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A previewing system that permits selection from a plurality of interactive previewers for use in a system shell browser is disclosed. The previews may be extensible, such that different application developers may write custom previews for different file types, and the shell browser may follow established criteria to select an appropriate preview. The user may enter criteria to control which previewers are used for different situations, such as when certain file types are selected for previewing. Size of an available display area for the preview may be a criterion, such that resizing the preview area may cause a different preview to be displayed. The preview may be executed as a separate process from the browser so that crashes and hangs in the previewer process do not fatally affect the browser process. Previews may be incorporated within common file dialogs offered by an underlying operating system, such that different applications may share the common previewer.

1. A method for previewing files while browsing a computer system, comprising the steps of: receiving an indication of a file selected for previewing from a shell browser; selecting a first interactive previewer from a plurality of available previewers based on one or more criteria; using said selected first interactive previewer to provide a first interactive preview of said selected file in said shell browser; and editing contents of said selected file based on user interaction with said first interactive preview. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said selected file is a word processing file, and said first interactive preview allows keyboard entry of text into said word processing file. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: receiving a user request to resize said first interactive preview; resizing said first interactive preview in response to said user request; and offering a different level of interactivity in said first interactive preview in response to said resizing. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein when said resizing results in a larger preview, said resized first interactive preview offers a greater level of interactivity than previously offered. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein when said resizing results in a smaller preview, said resized first interactive preview offers a lesser level of interactivity than previously offered. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: receiving a user request to resize said first interactive preview; and replacing said first interactive preview with a second interactive preview in response to said user request. 7. The method of claim 4, wherein said second interactive preview is generated using a different interactive previewer application from said first interactive previewer. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said indication identifies multiple files from said shell browser as being selected. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first interactive preview provides an interactive preview of said multiple selected files. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said file is selected as a result of a search process using one or more search criteria, and further comprising the step of using said one or more search criteria in said step of selecting. 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: initially displaying a generic preview of said selected file while said first interactive preview is initializing; and when said first interactive preview is ready for display, replacing said generic preview with said first interactive preview. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said generic preview offers a level of interactivity that is lower than a level of said first interactive preview. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more criteria includes an amount of system resources consumed or available. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of selecting includes the step of rejecting an initial previewer due to system resource availability, and falling back to said first interactive preview. 15. A method for previewing files from a common file dialog, comprising the steps of: offering a common file dialog to be shared by multiple applications, said common file dialog including an interactive preview of a file selected using said common file dialog; receiving a request for said common file dialog from a first application; and displaying said common file dialog responsive to said request. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of selecting said interactive preview from a plurality of available previews based on user-defined criteria. 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of selecting said interactive preview from a plurality of available previews based on a size of an available display area. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein said common file dialog is invoked by said first application to open a file. 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of creating said selected file using a second application, said second application being different from said first application, whereby a selection of a file from said first application results in a preview of a file created by a second application. 20. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps: receiving an indication of a file selected for previewing from a shell browser; selecting a first interactive previewer from a plurality of available previewers based on one or more criteria; initially displaying a generic preview of said selected file while said first interactive preview is initializing; and when said first interactive preview is ready for display, replacing said generic preview with said first interactive preview.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The need to readily identify items stored in a computing environment such as a personal computer (PC) is dramatically increasing as more individuals utilize computers in their daily routines, and as the type of stored information varies between pictures, music, documents, etc. Documents and media are typically stored on computers in a hierarchical fashion and are organized with files of information or media stored within folders. File system browsers enable users to navigate through the file system and locate and open files and folders. For example, Microsoft Corporation's WINDOWS® EXPLORER™ is an operating system utility which enables users to browse the file system. Many users find it difficult to correctly identify a file based on the information currently available in conventional file system browsers. Of course the contents of a file can be verified by closing the file browser and opening the file using a separate application program, but this method of browsing files is extremely inefficient given the time and resources consumed by each application. For example, browsing five separate files of different file types would grow tiresome as the five separate applications are each initialized. Microsoft Corporation's WINDOWS® XP operating system includes an image browser for use when browsing the My Pictures folder. The browser displays a thumbnail view of a selected picture, and the user can rotate the image, but that is the extent of the interactivity. The user cannot fully interact with or edit the image. Furthermore, although more sophisticated picture displaying applications may exist on the system, there is no way for the My Pictures folder to extend its thumbnail option to any of those applications, or to permit those applications to supply their own thumbnail views for use in the shell browser. With the limited control/edit/interactivity options from the browser, and the inability for other applications to offer richer thumbnail previewers for the browser, there is a resulting need for an improved approach to providing previews in shell browsers that offers more options and choices to users so that they may more effectively use the browser.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>One or more of the above needs and deficiencies may be addressed by providing a system and method for providing previewers to a system shell browser. The shell browser may offer a rich, interactive preview image of a selected file, where the user may interact with and edit the file by interacting with the preview image. The system may expose an application program interface (API) to allow the addition of previewers beyond the basic previewer that may be shipped with the system. Individual applications, such as word processors, image viewers, video players, etc., may use the APIs to provide their own interactive previewer to be included in the display of the shell browser. With the number of available previewers, users may be given an option to define criteria that will be used to determine which previewer will be used at any given time. Any type of criteria may be used, such as system load, available display area, user preference, time of day, type of file, size of file, etc. The previewer may also change in response to user interaction with a displayed preview. For example, if a user resizes a preview, corresponding property/metadata displays may be rearranged to display more (or fewer) properties corresponding to the display area occupied by the resized preview. The preview can also be rearranged, such that the preview image appears in a different location relative to the properties/metadata. Furthermore, the resizing can cause entirely different previewers to be invoked. For example, the system may automatically change from a rich preview to a more generic preview if the user shrinks the preview to a small enough area that the rich preview features are no longer feasible. Conversely, enlarging the preview area may cause a richer preview to be invoked. The system may also automatically switch from generic to rich previewer to accommodate a slower load time for the rich preview. For example, a generic preview may be used at first, while the rich preview is loading, and when that richer preview is ready, the system may automatically (or at user request) switch the preview from the generic to the rich. The system may offer the preview functionality in more than just the shell browser. For example, the preview functionality may be offered in one or more common file dialogs, such as the “Save As” dialog, so that previews may be used more extensively. The previews may also be implemented in a manner that reduces the risk of a crash or hang holding up the entire shell browser. For example, the previewer may be instantiated as an independent process of the system, so if a failure occurs, the remainder of the shell browser may continue to function. The preview selection and functionality may also vary depending on the number of files selected. For example, different display preview presentations may be used when multiple files are selected.

Address bar user interface control

An address bar user interface control includes a plurality of interactive segments, each segment including one or more filters or selection criteria for selecting content from physical and/or virtual locations. A segment may include two or more filters or selection criteria which are logically combined such as by a logical “OR” operation. A user may select a child control associated with an interactive segment, i.e., a parent segment, to provide a list of selectable child filters or selection criteria. In response to selection of a child filter or selection criteria, an interactive segment representing the child filter or selection criteria is added to the address bar succeeding the parent segment and the interactive segments subsequent to the parent segment are removed.

1. An address bar user interface control for selecting content accessible to a computer system for display, the address bar comprising: a plurality of interactive segments each including selection criteria for selecting content for display; and a child control associated with the at least one interactive segment, the child control being selectable to identify selectable child selection criteria corresponding to the selection criteria of the at least one interactive segment. 2. The address bar user interface control of claim 1, further comprising a list of selectable child selection criteria, wherein selecting the child control associated with an interactive segment causes the list of selectable child selection criteria to be displayed. 3. The address bar user interface control of claim 2, further comprising an interactive segment corresponding to a child selection criteria, wherein selecting the child selection criteria from the list of selectable child selection criteria causes the interactive segment corresponding to the child selection criteria to be displayed succeeding the at least one interactive segment. 4. The address bar user interface control of claim 3, wherein selecting the child selection criteria from the list of selectable child selection criteria further causes each interactive segment subsequent to the at least one interactive segment to be removed from the address bar. 5. The address bar user interface control of claim 2, wherein if the interactive segment associated with the child selection criteria has an immediate ancestor selection criteria and the immediate ancestor selection criteria is not displayed, selecting the child control associated with the interactive segment further causes an ancestor list for the interactive segment to be displayed. 6. The address bar user interface control of claim 2, further comprising type identifiers associated with each of the child selection criteria in the list of selectable child selection criteria. 7. The address bar user interface control of claim 1, wherein a child selection criteria includes selection criteria for selecting content stored in a virtual location. 8. The address bar user interface control of claim 1, wherein the at least one interactive segment includes at least two selection criteria which are logically combined for selecting content for display. 9. An address bar user interface control for selecting content accessible to a computer system for display, the address bar comprising: a first interactive segment including at least two selection criteria logically combined for selecting content for display. 10. The address bar user interface control of claim 9, further comprising a second interactive segment including at least one selection criteria, the second interactive segment preceding the first interactive segment wherein the at least two selection criteria of the first interactive segment further restrict the content selected by the at least one selection criteria of the second interactive segment. 11. The address bar user interface control of claim 9, further comprising a second interactive segment including at least one selection criteria succeeding the first interactive segment wherein selecting the first interactive segment in the address bar causes the second interactive segment to be removed from the address bar. 12. The address bar user interface control of claim 9, wherein the at least two selection criteria are logically combined according to a logical OR operation. 13. The address bar user interface control of claim 9, wherein at least one selection criteria includes selection criteria for selecting content stored in a virtual location. 14. The address bar user interface control of claim 9, wherein at least one selection criteria includes selection criteria for selecting content stored in a physical location. 15. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing the method comprising the steps of: displaying an address bar comprising a plurality of interactive segments, each interactive segment including at least one selection criteria for selecting content to be displayed on a display device, wherein the address bar selects content for display on a display device according to the at least one selection criteria of each of the plurality of interactive segments, and a child control for a first interactive segment, the child control being selectable to identify selectable child selection criteria; detecting user actions on the address bar; and upon detecting a user action on the address bar, updating the address bar according to the detected user action. 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the detected user action is a selection of the child control, and wherein updating the address bar according to the detected user action comprises displaying a list of selectable child selection criteria in response to selection of the child control. 17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising causing a second interactive segment corresponding to a child selection criteria to be displayed succeeding the first interactive segment in response to a user selection of the child selection criteria. 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising causing each interactive segment subsequent to the at least one interactive segment to be removed from the address bar in response to the user selection of the child selection criteria. 19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying further comprises displaying a second interactive segment including at least two selection criteria which are logically combined for selecting content for display. 20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the at least two selection criteria are logically combined by applying a logical OR operation.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>As users navigate within a file system on a computer, a conventional graphical interface control, referred to as an address bar, shows the users where they are in the file system hierarchy. The conventional address bar shows the current location in terms of the file system's hierarchical structure of folders, subfolders, and files. Altering the user's location displayed in the conventional address bar is typically performed in one of two manners. The first is to manually edit the address in the address bar. Manually editing the address in the address bar permits a user to relocate to any number of locations in the file system hierarchy, but requires the user to have specific information regarding the organization of the file system on the computer, i.e., a specific file system location. The second method involves using external navigation tools which, when manipulated, update the address bar to reflect the new address or location. While bypassing the manual edit of the address in the address bar, manipulating external navigation tools still requires the user to have specific information concerning the organization of the file system and traverse the hierarchical structure. However, conventional address bars cannot reference files or data stored among multiple file system locations, such as folders or drives, due to a one-to-one relationship between the address in the address bar and a specific location in the file system hierarchy. The prior art lacks an address bar that allows users to specify addresses that display files stored among multiple file system locations. The prior art further lacks an address bar that also permits users to easily modify the address of the address bar without manually editing the address, or requiring specific knowledge concerning the organization of the underlying file system. Also lacking in the prior art is an address bar that presents alternative selections of files to the user from which the user may select to navigate to those selections of files. Such an address bar could also selectively present a conventional address bar interface to the user enabling the user to interact with the address bar according to previous experience according to user preferences.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>An address bar for selecting content stored in a physical or virtual location is provided. The address bar may comprise a plurality of segments. Each segment may correspond to a filter or selection criteria for selecting stored content. A segment may include more than one filter or selection criteria, where the content corresponding to each of the filters or selection criteria in a segment may be represented. In this instance, a logical “or” operation referred to as “OR” filtering occurs where content corresponding to separate selection criteria from two or more different locations, whether virtual or physical, can be accessed. Collectively, the corresponding filters of the segments in the address bar represent an address for selecting content stored on a computer file system. Each segment is an interactive segment that can respond to user interactions to modify the address of the address bar. Selecting a segment in the address bar causes those segments subsequent to the selected segment to be removed from the address bar. According to one aspect, selecting a child control associated with a segment in the address bar causes a list of selectable child filters or selection criteria to be displayed to the user. The child filters or selection criteria are children of the filter(s) or selection criteria included with the segment. Selecting one of the child filters or selection criteria from the list of child filters or selection criteria causes the current (child) filter or selection criteria of the segment displayed in the address bar, if different from the selected child filter or selection criteria, to be replaced with the selected child filter or selection criteria. Additionally, those segments subsequent to the segment of the replaced child filter or selection criteria are removed from the address bar.

