# US 9,436,351 B2 · System and method for user modification of metadata in a shell browser

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- Number: US 9,436,351 B2
- Document ID: US9436351B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/047,713
- Filed: 2013-10-07
- Published: 2014-02-06
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2003-03-24
- Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
- Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
- Inventors: James Brian Kurtz; Judson Craig Hally; David Joel Sheldon; David George Devorchik; Tyler Kien Beam; Chris J. Guzak
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436351B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
- G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
- G06F 3/04812: Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 3/0484: for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 16/164: {File meta data generation}
- G06F 16/168: {Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs (query results presentation G06F16/156)}
- H04L 41/22: comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A system and method for user modification of metadata in a shell browser. A group of items and associated metadata values are displayed in a window of the shell browser. An edit control permits user modification of metadata values displayed in the window. The user can modify metadata associated with a welcome pane, a selected item, or multiple selected items. A data structure stored on one or more computer-readable media contains metadata associated with items displayed in a shell browser, including user modifiable metadata which is also displayed in the shell browser.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to modify metadata of a file, the method comprising:
displaying, by a first application, a window that is divided into at least two panes, wherein a first pane displays a plurality of items representing a plurality of files stored in a computing system;
receiving a selection of an item that is presented in the first pane and that represents one of the plurality of files stored in the computing system, wherein the first application is not a creator of the one of the plurality of files;
displaying, in a second pane, application-neutral metadata associated with at least the item that was selected; and
providing a context menu that is displayable in front of the window and that permits, without opening a second application that created the one of the plurality of files, user modification of the application-neutral metadata, wherein application-neutral metadata that is modified is available to subsequent requesting applications.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the application-neutral metadata that is modified includes a searchable keyword.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of items includes one or more non-file objects.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of items includes one or more folders.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of items includes a folder and contents of the folder.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the application-neutral metadata is displayed together with a preview of the item that is selected.

### Claim 7

A computer-readable memory device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device having an operating system, facilitate operations enabling a user to modify metadata of a file comprising:
displaying, by the operating system, a plurality of graphical items in a first pane of a window, the plurality of graphical items representing a plurality of files stored in a filing system of the operating system;
receiving a selection of a graphical item that is presented in the first pane and that represents one of the plurality of files stored in the filing system;
presenting metadata of at least the one of the plurality of files in a second pane of the window, wherein the plurality of graphical items remain displayed in the first pane when the metadata is presented in the second pane;
receiving a user selection of the metadata;
providing, by the operating system, a context menu when the user selection is received, wherein the context menu provides selectable options to modify the metadata and wherein the plurality of graphical items and the metadata remain displayed when the context menu is displayed; and
responsive to a user input, without opening an application that created the one of the plurality of files, modifying the metadata to create modified metadata, wherein the modified metadata is available to subsequent requesting applications.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The computer-readable memory device of claim 7, wherein modifying the metadata includes adding new metadata, editing the metadata that is displayed, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The computer-readable memory device of claim 7, wherein the user selection is received when a cursor is hovered over the metadata that is displayed.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The computer-readable memory device of claim 7, wherein the item includes a file.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The computer-readable memory device of claim 7, wherein the item includes a non-file object.

### Claim 12

A computing device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing device having an operating system, generate a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising:
a display window of the operating system, the display window divided into a first pane, which displays a plurality of graphical items representing a plurality of files, and a second pane, which displays application-neutral metadata of at least a file that has been selected by a user from the plurality of graphical items; and
an operating-system interface element that is displayable as an overlay in front of the display window when the file is selected and that permits, without invoking an application that created the file, user modification of the application-neutral metadata displayed in the second pane, wherein the application-neutral metadata that is modified using the operating-system interface element is available to subsequent requesting applications.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The computing device of claim 12, wherein the user modification is in response to a user selection of the application-neutral metadata to directly modify the metadata in the second pane.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The computing device of claim 12, wherein the user modification includes adding new metadata, editing the application-neutral metadata that is displayed, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The computing device of claim 12, wherein a user selection of the application-neutral metadata is received when a cursor is hovered over the application-neutral metadata that is displayed in the second pane.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The computing device of claim 12, wherein the operating-system browser supports a plurality of item types.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The computing device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of item types includes music files, picture files, and document files.