherein displaying the representation of the at least two information objects includes displaying them in an order determined by a criterion selected from the group consisting of creation time of the information object being displayed, its access time, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

A method according to claim 9, wherein the indicator reflecting commenting activity associated with the given information object provides a numeric count of the commenting activity.