Method for displaying status information on a mobile terminal

A method for displaying status information on a mobile terminal is provided. The method comprises the steps of when an event is generated in the mobile terminal, determining whether a function for displaying a character image has been set for the event; if the function has been set, processing the generated event, selecting a character image corresponding to the event in a character memory and displaying an event processing result together with the selected character image; and if the function has not been set, processing the generated event and displaying the event processing result.

1. A method for displaying status information on a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of: when an event is generated in the mobile terminal, determining whether a function for displaying a character image has been set for the event; if the function has been set, processing the generated event, selecting a character image corresponding to the event in a character memory and displaying an event processing result together with the selected character image; and if the function has not been set, processing the generated event and displaying the event processing result. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said character image is an avatar and said character memory is an avatar memory for storing avatar images corresponding to different events. 3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of displaying the event processing result comprises: when the generated event is a popup window event for which the character displaying function has been set, analyzing information to be displayed in a popup window; and selecting an avatar image to be added to the popup window in the avatar memory and displaying the information in the avatar added popup window. 4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said popup window event is a system state alert for providing status information of the mobile terminal. 5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said popup window event is a help explanation provided upon selection of a help menu on the mobile terminal. 6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of displaying the event processing result comprises: when the generated event is an alarm/schedule alert event for which the character displaying function has been set and when a preset alarm/schedule alert time is reached, analyzing a list of alarm/schedule alert registrations; and detecting an alarm/schedule alert to be generated at the preset time, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the alarm/schedule alert in the avatar memory and displaying an alarm/schedule alert message together with the selected avatar image. 7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said display of the alarm/schedule alert message comprises: when the alarm/schedule alert is an anniversary alert, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the anniversary on a specified date in the avatar memory and displaying an anniversary alert message together with the selected avatar image. 8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said anniversary is a national or international holiday or a personal anniversary. 9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display of the alarm/schedule alert message comprises: when the alarm/schedule alert is an alarm, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the alarm in the avatar memory, displaying an alarm message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset alarm sound; and when the alarm/schedule alert is a morning call, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the morning call in the avatar memory, displaying a morning call message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound; when the alarm/schedule alert is a schedule alert, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the schedule alert in the avatar memory, displaying a schedule alert message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound; and when the alarm/schedule alert is an anniversary alert, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the anniversary alert in the avatar memory, displaying a anniversary alert message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound. 10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said step of displaying the event processing result further comprises: when the generated event is arrival of a text message, displaying a message informing the arrival of a text message; analyzing character strings in the received text message and comparing the analyzed character strings with emotional expressions stored in an emotional expression memory; selecting one or more emotional expressions included in the text message; and accessing an avatar image corresponding to the selected emotional expressions in the avatar memory that stores multiple avatar images representing various emotions, and displaying the text message together with the corresponding avatar image. 11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said emotional expressions are emoticons. 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said selection of one or more emotional expressions is a selection of a last emoticon used in the text message. 13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said emotional expressions are classified into five groups representing happiness, sadness, anger, embarrassment and shyness, respectively, and stored in the emotional expression memory so as to store avatar images in a number corresponding to the five different emotions in the avatar memory. 14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said text message is displayed together with an avatar image corresponding to the emotion represented by the selected emotional expressions. 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said text message is displayed in a word balloon of the avatar image. 16. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said step of displaying the event processing result further comprises: when the generated event is a communication event, analyzing the communication event, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the analyzed communication event in the avatar memory and displaying a message indicating the generation of the communication event together with the selected avatar image. 17. A method for displaying an event together with a character image on a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of: displaying a list of events that can be displayed together with a character image, displaying character images applicable to each selected event, and when a character image is selected, registering the selected character image; when an event is generated in the mobile terminal, determining whether a function for displaying a character image has been set for the event; if the function has been set, processing the generated event, selecting a character image corresponding to the event in a character memory and displaying an event processing result together with the selected character image; and if the function has not been set, processing the generated event and displaying the event processing result. 18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said events that can be displayed together with a character image include arrival of a text message, alarm or schedule alerts, communication events and popup window events. 19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said step of displaying the event processing result with the selected character image comprises: when the generated event is a popup window event for which the character displaying function has been set, selecting a character image to be added to a popup window in the character memory and displaying an information message in the character added popup window; when the generated event is an arrival of a text message, analyzing emotional expressions included in the text message, accessing a character image corresponding to the emotional expressions in the character memory and displaying the text message together with the character image; when the generated event is an alarm/schedule alert event and a preset alarm/schedule alert time is reached, detecting an alarm/schedule alert registered to be generated at the preset time, selecting a character image corresponding to the alarm/schedule alert and displaying an alarm/schedule alert message together with the selected character image; and when the generated event is a communication event, analyzing the communication event, selecting a character image corresponding to the analyzed communication event in the character memory and displaying a message informing the generation of the communication event together with the selected character image. 20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said character image is an avatar and said character memory is an avatar memory for storing avatar images corresponding to different events. 21. A method for displaying status information on a mobile terminal having a character memory for storing character images, which comprises the steps of; when the mobile terminal is powered on, accessing a character image corresponding to the power on state in the character memory, displaying power-on state information together with the character image and entering a standby mode; when a menu for setting a character displaying function is selected in the standby mode, displaying a list of events to which the character displaying function can be applied, and when one or more events are selected from the list, selecting a character image in the character memory to be displayed for the selected events; when an event is generated in the standby mode, analyzing the generated event to determine whether the character displaying function has been set for the event, accessing a character image in the character memory if the character displaying function has been set for the event, and displaying status information relating to the event together with the character image; and when the mobile terminal is powered off in the standby mode, accessing a character image corresponding to the power-off state in the character memory, displaying power-off information together with the character and turning off the mobile terminal. 22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said character image is an avatar and said character memory is an avatar memory for storing avatar images corresponding to different events. 23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said events to which the character displaying function can be applied include arrival of a text message, alarm or schedule alerts, communication events and popup window events. 24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said step of displaying status information comprises: when the generated event is a popup window event, selecting an avatar image to be added to a popup window in the avatar memory and displaying an information message in the avatar added popup window; when the generated event is an arrival of a text message, analyzing emotional expressions included in the text message, accessing an avatar image corresponding to the emotional expressions in the avatar memory and displaying the text message together with the avatar image; when the generated event is an alarm/schedule alert event and a preset alarm/schedule alert time is reached, detecting an alarm/schedule alert registered to be generated at the preset time, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the alarm/schedule alert and displaying an alarm/schedule alert message together with the selected avatar image; and when the generated event is a communication event, analyzing the communication event, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the analyzed communication event in the avatar memory and displaying a message informing the generation of the communication event together with the selected avatar image. 25. A method for processing an alarm/schedule alert in a mobile terminal having a character memory for storing character images, which comprises the steps of; registering alarm/schedule alerts by selecting a character image suitable for each alarm/schedule alert in the character memory and setting an alarm time, message and bell sound for each alarm/schedule alert together with the selected character image; and when a preset alarm/schedule time is reached, detecting an alarm/schedule alert registered to be generated at the preset time, accessing a character image preset for the alarm/schedule alert and displaying an alarm/schedule alert message together with the preset character image. 26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprises: analyzing the alarm/schedule alert registered to be generated at the preset time; when the alarm/schedule alert is an alarm, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the alarm in the avatar memory, displaying an alarm message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset alarm sound; and when the alarm/schedule alert is a morning call, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the morning call in the avatar memory, displaying a morning call message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound; when the alarm/schedule alert is a schedule alert, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the schedule alert in the avatar memory, displaying a schedule alert message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound; and when the alarm/schedule alert is an anniversary alert, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the anniversary alert in the avatar memory, displaying a anniversary alert message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for displaying status information on a mobile terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and device for displaying status information together with a character image on a mobile terminal. 2. Description of the Related Art Mobile terminals are becoming more integrated to perform services such as video recording, photography, packet service, instant messaging as opposed to older mobile terminals that only provide simple telephone services. To meet this trend, mobile terminals process and display various events relating to communications, system state alerts, messages, multimedia processing, user settings. The communication related events are call signals that include incoming and outgoing calls. The system state alerting events indicate the status of a mobile terminal, such as low battery status, entry into an area where wireless services are unavailable, or results of a new system setting. Generally, such events are displayed in a text message format on a display window or indicated through a speaker or a display device. It is possible to inform the user of an event by displaying the event on the display window and at the same time outputting an audible alert through an audio converter of a mobile terminal. As a more effective way to inform the user of an event, an avatar image or animation can also be used.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for displaying an event processing result together with a character image on a mobile terminal. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for displaying an event processing result together with a corresponding character image on a mobile terminal that stores various character images corresponding to different events. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for generating a popup window with a character image on a mobile terminal and displaying an information message in the popup window.

File system shell

A file system shell is provided. One aspect of the shell provides virtual folders which expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. Users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation (e.g., clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc.). Filters are provided for narrowing down sets of items. Quick links are provided which can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. Libraries are provided which consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together, along with functions and tools related to the items. A virtual address bar is provided which comprises a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a filter for selecting content. A shell browser is provided with which users can readily identify an item based on the metadata associated with that item. An object previewer in a shell browser is provided which is configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types.

1. A file system shell browser defined by computer executable instructions stored on one or more computer readable media, said file system shell browser navigable by a user to manage a plurality of data items, said file system shell browser comprising: a page space control navigable by the user to identify a first set of data items having a common metadata; a virtual address bar identifying a virtual location of the first set of data items; a primary view pane presenting a first display of the first set of data items; a preview pane presenting information corresponding to a user-selected one of the first set of data items. 2. The file system shell browser of claim 1, wherein said page space control comprises a hierarchical tree of metadata values. 3. The file system shell browser of claim 1, wherein the virtual address bar comprises a plurality of hierarchical elements, each element, when selected by a user, presenting a list of hierarchically equivalent metadata values selectable by a user. 4. The file system shell browser of claim 3, wherein when the user selects one of the hierarchically equivalent metadata values, the primary view pane presents a second display of a second set of data items corresponding to the one of the hierarchically equivalent metadata values. 5. The file system shell browser of claim 1, wherein the primary view pane presents one data item of the first set of data items in iconic form indicating a number of further data items corresponding to the one data item. 6. The file system shell browser of claim 5, wherein the iconic form comprises a stack whose height is based on the number of further data items corresponding to the one data item. 7. The file system shell browser of claim 2, wherein a node of the hierarchical tree represents a virtual folder, said virtual folder defined by a scope of storage locations and one or more criteria of metadata values. 8. The file system shell browser of claim 1, further comprising a list view slider selectably changeable by the user to select a presentation style of the first set of data items in the primary view pane. 9. The file system shell browser of claim 8, wherein said list view slider comprises preset presentation styles including an iconic presentation style and a list presentation style. 10. The file system shell browser of claim 1, further comprising a virtual folder builder wherein a user defines a scope comprising one or more explicit inclusions and one or more explicit exclusions. 11. The file system shell browser of claim 1, further comprising a list builder exposing functionality for a user to build a static list. 12. The file system shell browser of claim 1, wherein the page space control is configured to dynamically scroll horizontally based on a user vertically scrolling the page space control. 13. The file system shell browser of claim 1, wherein, when a user selects any of the items in the first set of data items, the file system shell browser performs a launch activity corresponding to the selected item. 14. The file system shell browser of claim 1, wherein, when a user provides input focus to any of the data items in the first set of data items, the file system shell browser exposes in a commands module a set of commands corresponding to the data item having input focus. 15. The file system shell browser of claim 14, wherein the commands module comprises the virtual address bar. 16. One or more computer readable media storing computer executable instructions providing a user navigable file system shell browser executable within an operating system of a data processing device, said file system shell browser exposing a user interface comprising: a first pane presenting a hierarchical tree of metadata properties and property values; a second pane presenting a sequential list of metadata values identifying a virtual storage location, wherein said second pane reflects a selected property value from said first pane; and a third pane presenting a display of a first set of data items corresponding to the virtual storage location. 17. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the file system shell browser further comprises a preview pane presenting information corresponding to a user-selected one of the first set of data items. 18. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein each metadata value in said second pane corresponds to a list of hierarchically equivalent metadata values selectable by a user, and wherein when the user selects one of the hierarchically equivalent metadata values, the third pane presents a display of a second set of data items corresponding to the selected virtual storage location. 19. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein a node of the hierarchical tree represents a virtual folder, said virtual folder defined by a scope of storage locations and one or more criteria of metadata values, and wherein said virtual folder corresponds to all items stored within the scope and matching the one or more criteria. 20. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein said file system shell browser further comprises a list view slider selectably changeable by the user to select a presentation style of the first set of data items in the list pane. 21. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein said file system shell browser further comprises a virtual folder builder wherein a user defines a virtual folder scope comprising one or more explicit inclusions and one or more explicit exclusions. 22. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein said file system shell browser further comprises a list builder exposing functionality for a user to build a static list. 23. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the first pane is configured to dynamically scroll horizontally based on a user vertically scrolling the hierarchical tree. 24. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein, when a user selects any of the items in the first set of data items, the file system shell browser performs a launch activity corresponding to the selected item. 25. A user interface stored as computer executable instructions on one or more computer readable media, said user interface corresponding to a file system shell browser, and said user interface comprising: a primary view pane for displaying a plurality of data items corresponding to a presently selected virtual location; and three or more functional modules displayed corresponding to each other, said functional modules selected from the set of: a page space control module, said page space control module providing a hierarchical tree of metadata properties and value, said tree navigable by a user to identify a selected metadata value, thereby causing corresponding items to be displayed in the primary view pane; a virtual address bar module identifying the virtual location of the plurality of data items displayed in the primary view pane; a list view slider module providing a selectably changeable display element to allow a user to select a presentation style of the plurality of data items in the primary view pane; a virtual folder builder module exposing functionality for a user to define a virtual folder scope comprising one or more explicitly included storage locations and one or more explicitly excluded storage locations; and a preview module for displaying metadata corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of data items displayed in the primary view pane, wherein the preview module exposes a user interface through which a user can edit at least a portion of the metadata corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of data items. 26. The user interface of claim 25, wherein one of the three elements is the virtual address bar element, and wherein the virtual location is presented as a sequential list of metadata values. 27. The user interface of claim 26, wherein each metadata value in said sequential list corresponds to a list of hierarchically equivalent metadata values selectable by a user to alter a display of elements in the list pane module. 28. The user interface of claim 25, wherein one of the three elements is the page space control module, wherein another of the three elements is the virtual folder builder module, and wherein a first node of the hierarchical tree represents a virtual folder, said virtual folder corresponding to all items stored within the virtual folder scope and matching one or more user specified metadata criteria. 29. The user interface of claim 25, wherein one of the three elements is the page space control module, and wherein the page space control module is configured to dynamically scroll horizontally based on a user vertically scrolling the hierarchical tree. 30. The user interface of claim 25, wherein the primary view pane presents a first data item of the plurality of data items in an iconic form indicating a number of further data items corresponding to the one data item. 31. The user interface of claim 30, wherein the iconic form comprises a stack whose height is based on the number of further data items corresponding to the one data item. 32. The user interface of claim 25, wherein one of the three elements is the list view slider module, and wherein said selectably changeable display element comprises preset presentation styles including an iconic presentation style and a list presentation style. 33. The user interface of claim 25, wherein, when a user selects any data item displayed in the primary view pane, the file system shell browser performs a launch activity corresponding to the selected item. 34. The user interface of claim 25, wherein the set from which the three or more functional modules are selected further includes a list builder module exposing functionality for the user to build a static list. 35. The user interface of claim 25, wherein the set from which the three or more functional modules are selected further includes a search module exposing functionality for the user to search for data items within the plurality of data items that match a user-provided metadata value. 36. The user interface of claim 25, wherein one of the three elements is the page space control module and another of the three elements is the preview module, and wherein, upon the user editing a metadata variable in the preview module by inputting a previously unused metadata value, the user interface updates the page space control module to include the previously unused metadata value. 37. One or more computer readable media storing computer executable instructions providing a user navigable file system shell browser executable within an operating system of a data processing device, said file system shell browser exposing a user interface, comprising: a first pane presenting a sequential list of metadata values identifying a virtual storage location; a second pane presenting a hierarchical tree of metadata properties and property values, wherein said second pane reflects a selected property value from said first pane; and a third pane presenting a display of a first set of data items corresponding to the virtual storage location.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Present computer file systems have a number of undesirable limitations. One limitation is that users are generally unable to control the structure that they are shown. In other words, when folders are organized, a user must choose a structure, and that structure is then difficult to change. As a specific example, for a “music” folder, a user may choose to organize the music files in an artist/album format, wherein all of the album folders for each artist are grouped into that particular artist's folder, and all of the songs on a particular album are grouped into that album's folder. The artist/album format is not conducive to playing a type of music (e.g., playing two jazz songs from two different artists), or for playing a selection of albums from different artists. As another issue, a user may have a large number of files which are difficult to organize. Some users implement a rigid sense of placement for the files, and thus create strict hierarchies for them. The management of such files become increasingly complex and difficult as the number of available documents grows, making search and retrieval also difficult. This problem is further exacerbated when additional files are utilized from other locations, such as shared files, etc. Users also have to deal with files being in different locations, such as on different devices, on other PCs, or online. For example, users can select to listen to their music on the computer (as may be accessible to a music program) or can go online and listen to music from Web sites, however there is a strict division between these two sources. Music coming from different locations is organized differently, and not kept in the same fashion or place. As another example, files stored on a corporate network may inherently be separated from files a user has on a current machine. Users also have to keep track not only of what file data is stored, but where it is stored. For example, for music files, users are forced to keep copies on various systems and to try to track which music files are located where. This can make files difficult to locate, even when they are locally stored. It is also sometimes difficult to find and return to files that a user has. A user may find it difficult to recall where and how they stored certain files. Given a set of folders and even a group of similar files, users often find it difficult to quickly find the one that they are looking for. For files stored in a difficult place to find, it is that much more complex to locate. In addition, once users have enough files in a folder, it becomes more difficult to parse the folder quickly, especially if the contents are similar. It is also sometimes difficult for users to find or return to files on a network. Sharing and publishing files is often hard to do, and it may often be even more difficult to retrieve such a file from someone who makes it available. Users typically have to memorize or map the various sites and names that they need for finding files on a network. Name spaces may vary, which can cause confusion to the user as to what is “correct.” This is particularly true on a network where there are different naming conventions, limitations, and so on. For example, certain operating systems may require short names with no spaces in order for them to be visible. Programs also often save files to their own directory or other name spaces, which can make it difficult for users to find their way back to the files. Programs often have default directories and places they save documents. A user often has to search through their hard disk and make guesses about where a file is stored. Related items are also often stored in separate places. Related files that a user has may be stored on different parts of the hard disk, etc. This problem becomes more common with the developments of digital media services that have multiple content types (e.g., pictures, music, video). Another issue with file systems is related to the address bar. As users navigate within a file system on a computer, a conventional graphical interface control, referred to as an address bar, shows the users where they are in the file system hierarchy. The conventional address bar shows the current location in terms of the file system's hierarchical structure of folders, subfolders, and files. Altering the user's location displayed in the conventional address bar is typically performed in one of two manners. The first is to manually edit the address in the address bar. Manually editing the address in the address bar permits a user to relocate to any number of locations in the file system hierarchy, but requires the user to have specific information regarding the organization of the file system on the computer, i.e., a specific file system location. The second method involves using external navigation tools which, when manipulated, update the address bar to reflect the new address or location. While bypassing the manual edit of the address in the address bar, manipulating external navigation tools still requires the user to have specific information concerning the organization of the file system and traverse the hierarchical structure. However, conventional address bars cannot reference files or data stored among multiple file system locations, such as folders or drives, due to a one-to-one relationship between the address in the address bar and a specific location in the file system hierarchy. The prior art lacks an address bar that allows users to specify addresses that display files stored among multiple file system locations or having any of various properties. The prior art further lacks an address bar that also permits users to easily modify the address of the address bar without manually editing the address, or requiring specific knowledge concerning the organization of the underlying file system. Also lacking in the prior art is an address bar that presents alternative selections of files to the user from which the user may select to navigate to those selections of files. Such an address bar could also selectively present a conventional address bar interface to the user enabling the user to interact with the address bar according to previous experience according to user preferences. Another issue with file systems is related to the identification of items stored on a computer. The need to readily identify items stored in a computing environment such as a personal computer (PC) is dramatically increasing as more individuals utilize computers in their daily routines and as the type of stored information varies between pictures, music, documents, etc. Documents and media are typically stored on computers in a hierarchical fashion and are organized with files of information or media stored within folders. File system browsers enable users to navigate through the file system and locate and open files and folders. For example, Microsoft Corporation's WINDOWS® EXPLORER™ is an operating system utility which enables users to browse the file system. Many users find it difficult to correctly identify a file based on the information currently available in conventional file system browsers. Of course the contents of a file can be verified by opening it with an application program, but this method of browsing files is extremely inefficient. The ability to view metadata about a file within a file system browser can greatly assist a user in identifying a particular file without having to open it. In Microsoft Corporation's WINDOWS® 9X operating systems, for example, a user can view object metadata by accessing the property sheet for a particular object. A property sheet presents the user with a list of the attributes or settings of an object in the form of a tabbed, index-card-like selection of property pages, each of which features standard dialog-style controls for customizing parameters. However, using the property sheet to locate an item can be slow and cumbersome, and some users find it difficult to locate the relevant metadata in a property sheet. Similarly, the use of infotips to locate an item can be slow and cumbersome because a user must hover the mouse over each file in order to view the limited metadata displayed in an infotip. Conventional file system browsers do not allow users to enter and edit metadata relating to files and folders, which would significantly enhance a user's ability to later locate a file. To date, the ability of users to enter and edit metadata has been limited to special purpose software programs. For example, media players for electronic music files present users with the ability to edit metadata associated with music albums and artists. Another example of such programs includes application programs for electronic picture files. However, the utility of media players and other such programs is limited to the particular type of file supported by the program, as opposed to a general purpose file system browser which supports multiple file types. Microsoft Corporation's WINDOWS® XP operating system includes an image browser for use in the My Pictures folder. The My Pictures folder is endowed with special features which enable users to view pictures as photos, not just as document icons. My Picture's image browsing features include the ability to view thumbnail-size and large versions of photos, rotate photos that are sideways, and create a slide show. A user can also view a photo's details, such as its dimensions, the date and time it was taken, and the name of the camera that took it. The preview control area in the My Picture's folder contains an enlarged preview image of a user-selected image, iterator buttons to assist a user in iterating through a series of pictures and controls for rotating pictures in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. While the image browsing features in WINDOWS® XP have advanced the state of the art by alleviating the need to invoke an application program to view and manipulate pictures, users still cannot enter and edit metadata associated with the pictures. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved user experience within a shell or file system browser which enables users to readily locate an item based on the metadata associated with that item. There is also a need for a system and method which allow users to enter and edit metadata associated with items of various types within a shell browser without the need to invoke an application program. There is also a need for a file system or shell browser which offers users improved file content recognition features so that users can readily locate their files. A need also exists for an improved graphical user interface for a shell browser which allows for the selection of a previewer for a particular file type from a plurality of available previewers. There is also a need for an extensible shell browser which would allow software developers to provide additional information and functionality to users on a file type basis. There is also a need to provide a similar UI experience across different collections of items.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system and method utilizing virtual folders is provided. The virtual folders expose regular files and folders (also known as directories) to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. Thus, the system is able to take a property that is stored in the database and represent it as a container that is like a folder. Since users are already familiar with working with folders, by presenting the virtual folders in a similar manner, users can adapt to the new system more quickly. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the virtual folders are provided according to a method that is utilized in a computer system having a display and a memory for storing the items. In accordance with the method, a metadata property is selected. The system then searches for items that have the selected metadata property, and a virtual folder display object is provided that represents the collection of items that have the metadata property. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the system includes a folder processor that obtains queries from a user and a relational database for storing information about the items. The folder processor first obtains a query from a user and passes the query to the relational database. The relational database provides results back to the folder processor, and based on the results from the relational database, the folder processor provides the results to the user as virtual folders. In one embodiment, the results that are provided back to the folder processor include database rows and columns. The database rows and columns are converted by the folder processor into an enumerator structure, which is then used to populate the display with the resulting virtual folders. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation. In other words, the mechanisms that are provided for manipulating the virtual folders are similar to those that are currently used for manipulating conventional physical folders (e.g., clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc.). In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method for performing the direct manipulation of the virtual folders is provided in a computer system having a display and a memory for storing the items. In accordance with the method, groups of items are represented as virtual folders. Defined actions are provided that can be performed for direct manipulation of the virtual folders, wherein when a defined action is performed, the virtual folder is manipulated as directed by the defined action. An example of a defined action would be clicking and dragging a virtual folder. In one embodiment, the action of clicking and dragging a first virtual folder to a second virtual folder performs the function of copying the items from the first virtual folder to the second virtual folder. The copying of items to a virtual folder may involve adding or otherwise altering selected metadata properties that are associated with the items. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, filters are provided for manipulating the virtual folders. The filters are essentially tools for narrowing down a set of items. In one embodiment, the filters are dynamically generated based on the properties of the separate items. For example, for a set of items, the filter mechanism may review the properties, and if the items generally have “authors” as a property, the filter can provide a list of the authors. Then by clicking on a particular author, the items that don't have the author disappear. This allows the user to narrow the contents. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for filtering items is provided in a computer system having a display and a memory for storing items with metadata properties. Display objects are provided on the display that each represent one or more items. The metadata properties of the items that are represented by the display objects are evaluated. A filter term is provided on the display that corresponds to a metadata property that is shared by a plurality of the items, wherein the selection of the filter term causes the items that are represented on the display to be reduced to those items that share the specified metadata property. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a plurality of items is represented on the display, and a filter term is dynamically generated based on the metadata properties of the items. When the filter term is selected, it reduces the items that are represented on the display to those that have the metadata property that corresponds to the filter term. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a plurality of items is represented on the display, and a filter area is provided in which a user can select a filter term by selecting a checkbox control. When a checkbox control is selected by the user, the items that are represented on the display are reduced to those that contain the filter term. As the user types the filter term, additional items may be filtered as each new character is added to the filter term. In accordance with another aspect a graphical user interface is provided including a plurality of display objects, each display object representing one or more items and a property control corresponding to a property that is shared by a plurality of the items. Selection of the property control causes a list of filter terms to be presented on the display. In one aspect the filter terms may be presented in a drop down menu in which each filter has a corresponding checkbox control. In another aspect of the invention, selection of a first check box control may cause the items that are represented on the display to only include items that satisfy the filter term corresponding to the first check box control. Selection of a second check box control when the first check box control is currently selected causes the items that are represented on the display to include items that satisfy either the first respective filter term corresponding to the first check box control or a second respective filter term corresponding to the second check box control. In other words, the filter terms cause a logical OR operation to be performed on the items in the view. In still another aspect, the second check box control may be deselected causing the items represented on the display to include only items that satisfy at least one respective filter term corresponding to a currently selected check box control. In another aspect, selection of a property control may cause a list of arrangement commands to be presented on the display separated from the list of filter terms. The selection of an arrangement command may cause the items to be rearranged on the display. Illustrative arrangement commands including sorting, stacking or group by the property associated with the selected property control. In yet another aspect, the property control may be a split button. According to this aspect, selection of a first button portion may cause the list of filter terms to be presented on the display and selection of the second button portion may cause the display objects to be sorted by the property. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a scope is utilized in a method for displaying items in a computer system having a display. The method involves defining a scope of the physical memory locations from which items are to be drawn, the scope comprising the present computer memory and at least one other physical location. Once a query is received, in response to the query items are drawn from the physical locations as defined in the scope, and the items that are drawn from the query are then presented in a view on the display. In one embodiment, the at least one other physical location may be another computer, a location on a network, or an external storage device. In one embodiment, the view on the display can be switched to a physical folder view which indicates the physical locations where the items are physically stored. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, non-file items may be represented in the virtual folders. In other words, files that are stored in memory are located in a physical store. The virtual folders can be made to include items that are not currently represented in the physical store. Examples of non-file items are e-mails, and contacts. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for presenting non-file items is implemented in a computer system with a display and a memory for storing items. The method includes providing a database that allows both non-file items and file items to be searched by a query. Once a query is received, both non-file items and file items that match the query are drawn, and the items that match the query are then presented on the display. In one embodiment, a relational database is provided that includes selected information about file items, and which may hold certain non-file items in their entireties. According to another aspect of the invention an address bar is provided for selecting content stored in a physical or virtual location. The address bar may comprise a plurality of segments. Each segment may correspond to a filter or selection criteria for selecting stored content. A segment may include more than one filter or selection criteria, where the content corresponding to each of the filters or selection criteria in a segment may be represented. In this instance, a logical “or” operation referred to as “OR” filtering occurs where content corresponding to separate selection criteria from two or more different locations, whether virtual or physical, can be accessed. Collectively, the corresponding filters of the segments in the address bar represent an address for selecting content stored on a computer file system. Each segment is an interactive segment that can respond to user interactions to modify the address of the address bar. Selecting a segment in the address bar causes those segments subsequent to the selected segment to be removed from the address bar. According to one aspect, selecting a child control associated with a segment in the address bar causes a list of selectable child filters or selection criteria to be displayed to the user. The child filters or selection criteria are children of the filter(s) or selection criteria included with the segment. Selecting one of the child filters or selection criteria from the list of child filters or selection criteria causes the current (child) filter or selection criteria of the segment displayed in the address bar, if different from the selected child filter or selection criteria, to be replaced with the selected child filter or selection criteria. Additionally, those segments subsequent to the segment of the replaced child filter or selection criteria are removed from the address bar. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a shell browser is provided which includes a window and an edit control. The window displays a group of items and also displays metadata values associated with one or more of the displayed items. The edit control permits user modification of at least a portion of the metadata values displayed in the window. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a graphical user interface is embodied on a computer-readable medium and is executable on a computer. The graphical user interface includes a first screen area which displays a set of items in a shell browser and a second screen area which displays metadata associated with one or more of the displayed items. The graphical user interface also presents the user with means within the shell browser for modifying the displayed metadata. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, computer-implemented methods are provided for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser. One such method includes displaying a plurality of items, receiving a first input from the user representing a selection of at least one displayed item, displaying metadata associated with the selected item(s) and providing an edit control for user modification of the displayed metadata. Another such method includes displaying a welcome pane and metadata associated with the welcome pane and providing an edit control for user modification of the displayed metadata. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a data structure containing metadata associated with one or more items is displayed in a shell browser. The data structure, which is stored on one or more computer-readable media, includes a field containing user modifiable metadata associated with the one or more displayed items, and the user modifiable metadata contained in the data structure is also displayed in the shell browser. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a shell browser is provided which includes a default previewer and an extensibility mechanism. The default previewer provides a standard level of functionality for multiple item types. The extensibility mechanism enables functionality beyond the standard level provided by the default previewer for one or more of the item types. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a shell browser is provided which includes a first previewer and a second previewer. The first previewer provides a standard level of functionality for multiple item types, and the second previewer provides an alternative or extended level of functionality for one or more of the multiple item types. The shell browser is configured to selectively deploy either the first previewer or the second previewer for the one or more item types. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a graphical user interface for a shell browser which supports multiple item types is provided. The graphical user interface includes a first screen area for displaying a set of items in the shell browser and means for selecting a previewer for the displayed items from a plurality of available previewers. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method is provided for selecting a previewer in a shell browser which supports multiple item types. The method includes providing a plurality of previewers in the shell browser for a particular item type and selecting one of the previewers for the particular item type. The method then associates the selected previewer with the particular item type. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method is provided for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types. The method includes providing a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types and providing an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer for at least one of the multiple item types. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a data structure is provided which contains information indicative of a plurality of previewers in a shell browser. The data structure, which is stored on one or more computer-readable media, includes a first field containing information indicative of a default previewer which supports multiple item types. A second field contains information indicative of an alternative previewer for a first item type, and a third field contains information indicative of whether to invoke the default previewer or the alternative previewer when items of the first item type are displayed in the shell browser. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, different types of items are grouped into libraries for which a similar set of basic UI features are provided. In other words, a similar set of basic UI features is provided for different types of libraries, such as a document library, a photo library, and a music library. This set of basic UI features may include features such as filtering, creating new categories, editing the metadata of the items, altering the pivots, etc. The similar set of basic UI features for the libraries allows a user to process and organize different types of items using attributes and features they are already familiar with. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of specifying a scope of items on a computer system or network via a graphical user interface dual-component control by displaying a first component including a tree-like display of a plurality of hierarchically arranged items, where each item can be explicitly selected by a user for inclusion and/or exclusion from the scope. The GUI also displays a second component including a basket, or list, identifying the items explicitly included in and/or explicitly excluded from the scope. When the user explicitly selects a specific item, the control changes a state of the specific item from a previous state to a new state, and changes a state of each descendant of the specific item to a new implicit state based on the new state of the specific item. In an illustrative embodiment, a state of each item of the plurality of hierarchically arranged items may indicate any of an unselected state, an explicitly included state, an implicitly included state, an explicitly excluded state, and an implicitly excluded state. The list of items may identify an explicitly included item corresponding to each explicitly excluded item. According to an aspect of the invention, one or more computer readable media store computer executable instructions which, when executed, cause a computer system to provide on a video display a graphical user interface control for specifying a user-defined scope. The GUI control exhibits certain behavior, including displaying a plurality of hierarchically arranged items, e.g., in an expandable/collapsible tree-like manner, where each item of the plurality of hierarchically arranged items can be explicitly selected by a user for inclusion and/or exclusion from the scope. When the user explicitly selects an item for inclusion in or exclusion from the scope, the control implicitly selects all descendants of the explicitly selected item for inclusion in or exclusion from the scope, respectively. The control also displays, separately from the plurality of hierarchically arranged items, a first list of items explicitly included in the scope and a second list of items explicitly excluded from the scope, where each item in the second list corresponds to an item in the first list. According to another aspect of the invention, when the user explicitly selects an unselected or implicitly excluded item, the control changes a state of the explicitly selected item to be explicitly included in the scope, and changes a state of each descendant of the explicitly selected item to be implicitly included in the scope. When the user explicitly selects an implicitly included item, the control changes the state of the explicitly selected item to be explicitly excluded from the scope, and changes the state of each descendant of the explicitly selected item to be implicitly excluded from the scope. In some illustrative embodiments, the control may present a first inclusion indicator corresponding to each displayed explicitly included item, a second inclusion indicator, less prominent than each first inclusion indicator, corresponding to each displayed implicitly included item, and an exclusion indicator corresponding to each displayed explicitly excluded item. Advantageously, various examples of the invention provide a tool for creating integrated collections. With some implementations of the invention, the tool may include a “basket” control that receives objects to be included in a collection. The basket control, also referred to as a list pane, may, for example, include interfaces for receiving and displaying the data objects that are selected by a user to be included in a collection. A user may thus build a collection of data objects simply by providing the data objects to the basket control. A collection creation component then provides a collection with one or more data items corresponding to the objects submitted to the basket control. With various aspects of the invention, a collection can be compiled with any desired data objects, including discrete data (such as text), data files, pointers to data files, queries or exclusions for identifying data files based upon designated criteria, both virtual and physical folders containing one or more data objects, and even other collections of data objects. The basket control may be employed by itself to make collections, or it may be hosted by another software object. For example, various implementations of the invention may additionally include a “listmaker” control that conveniently contains both the basket control and one or more user interfaces that a user can employ to provide data objects to the basket control. For example, the listmaker control may include a viewing graphical user interface (such as a file browser) for viewing data objects and a navigation toolbar for navigating the viewing graphical user interface. The listmaker control may then be hosted as desired by software developers in a variety of software applications. One or more aspects of the invention may be directed to computer systems, stored software, and/or methods for creating a static list of data objects stored on a computer system. Aspects of the invention may display on a computer display device a graphical user interface (GUI) frame, e.g., an explorer frame, comprising a primary view pane and a list pane. The primary view pane displays data objects stored on the computer system in a first predefined location, e.g., a virtual or physical folder identified by a user, and the list pane displays information corresponding to items in a static list associated with the list pane. Each item in the static list corresponds to a data object, and includes information pertaining to the data object, e.g., a pointer to the data object, the item's order in the list, annotations regarding the item, etc. A user may provide input identifying a first data object displayed in the primary view pane to be added to the static list such that an item corresponding to the first data object is added to the static list. Information about the first item, e.g., icon, name, annotations, etc., may be displayed in the list pane. The user can specify a second predefined location, causing the primary view pane to display data objects stored in the second predefined location without changing the static list with which the list pane is associated. According to various illustrative aspects of the invention, each static list may have a persistence model where the contents of the static list are discarded unless the user has expressed an intent, explicit or implied, to save the static list. Implied intent can be indicated by the user renaming the static list from a default name to a user-defined name. Aspects of the present invention provide a system and method in which the user is given a preview representation of a file that is about to be created. The preview may appear as part of a save file dialog, and may show an indicia corresponding to the new to-be-created file, and may show how the new file may be visually represented in the GUI after the save is performed. The preview may exhibit certain behaviors, such as having a unique appearance, always appearing as a first element, to be easily noticed by the user. Users may also interact with the preview to manage the file and/or edit its properties even before the file is saved. The preview may also intelligently guide the user through the save process by, for example, refusing to allow the user to save the file to an invalid location, or automatically populating metadata fields based on user navigation through the GUI. Another aspect of the present invention may provides a system and method in which the user is given an improved file browsing interface by specializing an explorer or shell browser view. The browsing interface may vary depending on the contents to be displayed. In some instances, the browsing interface may customize the user interface options presented in the browser panel in accordance with the contents to be displayed. The browser may rearrange, remove, and/or add displayed properties in accordance with the contents. Other aspects of the browser's features, appearance, and/or organization may be customized based on the contents. One or more templates may be provided and/or created to provide a predetermined set of criteria for generating a browser panel. Software interfaces may be provided to allow development of additional browser panels by users and/or applications. User interaction with such a browser may cause further alterations in the browser's appearance and/or functionality. According to other aspects of the present invention a shell browser with an integrated page space control provides navigational tools for storage systems of computers, their operating systems, networks, and the like. In accordance with at least some examples of the invention, navigation tools and/or their corresponding user interfaces and displays may be provided in multiple different windows, application programs, and the like. In at least some examples of this invention, navigation tools or and/or their corresponding user interfaces and display panel(s) may include windows or panes that include “links” to various different files, lists, folders, pages, and/or other storage elements. If desired, navigational tools in accordance with at least some aspects of this invention may be customized for different application programs, for portions of applications programs, for portions of operating systems, by different users, and the like (e.g., by independent software providers from those providing the computer operating system) to be better suited or targeted for navigating information relating to that set of files, etc., and/or to that user. The navigational tools in accordance with at least some examples of this invention also may provide useful ways of organizing and/or displaying information regarding the user's files, e.g., by hierarchical properties, lists, auto lists, folders, etc. Systems and methods according to at least some examples of the invention also may make it easy for users to assign properties to files, change assigned properties associated with files, and the like, optionally with the use of hierarchical properties. Additionally, in accordance with at least some examples of the invention, navigational tools may be provided for searching, locating, and viewing information relating to stored or accessible files, e.g., in a query-based file and/or retrieval system. Additional aspects of the invention relate to computer-readable media including computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing various methods and/or operating various systems, including systems and methods having navigational tools for organizing, searching, locating, and/or displaying information relating to files located in a computer storage system and/or accessible through a computer system as described above (and as will be described in more detail below). One or more illustrative aspects of the present invention provide a method and system of creating and customizing multiple roots in a navigation pane or panel or page space control. With such a system, a user may be able to bypass needless navigation by allowing direct access to relevant documents, applications and other data through such alternative roots. A user may customize a navigation pane by dragging a desired root or structure to a specific position in the navigation pane. The user may organize and reorganize the roots in a navigation pane by clicking and dragging the roots to particular positions relative to the other roots on the pane. Dragging the roots to the desktop may further create a shortcut to that root. Users may further have the option of adjusting the properties of each root, allowing further customizability. According to an aspect of the invention, the multiple roots system permits roots to comprise other types of nodes beyond the typical physical locations (i.e., physical folders) used in current systems. More specifically, the multiple roots system allows users to define lists and autolists as roots in the navigation pane. These lists and autolists may comprise files or other data that satisfy a specified set of rules or filters. Additionally, roots may comprise custom extensions that correspond to a user's email (e.g., MSN® Hotmail Drive). These enhancements to the navigation system permit the user significantly greater flexibility in customizing a preferred set of navigation controls in a variety of applications. Aspects of the present invention may provide a system and method for user modification of properties (or metadata). In one aspect, a shell browser is provided which includes a display of file properties that may include multi-value properties. The user may edit the multi-value property, and the system may intelligently assist the user in editing the multi-value property. The system may tokenize the multi-value property values, and may provide persistent prompt text within a multi-value property field as a reminder to the user of the field's options. The system may display aggregated property values, and may incorporate visual differences to associate aggregated values with the files to which they apply. Editing of the aggregated values is possible, and when editing aggregated multi-value properties, the system may intelligently assist the user in selecting (or avoiding) entries based on a variety of factors, such as the entries already in use and the context in which the property values are used. When aggregating multi-value properties for multiple selected files, the system may also take steps to help preserve the order in which particular values appeared in the various files. Values that tended to appear more often in the beginning of a file's multi-value property will tend to appear towards the beginning of the corresponding aggregated multi-value property. Another aspect of the invention provides a method and system for dynamic navigation of data based on user navigation. The method automatically dynamically scrolls data in a second dimension while a user is manually navigating in a first dimension. The method includes displaying a view of content in a predetermined viewable area in a window pane. The method further includes determining whether a user input will result in a relevant node being at least partially obscured. The method also includes automatically dynamically horizontally scrolling a view of content for a predetermined distance so that a relevant node is entirely visible, or has increased visibility. In various embodiments of the invention, the relevant node may be a node in a tree control (e.g., navigation pane, navigation panel, page space control, or the like) that has input or view focus or a node that is closest in proximity to a user's mouse pointer or other input indicia. While it is understood that the invention may be implemented as a method, it may also be implemented as a system for user navigation in a folder tree control or for navigation of other data, as described herein. Various aspects of the invention may communicate with other code modules via one or more programming interfaces or other interfaces for accessing data files. For example, and aspect of the invention provides a file dialog having a dedicated extensibility region for inclusion of one or more user interface (UI) controls. The controls which can be included in an extensibility region are selectable from a predefined collection of UI control types. When an application requests the OS to display a file dialog, the application can request inclusion of one or more controls of the types in the predefined collection. The OS then places the requested controls in the extensibility region of the displayed dialog. The application need not provide data explicitly indicating the positions within the dialog of the identified controls. The application may also request that the controls be placed in groups and/or that separators be included between groups.

Device and method for displaying a status of a portable terminal by using a character image

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method capable of expressing use state of a portable terminal by using a character image. The apparatus includes an emotion value memory for storing emotion variance values allocated to events occurring in the portable terminal in order to express an emotion of the portable terminal, a character memory for storing character images which express emotion states of the portable terminal, a controller for confirming an event variance value corresponding to an event when the event occurs in the portable terminal, changing an emotion value of the portable terminal by using the event variance value, confirming an emotion state corresponding to the emotion value, and selecting a character image corresponding to the confirmed emotional state from the character memory; and a display unit for displaying the selected character image as the emotional state of the portable terminal.

1. An apparatus for displaying a status of a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising: an emotion value memory for storing emotion variance values allocated to events occurring in the portable terminal in order to express an emotion of the portable terminal; a character memory for storing character images which express emotional states of the portable terminal; a controller for confirming an event variance value corresponding to an event when the event occurs in the portable terminal, changing an emotion value of the portable terminal by using the event variance value, confirming an emotional state corresponding to the emotion value, and selecting a character image corresponding to the confirmed emotional state from the character memory; and a display unit for displaying the selected character image as the emotional state of the portable terminal. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a text memory for storing texts which express emotional states of the portable terminal, wherein the controller selects the character image from the character memory and a text corresponding to the character image from the text memory, so that the display unit displays the selected character image and text. 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the character memory is an avatar memory for storing avatar images and stores an affirmative avatar image set for performing an avatar animation expressing an affirmative emotional state, a normal avatar image set for performing an avatar animation expressing a normal emotional state, and a negative avatar image set for performing an avatar animation expressing a negative emotion state. 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the affirmative avatar image set stored in the avatar memory includes avatar images showing an emotional state of extreme joy and avatar images showing an emotional state of happiness, and the negative avatar image set includes avatar images showing an emotional state of worry and avatar images looking sad. 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the text memory includes at least one text corresponding to each of the emotional states of the portable terminal. 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the text memory includes a character text memory for storing texts which express character emotions corresponding to the emotional states of the portable terminal and an event text memory for storing texts which express event emotions corresponding to the emotional states of the portable terminal. 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the emotion value memory stores emotion variance parameters allocated to each of the events, the emotion variance parameters including parameters of sense, popularity and intelligence. 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller calculates a sum of the emotion value accumulated up to a current time point at which the emotion is expressed, calculates a difference between the sum of the emotion value and a previous sum of the emotion value calculated at a previous time point for expression of the emotion, and determines the emotional state of the portable terminal as affirmative, normal or negative based on the difference. 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein, when the controller expresses the emotional state, the controller selects and displays an avatar image and text corresponding to the emotional state from the avatar memory and the text memory, and the controller alternately selects and displays a character emotion expression text and an event emotion expression text of an event having a largest influence on the emotional state in selecting the text. 10. An apparatus for displaying a status of a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising: an emotion value memory for storing emotion variance values allocated to events occurring in the portable terminal in order to express an emotion of the portable terminal; a character memory for storing character image sets each of which includes character images expressing emotional states of the portable terminal; a biorhythm memory for storing biorhythm values and revision biorhythm values, each of the biorhythm values being calculated each day based on a biorhythm of the character, the revision biorhythm value being calculated based on the biorhythm value and used in revising the emotion value; a controller for confirming an event variance value corresponding to an event when the event occurs in the portable terminal, revising an emotion value of the portable terminal by using the revision biorhythm value, confirming an emotional state corresponding to the emotion value, and selecting a character image corresponding to the confirmed emotional state from the character memory; and a display unit for displaying the selected character image as the emotional state of the portable terminal. 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a text memory for storing texts which express emotional states of the portable terminal, wherein the controller selects the character image from the character memory and a text corresponding to the character image from the text memory, so that the display unit displays the selected character image and text. 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller automatically reduces and revises the emotion value when an event changing the emotion value does not occur during a predetermined time interval. 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the emotion value memory stores emotion variance parameters allocated to each of the events, the emotion variance parameters including parameters of sense, popularity and intelligence. 14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sense is provided with a larger weight than that for the popularity and the intelligence in the emotion value memory. 15. An apparatus for displaying a status of a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising: an emotion value memory for storing emotion variance values allocated to events occurring in the portable terminal in order to express an emotion of the portable terminal; a character memory for storing at least two character image sets each of which includes character images expressing emotional states of the portable terminal; a growing event memory for storing a level shift threshold value for level shift and a growing event ending threshold value for ending growth of the character; a controller for changing an emotion value of the portable terminal in the emotion value memory based on an event occurring in the portable terminal, determining an emotional state corresponding to the emotion value at a time point for expression of the emotion, selecting a character image corresponding to the confirmed emotional state from the character memory, replacing a current character image set by a new character image set when the emotion value exceeds the level shift threshold value, and initializing the emotion value and ending the growth of the character when the emotion value exceeds the growing event ending threshold value; and a display unit for displaying the selected character image as the emotional state of the portable terminal. 16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a text memory for storing texts which express emotional states of the portable terminal, wherein the controller selects the character image from the character memory and a text corresponding to the character image from the text memory, so that the display unit displays the selected character image and text. 17. A method for displaying a status of a portable terminal, the method comprising the steps of: changing an emotion value of the portable terminal based on an emotion variance value corresponding to an event occurring in the portable terminal; determining an emotional state based on the emotion value at a time point for expression of an emotion; and expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal by selecting a character image corresponding to the emotion state and displaying the character image. 18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein, in expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal, the character image corresponding to the emotional state is selected and displayed together with a text message corresponding to the character image. 19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the character image is an avatar image in an avatar image set which includes affirmative avatar images for performing an avatar animation expressing an affirmative emotional state, normal avatar images for performing an avatar animation expressing a normal emotional state, and negative avatar images for performing an avatar animation expressing a negative emotion state. 20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the affirmative avatar images include avatar images showing an emotional state of extreme joy and avatar images showing an emotional state of happiness, and the negative avatar images include avatar images showing an emotional state of worry and avatar images showing an emotional state of sadness. 21. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the emotion value has emotion variance parameters of sense, popularity and intelligence, each of which is allocated to an event occurring in the portable terminal, and the step of changing the emotion value comprises the steps of: changing an emotion variance parameter of sense when the event is an event requiring change in an emotion value of sense; changing an emotion variance parameter of popularity when the event is an event requiring change in an emotion value of popularity; and changing an emotion variance parameter of intelligence when the event is an event requiring change in an emotion value of intelligence. 22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the step of expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal comprises the steps of: calculating a total emotion value at a current time point at which the emotion is expressed, calculating a difference between the total emotion value of the current time point and a previous total emotion value calculated at a previous time point for expression of the emotion, and determining the emotional state of the portable terminal based on the difference; determining an avatar image based on the determined emotional state of the portable terminal; and displaying the avatar image as the emotional state of the portable terminal. 23. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal comprises the steps of: calculating a total emotion value at a current time point at which the emotion is expressed, calculating a difference between the total emotion value of the current time point and a previous total emotion value calculated at a previous time point for expression of the emotion, and determining the emotional state of the portable terminal based on the difference; determining an avatar image and a text based on the determined emotional state of the portable terminal; and displaying the avatar image and the text as the emotional state of the portable terminal. 24. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal comprises the steps of: calculating a total emotion value at a current time point at which the emotion is expressed, calculating a difference between the total emotion value of the current time point and a previous total emotion value calculated at a previous time point for expression of the emotion, and determining the emotional state of the portable terminal based on the difference; determining an avatar image based on the determined emotional state of the portable terminal; determining a text based on the determined emotional state or a text corresponding to an event having a largest influence on the emotional state of the portable terminal; and displaying the avatar image and the text as the emotional state of the portable terminal, wherein the determined text includes a character emotion expression text and an event emotion expression text which are alternately selected and displayed whenever the emotion is expressed. 25. A method for displaying a status of a portable terminal, the method comprising the steps of: changing an emotion value of the portable terminal based on an emotion variance value corresponding to an event occurring in the portable terminal and revising the changed emotion value by using a biorhythm value; determining an emotional state by analyzing the emotion value at a time point for expression of emotion; and expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal by selecting a character image corresponding to the emotional state and displaying the character image. 26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein, in expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal, the character image corresponding to the emotional state is selected and displayed together with a text message corresponding to the character image. 27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein, in the step of changing the emotion value, the emotion value is automatically reduced and revised when an event changing the emotion value does not occur during a predetermined time interval. 28. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the step of changing the emotion value comprises the steps of: changing an emotion variance parameter of sense when the event is an event requiring change in an emotion value of sense; changing an emotion variance parameter of popularity when the event is an event requiring change in an emotion value of popularity; and changing an emotion variance parameter of intelligence when the event is an event requiring change in an emotion value of intelligence. 29. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the biorhythm value includes a sensitivity index, a physical index and an intelligence index, and the step of changing the emotion value comprises the steps of: determining revised biorhythm indexes by comparing biorhythm indexes with preset threshold values every day; and revising the emotion value by using the revised biorhythm indexes. 30. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the character image is an avatar image in an avatar image set which includes affirmative avatar images for performing an avatar animation expressing an affirmative emotional state, normal avatar images for performing an avatar animation expressing a normal emotional state, and negative avatar images for performing an avatar animation expressing a negative emotional state. 31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the step of expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal comprises the steps of: calculating a total emotion value at a current time point at which the emotion is expressed, calculating a difference between the total emotion value of the current time point and a previous total emotion value calculated at a previous time point for expression of the emotion, and determining the emotional state of the portable terminal as affirmative, normal or negative based on the difference; determining an avatar image based on the determined emotional state of the portable terminal; and displaying the avatar image as the emotional state of the portable terminal. 32. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the step of expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal comprises the steps of: calculating a total emotion value at a current time point at which the emotion is expressed, calculating a difference between the total emotion value of the current time point and a previous total emotion value calculated at a previous time point for expression of the emotion, and determining the emotional state of the portable terminal as affirmative, normal or negative based on the difference; determining an avatar image and a text based on the determined emotional state of the portable terminal; and displaying the avatar image and the text as the emotional state of the portable terminal. 33. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the step of expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal comprises the steps of: calculating a total emotion value at a current time point at which the emotion is expressed, calculating a difference between the total emotion value of the current time point and a previous total emotion value calculated at a previous time point for expression of the emotion, and determining the emotional state of the portable terminal as affirmative, normal or negative based on the difference; determining an avatar image based on the determined emotional state of the portable terminal; determining a text based on the determined emotional state or a text corresponding to an event having a largest influence on the emotional state of the portable terminal; and displaying the avatar image and the text as the emotional state of the portable terminal, wherein the determined text includes a character emotion expression text and an event emotion expression text which are alternately selected and displayed whenever the emotion is expressed. 34. A method for displaying a status of a portable terminal, the method comprising the steps of: changing an emotion value of the portable terminal based on an emotion variance value corresponding to an event occurring in the portable terminal; determining an emotional state based on the emotion value at a time point for expression of emotion, selecting a character image corresponding to the emotional state, and displaying the character image; comparing the emotion value with a preset level shift threshold value and performing a level shift by replacing a current character image set by a new character image set and displaying a level shift message when the level shift is necessary; and comparing the emotion value with a growing event ending threshold value and initializing the emotion value and preparing another character image set for a new process of expressing emotion when the ending of a growing event is necessary. 35. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the character image is an avatar image in an avatar image set which includes affirmative avatar images for performing an avatar animation expressing an affirmative emotional state, normal avatar images for performing an avatar animation expressing a normal emotional state, and negative avatar images for performing an avatar animation expressing a negative emotional state. 36. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein, in the step of changing the emotion value, the emotion value is automatically reduced and revised when an event changing the emotion value does not occur during a predetermined time interval. 37. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the emotion value has emotion variance parameters of sense, popularity and intelligence, each of which is allocated to an event occurring in the portable terminal, and the step of changing the emotion value comprises the steps of: changing an emotion variance parameter of sense when the event is an event requiring change in an emotion value of sense; changing an emotion variance parameter of popularity when the event is an event requiring change in an emotion value of popularity; and changing an emotion variance parameter of intelligence when the event is an event requiring change in an emotion value of intelligence. 38. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the biorhythm value includes a sensitivity index, a physical index and an intelligence index, and the step of changing the emotion value comprises the steps of: determining revised biorhythm indexes by comparing biorhythm indexes with preset threshold values every day; and revising the emotion value by using the revised biorhythm indexes. 39. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the step of expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal comprises the steps of: calculating a total emotion value at a current time point at which the emotion is expressed, calculating a difference between the total emotion value of the current time point and a previous total emotion value calculated at a previous time point for expression of the emotion, and determining the emotion state of the portable terminal as affirmative, normal or negative based on the difference; determining an avatar image based on the determined emotional state of the portable terminal; and displaying the avatar image as the emotional state of the portable terminal. 40. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the step of expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal comprises the steps of: calculating a total emotion value at a current time point at which the emotion is expressed, calculating a difference between the total emotion value of the current time point and a previous total emotion value calculated at a previous time point for expression of the emotion, and determining the emotional state of the portable terminal as affirmative, normal or negative based on the difference; determining an avatar image and a text based on the determined emotion state of the portable terminal; and displaying the avatar image and the text as the emotional state of the portable terminal. 41. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the step of expressing the emotional state of the portable terminal comprises the steps of: calculating a total emotion value at a current time point at which the emotion is expressed, calculating a difference between the total emotion value of the current time point and a previous total emotion value calculated at a previous time point for expression of the emotion, and determining the emotional state of the portable terminal as affirmative, normal or negative based on the difference; determining an avatar image based on the determined emotional state of the portable terminal; determining a text based on the determined emotional state or a text corresponding to an event having largest influence on the emotional state of the portable terminal; and displaying the avatar image and the text as the emotional state of the portable terminal, wherein the determined text includes a character emotion expression text and an event emotion expression text which are alternately selected and displayed whenever the emotion is expressed. 42. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the step of performing the level shift comprises the steps of: comparing the emotion value with a preset level shift threshold value; displaying an affirmative avatar image together with a text expressing a level up, replacing a current avatar image set by a new avatar image set of a changed level, and then returning to a process of changing the emotion value, when the emotion value is larger than the preset level shift threshold value; and displaying a negative avatar image together with a text expressing a level down, replacing a current avatar image set by a new avatar image set of a changed level, and then returning to the process of changing the emotion value, when the emotion value is smaller than the preset level shift threshold value.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for displaying a status of a portable terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device and a method for displaying a status of a portable terminal by using character images. 2. Description of the Related Art Recently, portable terminals have become equipped with various functions in addition to a simple telephone function, and such additional functions enable portable terminals to process a wider variety of operations comprising communication, system reporting, messages, multimedia data, user settings, and display operations which have not been confirmed yet or have not yet been developed. For example, communication functions may be call events in relation to termination and origination of a call. Further, system reporting functions may comprise the status of a portable terminal, which represent battery deficiency, entry into communication-unavailable region, prompt menus for system setting, and so on. Currently, it is typical to display a text message on a display unit or indicate information by using a speaker and an indicating element, in order to report the status of the portable terminal as described above. In addition, the current mobile terminals can display the status or occurrence of an event in various ways. That is, the current mobile terminals can effectively report the occurrence of an event to the user through a display unit or a voice converter. Recently, portable terminals have become equipped with various functions in addition to a standard telephone function. One of such various additional functions is a photographing function using a camera attached to a portable terminal. A user can obtain image data by using the camera and can edit and transmit the image data. That is, portable terminals have been developed into complex portable terminals capable of performing visual expression in addition to the original communication function. Functions of such complex portable terminals include a function of expressing an operation or a status of a portable terminal by using avatars. Also, it is popular for portable terminals to employ functions of expressing the statuses of the portable terminals by using avatars. Here, the avatars can visually express the statuses of portable terminals according to occurrence of events.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method capable of expressing a state of use of a portable terminal by using a character image. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method capable of expressing an emotional state of a portable terminal by using a character image which is determined based on accumulated use factors of the portable terminal. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method in which emotion variance values are allocated to use factors of a portable terminal, an emotion value of the portable terminal is determined in consideration of the emotion variance values according to the use factors and is then revised by using a biorhythm of the character, and the use environment of the portable terminal is expressed as the emotion of the character. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method in which use factors of a portable terminal are classified based on emotion values of sense, popularity and intelligence, each kind of emotion values are accumulated according to occurrence of the use factors, an action model corresponding to the accumulated emotion values is activated and displayed. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method in which use factors of a portable terminal are converted to and accumulated as emotion values of a character, an avatar action model and text are determined based on an analysis of a difference between a current emotion value and a previous emotion value, and the determined avatar action model and text are then displayed in order to show the emotional state of the portable terminal. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for displaying the operation state of a portable terminal by using an avatar, in which the portable terminal includes at least two character image sets, use factors of the portable terminal are converted to and accumulated as emotion values of a character, and a new character image set is displayed instead of a previous set to express the operation state of the portable terminal when one of the accumulated emotion values exceeds a preset value. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for displaying the operation state of a portable terminal by using an avatar, in which the portable terminal includes at least two character image sets, use factors of the portable terminal are allocated emotion values which are accumulated according to use of the portable terminal, and a new character image set is displayed instead of a previous set to express the operation state of the portable terminal when one of the accumulated emotion values exceeds a preset value. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for displaying the operation state of a portable terminal by using an avatar, in which the portable terminal includes at least two character image sets, use factors of the portable terminal are allocated emotion values, the emotion values are confirmed according to use of the portable terminal and are revised by using a biorhythm of the avatar, and a new character image set is displayed instead of a previous set to express the operation state of the portable terminal when one of the accumulated emotion values exceeds a preset value.

Method and apparatus for producing holographic stereograms

A method and apparatus for producing holographic stereograms. Holographic stereograms have made possible the creation of holograms of both real objects in natural or studio lighting and virtual objects created using three-dimensional graphics. There are several approaches for creating holograms from digital graphics. This invention discusses the application of the light valve to the process along with other related developments. Artists can now produce high quality inexpensive, medium-format holograms using this direct-link to digital media. Future developments will lead to even higher resolution Digital Image-Light-Amplifier (D-ILA) systems.

1. A method of producing a holographic stereogram of a real or virtual object, comprising: a) focusing an image of a real or virtual object onto an image light amplifier means which encodes said image in a birefringent material in said image light amplifier means; b) directing a beam of polarized light first through said birefringement material such that the polarization of said beam of polarized light is spatially varied in a manner that corresponds to the image encoded in the birefringement material and then through a polarizer to produce a polarized beam of light that is spatially imprinted with said image; c) focusing said coherent polarized beam that is spatially imprinted with said image onto a light diffusing means; and d) capturing coherent polarized light scattered from the light diffusing medium on a holographic recording medium and focusing a reference beam of coherent polarized light on said holographic film which interferes with said coherent polarized light scattered from the light diffusing means light to record a holographic stereogram of said image; e) wherein steps a) to d) are performed after first masking the holographic recording medium except for a selected position and recording a holographic stereogram of said image in said selected position on said holographic recording medium; f) masking the holographic recording medium except for a new selected position and projecting another image of the same object taken from a slightly different viewpoint and repeating steps a) to d) to holographically record the new image in said new selected position on the holographic recording medium; and g) repeating step e) a pre-selected number of times to build up a holographic stereogram with a number of frames of the real or virtual object as viewed from different positions. 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the light diffusing means is a light shaping diffuser. 3. The method according to claim 1 including projecting said image onto a surface of said image light amplifier means using an image projection means. 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said image light amplifier means is an analog light image amplifier. 5. The method according to claim 3 wherein said image projection means is a cathode ray tube. 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said image light amplifier means is a digital light image amplifier. 7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said image is a single color image, and wherein the step of masking said holographic recording medium is accomplished using a translating vertical slit apparatus. 8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said light source is a laser and said light beam is a coherent light beam. 9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said image is a multicolor image including red, blue and green information, and wherein individual holographic elements are created for each of the red, blue and green information and printed in such a way as to produce overlapping images in each of the three primary colours. 10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said images originate from one of 3D-computer animation software, video, motion picture film, photographs of objects taken from different views and image capture means. 11. An apparatus for producing a holographic stereogram of a real or virtual object, comprising: a) image light amplifier means having a back surface onto which an image of a real or virtual object is projected and containing a birefringement material, said image light amplifier means including encoding means for encoding the image of the real or virtual object in said birefringent material that has been projected onto said back surface; b) a light source and means for polarizing and directing a light beam into said birefringent material through a transparent front surface of said image light amplifier, reflection means for reflecting said light beam back through said birefringent material and out through the transparent front surface to produce a coherent polarized beam that is spatially imprinted with said image; c) means for polarizing and focusing said coherent polarized beam that is spatially imprinted with said image onto a means for diffusing light which produces scattered coherent polarized light; d) a holographic recording medium positioned to capture said scattered coherent polarized light, and a translating aperture apparatus for masking said holographic recording medium and exposing a pre-selected area of said holographic recording medium to said scattered coherent polarized light; and e) means for producing and focusing a reference beam of coherent polarized light onto said pre-selected area of said holographic recording medium wherein said reference beam interferes with said scattered coherent polarized light to record a holographic stereogram of said image on said holographic recording medium. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the means for diffusing light is a light shaping diffuser. 13. The apparatus according to claim 11 including image projection means spaced from said back surface of said image light amplifier means for projecting an image onto said back surface. 14. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said image light amplifier means is an analog light image amplifier including liquid crystal confined between liquid crystal alignment films and a light blocking layer located between said back surface and said liquid crystal. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said back surface of said image light amplifier means is a photoconductive layer, so that light from said image incident on said photoconductive layer induces photo-conductivity in said photoconductive layer in proportion to the brightness of the light at that point on the layer so that the image projected onto the photoconductive layer is encoded into a matching resistance pattern in the photoconductive layer, said image light amplifier means including means for applying a potential bias across said photoconductive layer and said liquid crystal which results in the same pattern of voltage across the liquid crystal as across the photoconductive layer to convert the image into a pattern of liquid crystal alignment. 16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said image projected onto said analog light amplifier means is produced using a cathode ray tube. 17. The apparatus according to claims 11 wherein said image light amplifier means is a digital light image amplifier. 18. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said image is a single color image. 19. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said translating aperture apparatus defines a vertical slit through which images are projected onto said holographic recording medium. 20. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said light source is a laser and said light beam is a coherent light beam. 21. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said image is a multicolor image, and wherein said translating aperture is shaped to expose rectangular regions defining holographic pixels of the holographic recording medium. 22. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means for polarizing and directing said light beam is a polarizing beam splitter located adjacent to said transparent front face of said image light amplifier. 23. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said holographic recording medium is holographic film. 24. The method according to claim 1 wherein said images include digital graphics originating from a digital medium. 25. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said images include digital graphics originating from a digital medium.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Liquid crystal display (LCD) panels are often used in the production of holographic stereograms, however the size, resolution, contrast ratio, and insertion losses of this technique create serious limitations for holographers and stereograms produced this way contain the familiar “fish-scale” patina. Motion picture film is used to produce larger images in greater detail, however, registration is often a problem and film-recording costs have largely limited production. Full color work requires the additional expense of producing color separated film footage. Few holographers are able to afford the production costs associated with medium and large format stereograms. This direct digital link between a variety of 3D digital imaging processes and holography represents a significant improvement to the holographic process. U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,17 discloses direct holographic recording which eliminates many troublesome aspects of conventional holography. The process relies on known ray-tracing algorithms to predict the pattern of light that would be present on the holographic recording material when making a conventional hologram of the object and prints the calculated pattern directly on the recording material. Images are then tiled to form large mural-sized holographic scenes. The technique is enormously computationally intense. Holographic pixels that make up the scene are often too large to be understood well at close viewing distances. The cost of each custom made panel is prohibitive for most users. Mural-sized holograms also have extremely limited application because of strict illumination requirements. The current capital costs to implement this technology are over 10 million dollars. It would be very advantageous to provide an economic method and apparatus for producing holographic stereograms that avoids the expense of present commercial systems.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention provides a method of producing holographic stereograms, comprising: a) focusing an image of an object onto an image light amplifier means which encodes said image in a birefringent material in said image light amplifier means; b) directing a beam of coherent polarized light first through said birefringement material such that the polarization of said beam of polarized light is spatially varied in a manner that reflects the image encoded in the birefringement material and then through a polarizer to produce a coherent polarized beam of light that is spatially imprinted with said image; c) focusing said coherent polarized beam of light that is spatially imprinted with said image onto a light diffusing means; and d) capturing coherent polarized light scattered from the light diffusing medium on a holographic recording medium and focusing a reference beam of coherent polarized light on said holographic film which interferes with said coherent polarized light scattered from the light diffusing means light to holographically record said image. In another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for producing holographic stereograms, comprising: a) image light amplifier means having a back surface onto which an image is projected and containing a birefringement material, said image light amplifier means including encoding means for encoding an image in said birefringent material that has been projected onto said surface; b) a light source and means for polarizing and directing a light beam into said birefringent material through a transparent front surface of said image light amplifier, reflection means for reflecting said light beam back through said birefringent material and out through the transparent front surface to produce a coherent polarized beam that is spatially imprinted with said image; c) means for polarizing and focusing said coherent polarized beam that is spatially imprinted with said image onto a means for diffusing light which produces scattered coherent polarized light; d) a holographic recording medium positioned to capture said scattered coherent polarized light; and e) means for producing and focusing a reference beam of coherent polarized light onto said holographic recording medium wherein said reference beam interferes with said scattered coherent polarized light to holographically record said image on said holographic recording medium. In another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for producing a coherent polarized beam that is spatially imprinted with an image, comprising: a) image light amplifier means containing a birefringement material; b) image projection means for projecting an image onto a back surface of said image light amplifier means and encoding means for encoding said image in said birefringent material; and c) a light source and means for polarizing and directing a light beam into said birefringent material through a transparent front surface of said image light amplifier, reflection means for reflecting said light beam back through said birefringent material and out through the transparent front surface to produce a coherent polarized beam that is spatially imprinted with said image.

Printing system, printing apparatus, information processor, printing program, and printing method

The printing system includes a printer 22 having: first input means 32 for receiving input of attribute data which indicate attributes pertaining to printing, second input means 32 for receiving input of fixation data which indicate whether or not to fix at least a portion of the print attributes corresponding to the attribute data, storage means 46 for storing the attribute data and the fixation data having been input by means of the first and second input means, and transmission means 50 for transmitting the attribute data and the fixation data stored in the storage means to the information processor upon request from the information processor; request means 91 for making a request to the transmission means of the printing apparatus for transmission of the attribute data and the fixation data; receiving means 96 for receiving the attribute data and the fixation data having been transmitted upon request from the request means; display means 98 for displaying the fixation data and the attribute data; and prohibition means for, when the fixation data indicate fixing of at least a portion of the print attributes, prohibiting changing of attribute data corresponding to the fixed print attributes.

1. A printing system including a printing apparatus and an information processor, wherein the printing apparatus includes: first input means for receiving input of attribute data in correspondence with print attributes pertaining to printing, second input means for receiving an input of fixation data which indicate whether or not to fix at least a portion of the print attributes, storage means for storing the attribute data and the fixation data having been input by means of the first and second input means, and transmission means for transmitting the attribute data and the fixation data stored in the storage means to the information processor upon request from the information processor; and the information processor includes: request means for making a request to the transmission means of the printing apparatus for transmission of the attribute data and the fixation data, receiving means for receiving the attribute data and the fixation data having been transmitted upon request from the request means, display means for displaying the fixation data and the attribute data, and prohibition means for, when the fixation data indicate fixing of at least a portion of the print attributes, prohibits changing of attribute data corresponding to fixed print attributes. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein, when the fixation data indicate fixing of at least a portion of the print attributes, the prohibition means causes selection of attribute data corresponding to non fixed print attributes from a plurality of candidates for selection. 3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first input means automatically acquires data, among the print attributes, with regard to a size or a type of printing paper by means of an optical sensor. 4. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the prohibition means determines, in accordance with an authority of the information processor or an authority of a user who utilizes the information processor, whether or not to prohibit changing of the attribute data of the print attributes. 5. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the prohibition means causes attribute data having been transmitted from the printing apparatus to be displayed as an initial value corresponding to the attribute data and non-fixed print attributes. 6. A printing apparatus connected to an information processor, comprising: first input means for receiving an input of attribute data corresponding to print attributes pertaining to printing; second input means for receiving an input of fixation data which indicate whether or not to fix at least a portion of the print attributes; storage means for storing the attribute data and the fixation data having been input by means of the first and second input means; and transmission means for transmitting the attribute data and the fixation data stored in the storage means to the information processor upon request from the information processor. 7. An information processor connected to a printing apparatus, comprising: request means for making a request to the printing apparatus for transmission of attribute data having been set so as to correspond to print attributes and of fixation data which indicate whether or not to fix at least a portion of the print attributes in accordance with the attribute data; receiving means for receiving the attribute data and the fixation data having been transmitted upon request from the request means; display means for displaying the fixation data and the attribute data; and prohibition means for, when the fixation data indicate fixing of at least a portion of the print attributes, prohibiting changing of attribute data corresponding to fixed print attributes. 8. A printing method for a printing apparatus connected to an information processor, comprising: a first input step of receiving an input of attribute data corresponding to print attributes pertaining to printing; a second input step of receiving an input of fixation data which indicate whether or not to fix at least a portion of the print attributes; a step of storing the attribute data and the fixation data; and a step of transmitting the attribute data and the fixation data to the information processor upon request from the information processor. 9. The printing method according to claim 8, wherein, in the first input means, data, among the print attributes, with regard to a size or type of printing paper is automatically acquired by means of an optical sensor. 10. An information processing method for an information processor connected to a printing apparatus, comprising: a step of making a request to the printing apparatus for transmission of attribute data having been set so as to correspond to print attributes, and fixation data indicating as to whether or not to fix at least a portion of the print attributes in accordance with the attribute data; a step of receiving the attribute data and the fixation data having been transmitted upon request from the request means; a step of displaying the fixation data and the attribute data; and a step of, when the fixation data indicate fixing of at least a portion of the print attributes, prohibiting changing of attribute data corresponding to fixed print attributes. 11. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein, when the fixation data indicate fixing of at least a portion of the print attributes, attribute data corresponding to non-fixed print attributes are selected from a plurality of candidates for selection. 12. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein, when the fixation data indicate fixing of at least a portion of the print attributes, attribute data corresponding to the print attributes are displayed in an unchangeable manner. 13. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein, in the prohibition step, a determination as to whether or not to prohibit changing of attribute data of print attributes is made in accordance with an authority of the information processor or an authority of a user who utilizes the information processor. 14. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein attribute data having been transmitted from the printing apparatus are caused to be displayed as an initial value corresponding to the attribute data and non-fixed print attributes. 15. A processing method for a printing system including an information processor, and a printing apparatus connected to the information processor, comprising: a first input step of receiving an input of attribute data corresponding to the attribute data and print attributes pertaining to printing; a second input step of receiving an input of fixation data which indicate whether or not to fix at least a portion of the print attributes; a step of storing the attribute data and the fixation data having been input in the first and second steps; a step of transmitting the attribute data and the fixation data to the information processor upon request from the information processor; a step of making a request to the printing apparatus for transmission of the attribute data and the fixation data; a step of receiving the attribute data and the fixation data having been transmitted upon the request; a step of displaying the fixation data and the attribute data; and a step of; when the fixation data indicate fixing of at least a portion of the print attributes, prohibiting changing of attribute data corresponding to the fixed print attributes. 16. A computer-readable storage medium which is a recording medium in which a program for performing a printing method for a printing apparatus connected to an information processor is recorded, the program for performing a printing method comprising: first input processing of receiving input of attribute data corresponding to print attributes pertaining to printing; second input processing of receiving input of fixation data which indicate whether or not to fix at least a portion of the print attributes; processing of storing the attribute data and the fixation data; and processing of transmitting the attribute data and the fixation data to the information processor upon request from the information processor. 17. A computer-readable storage medium which is a recording medium in which a program for performing an information processing method for an information processor connected to a printing apparatus is recorded, the program for performing an information processing method comprising: processing of making a request to the printing apparatus for transmission of attribute data having been set so as to correspond to print attributes and fixation data indicating as to whether or not at least a portion of the print attributes corresponding to the attribute data are to be fixed; processing of receiving the attribute data and the fixation data having been transmitted upon the request; processing of displaying the fixation data and the attribute data; and processing of, when the fixation data indicate fixing of at least a portion of the print attributes, prohibiting changing of attribute data corresponding to the fixed print attributes. 18. A printing system comprising: a printer user interface by which attributes can be set and also by which one of first and second conditions can be set, the first condition indicating that at least one of the attributes is fixed, and the second condition indicating that no attribute is fixed; a printer memory that can store the attributes and one of the first and second conditions, set by the printer user interface; a computer user interface by which attributes can be set; a status monitor which can access the printer memory; a printer driver which generates a first print signal based, at least, on the fixed attribute stored in the printer memory when the status monitor has read the first condition from the printer memory, and which generates a second print signal based on the attributes set by the computer user interface when the status monitor has read the second condition from the printer memory.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing apparatus, an information processor, a printing program, and a printing method. When data, such as images generated by an information processor, are printed by means of a printing apparatus, printing is performed, for instance, as disclosed in JP-A-2001-117746 (abstract, claims), as follows. Print attributes, such as a size and type of printing paper, print position, and printing method, are set by means of a GUI (graphical user interface) provided by a printer driver program having been installed in an information processor, and thereafter printing is performed in accordance with the print attributes. Meanwhile, in recent years, printing apparatuses in which print attributes can be set, such as printers of a stand-alone type, have become commercially available. Such a printing apparatus has a problem that, when print attributes having been set on the printing apparatus side differ from those having been set on an information processor side, normal printing is prohibited. In addition, such a printing apparatus has another problem that, in a case where the printing apparatus is shared by a plurality of information processors, when print attributes of the printing apparatus are changed by one user, thereafter, printing performed for other users has attributes other than those intended.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances, and aims at providing a printing system, a printing apparatus, an information processor, a printing program, and a printing method, which enable normal printing with use of a printing apparatus in which print attributes can be set. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, when setting of print attributes is made on a printer side, the environment is fixed. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent printing in accordance with a wrong setting, such as a setting made on a computer side and different from the setting on the printer side. In addition, when the environment is not be fixed, the attributes can be arbitrarily changed. The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese patent application No. 2004-126969 (filed on Apr. 22, 2004), which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Interface and system for manipulating thumbnails of live windows in a window manager

The present invention provides an interface, system, or method for displaying a window on a display in which a thumbnail corresponding to an application window is capable of being modified based on modifications in the application window. The modifications of the thumbnail may be accomplished in real-time. Also, the present invention provides an interface, system, and method for displaying a window or a thumbnail on a display in which a Desktop Window Manager (DWM) registers a source window and a destination window and/or may update or modify a thumbnail associated with the source window. Special effects may be applied to the thumbnail. The present invention further provides a method for registering and/or modifying a thumbnail and its properties or maintaining a list of thumbnail registrations.

1. A computer-implemented method of displaying a window on a display device, the method comprising: displaying a source window, the source window comprising content that is capable of being modified; displaying a destination window wherein at least a portion of the destination window contains a thumbnail, the thumbnail containing content that is substantially similar to at least a portion of the content of the source window; and modifying the content of the source window, wherein the modification of the source window is displayed in the thumbnail. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of registering the thumbnail, wherein registering the thumbnail comprises receiving a window handle for said source window. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of registering further comprises establishing an association between the source window and the thumbnail so that at least a portion of the content of the source window is drawn into the thumbnail. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of registering further comprises receiving a size parameter and storing the source window at a size corresponding to the size parameter. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the registering further comprises receiving a unique handle representing the association between the source window and the thumbnail. 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of unregistering the thumbnail, the unregistering comprising removing the unique handle representing the association between the source window and the thumbnail. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of unregistering the thumbnail comprises deleting said unique handle representing the association between the source window and the thumbnail. 8. The method of claim 6 further comprising maintaining a list of window associations, the list of window associations comprising information of the association between the source window and the thumbnail. 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a first parameter for defining at least a portion of the source window, wherein said modifying comprises determining at least a portion of the source window to draw into the thumbnail based on said first parameter. 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving a second parameter for defining at least a portion of the destination window, wherein said modifying further comprises determining at least a portion of the destination window to render the thumbnail based on said second parameter. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said modifying further comprises receiving a control value and setting the opacity of the thumbnail based on the value of the control value. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the value of the control value is between 0 and 255. 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said modifying further comprises receiving a Boolean value and making the thumbnail invisible based on the Boolean value. 14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: displaying a source window on a display, the source window comprising content that is capable of being modified; displaying a destination window wherein at least a portion of the destination window contains a thumbnail containing content that is substantially similar to at least a portion of the content of the source window; and modifying the content of the source window, wherein the modification of the source window is displayed in the thumbnail. 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 having further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: registering the thumbnail; maintaining a list of window associations comprising information of an association between the source window and the corresponding thumbnail. 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein said registering comprises: receiving a window handle for the source window; establishing an association between the source window and the corresponding thumbnail so that at least a portion of the content of the source window is drawn into the thumbnail; receiving a size parameter and storing the source window at a size corresponding to the size parameter; receiving a unique handle representing the association between the source window and the destination window. 17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein said modifying comprises: determining at least a portion of the source window to draw into the destination window based on a first parameter for defining at least a portion of the source window; determining at least a portion of the destination window to render content based on a second parameter for defining the thumbnail; receiving a control value and setting the opacity of the thumbnail based on the value of the control value; receiving a Boolean value and making the thumbnail invisible based on the Boolean value. 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of unregistering the thumbnail comprising deleting a unique handle representing the association between the source window and the thumbnail. 19. A system for displaying a window on a display device, the system comprising: a display for displaying a source window comprising content that is capable of being modified and a destination window corresponding to said source window; a manager for registering a thumbnail, the thumbnail being in a destination window and corresponding to at least a portion of the source window, said registering comprising: receiving a window handle for said source window; establishing an association between the source window and the thumbnail so that at least a portion of the content of the source window is drawn into the thumbnail; receiving a window size parameter corresponding to the source window and storing the source window at a size corresponding to the size parameter; and receiving a unique handle representing the association between the source window and the thumbnail; a processor for modifying the content of the source window, wherein the modification of the source window is displayed in a corresponding portion of the thumbnail, said modifying comprising: determining at least a portion of the source window to draw into the thumbnail based on a first parameter for defining at least a portion of the source window; determining the thumbnail to render based on a second parameter for defining at least a portion of the destination window in which to render the thumbnail; receiving a control value and setting the opacity of at least a portion of the thumbnail based on the value of the control value; receiving a Boolean value and setting the visibility of the at least a portion of the thumbnail based on the Boolean value. 20. The system of claim 19 wherein the manager for further unregistering the thumbnail, the unregistering comprising removing the association between the source window and the thumbnail.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Computer systems display a variety of windows into which users may input data, manipulate data or activate procedures. If running more than one application simultaneously, several windows may be displayed on the computer display, each window corresponding to an application. There may also be multiple windows for any one application. For example, if a user is entering text into a word processing program while also working in a spreadsheet program, there may be two windows open on the display. One of the windows is the word processing application window and the second window is the spreadsheet program window. If the user is additionally viewing a video on a media player application, there will be an additional window corresponding to the media player application. As the number of active applications increases, so does the number of windows that are displayed on the computer display. A user who uses multiple applications simultaneously is often faced with a multitude of windows on the display causing a cluttered desktop leading to confusion and frustration from the clutter seen on the display. For example, there may be so many overlapping windows on the display that a user might have to waste time finding a desired window each time the user wishes to complete a task in a different application. To alleviate this problem, the user may minimize windows or quit applications altogether in order to decrease clutter (and the number of windows on the display). However, if windows are minimized, then the user no longer has immediate access to the corresponding application. If an action needs to be taken in a particular application in which the window has been minimized, the user must first locate the desired window and open the desired window after locating the window. This process is very time-consuming. Likewise, if the user quits the application altogether to clear desktop clutter, then the application is no longer active. In this case, the user must re-launch the application in order to complete the desired task and waste even more time. Also, if the application performs an ongoing function, that function is lost during the time the application was not active. Typically, when an application window is minimized, a taskbar button may be displayed on a taskbar to indicate that the application is active. Although the taskbar button may indicate that the application is active, there is often only an icon or a name of the application in the taskbar button. Without additional information, the user would have to open the window to view the contents of the window. However, by opening and closing the window merely to check the contents of the window (e.g., to ascertain the identity of the window), the user wastes time and effort which causes a loss of efficiency and productivity. This problem is compounded when the number of active applications and number of windows increase as the user must open and close many windows to find the desired window. Thus, there exists a need in the art for a system and method for providing convenient programmatic access to manipulating window or application thumbnails and expressing thumbnails in a manner to provide flexibility in the display of thumbnails and thumbnail content. Also, there is a need in the art for a programming interface and a method of implementing the programming interface to effectively manage and implement application windows and thumbnails and expressing the windows and thumbnails in a flexible fashion.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Aspects of the present invention provide an interface, system, or method for displaying a window on a display thereby addressing one or more issues described above. A dynamic thumbnail corresponding to an application window is also provided in which modifications of content in an application window are reflected in the corresponding dynamic thumbnail. A modification of content of the application window may further be reflected in the corresponding dynamic thumbnail in real-time.

Scenario specialization of file browser

In a graphical user interface environment, a situational-specific browser may be used to provide contextually appropriate levels of information for files whose information is to be displayed. As different views of files are to be displayed, the browser may dynamically adjust its configuration to display different types of information, features and/or command options. Different views may be predefined, or new views may be dynamically created in response to user navigation.

1. A method for browsing files, comprising the steps of: receiving a user request to view files meeting one or more criteria in a browser; identifying a plurality of files that meet said criteria; selecting one of a plurality of predefined browsers based on results of said step of identifying; and displaying said selected browser with information regarding said plurality of files. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predefined browsers includes distinct browsers for use in listing files of different predetermined file types. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predefined browsers offer different display characteristics. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said plurality of predefined browsers offer different available user commands as said different display characteristics. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein said plurality of predefined browsers offer different display areas as said different display characteristics. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said different display areas differ in size. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more criteria includes a plurality of criteria, said one of said plurality of predefined browsers corresponds to said criteria, and said step of selecting further comprises the step of selecting a different one of said plurality of predefined browsers, said different one of said plurality of predefined browsers corresponding to a subset of said plurality of criteria. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of selecting further comprises the step of reordering a sequence of property values of said selected browser based on said step of identifying. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of reordering a sequence of property values includes the removal or addition of one or more properties to be displayed in said selected browser. 10. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure comprising: a first template defining a first browser view to be used by a file browser when browsing files of a first file type; and a second template defining a second browser view to be used by said file browser when browsing files of a second file type. 11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said first file type includes files belonging to a first project. 12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said first file type is a music file type. 13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: receiving a user request to view files meeting one or more criteria in a browser; identifying a plurality of files that meet said criteria; selecting one of a plurality of predefined browsers based on results of said step of identifying; and displaying said selected browser with information regarding said plurality of files. 14. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said plurality of predefined browsers includes distinct browsers for use in listing files of different predetermined file types. 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein said plurality of predefined browsers offer different display characteristics. 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said plurality of predefined browsers offer different available user commands as said different display characteristics. 17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said plurality of predefined browsers offer different display areas as said different display characteristics. 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein said different display areas differ in size.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>To the relief of trees everywhere, the proliferation of digital documents has rendered paper documents obsolete in many situations. Digital technology has made it easy to duplicate and distribute digital versions of what used to be reams and reams of paper filed in countless filing cabinets. While the technology for capturing these documents has changed dramatically over the years, the approach to organizing them and retrieving them generally has not. Today, file systems still use the traditional concept of filing cabinets and folders in organizing data, where files are logically “placed” in one of the folders on the system. Browsing for these files is just as archaic, and still resembles manually rifling through a filing cabinet full of paper documents. A file is considered to be stored in just one folder location, and the user is forced to look through a number of folders and subfolders to peruse the documents that are on the computer system. Additionally, the browsing interface provided to the user is static, and largely ignorant of the significance of the data being displayed. This ignorance and static browsing capabilities limits the amount of information provided to the user, and tends to complicate and prolong the user's efforts at browsing for files in the system. For example, FIG. 2 shows an example of a browser panel 201 offered in the MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP® operating system. The panel 201 shows the contents of a folder (C:\Folder), which contains a number of subfolders and files, and includes the folder address 202 , the names 203 of the various elements shown, their size 204 , their type 205 , and their date of modification 206 . The layout of panel 201 is the same regardless of the contents being displayed, even if the panel's layout would result in an inefficient display. For example, the system shows a blank for the size of the two subfolders, but if “C:\Folder” contained only subfolders, the browser panel 201 would still display the “Size” column 204 , with an entire column of blank entries. This column of blanks would still occupy the same width allotted to the Size column 204 in the panel's display format, and may well force certain more meaningful information off of the current display area. Today's computer systems are being presented with more and more digital files to manage, and there is an ever-present need to improve the efficiency and clarity with which file information is give to the user as the user browses the files on the system. Prior browsers, such as panel 201 , have room for improvement in this area, and such improvements are described below.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Aspects of the present invention may meet one or more of the above needs, and overcome one or more deficiencies in the prior art, by providing a system and method in which the user is given an improved file browsing interface. The browsing interface may vary depending on the contents to be displayed. In some instances, the browsing interface may customize the user interface options presented in the browser panel in accordance with the contents to be displayed. The browser may rearrange, remove, and/or add displayed properties in accordance with the contents. Other aspects of the browser's features, appearance, and/or organization may be customized based on the contents. One or more templates may be provided and/or created to provide a predetermined set of criteria for generating a browser panel. Software interfaces may be provided to allow development of additional browser panels by users and/or applications. User interaction with such a browser may cause further alterations in the browser's appearance and/or functionality.

Game console and memory card

A portable, handheld game console includes a main body incorporating a first display screen, and a cover body incorporating a second display screen. The main body is hingedly connected to the cover body along adjacent forward and rearward edges, respectively, such that the cover body is movable between a closed and open positions. The main body is provided with a plurality of control buttons and a pair of game card slots for receiving game cards of different dimensions. One of the game cards is substantially square and comprises a substantially flat card body having a plurality of electrically conductive terminal strips adjacent the forward edge. One of the side edges of the card has a single continuous step configuration along substantially the entire length dimension of the card. A first notch is formed in a first forward corner of the card where the forward edge meets the other of the pair of side edges and a second notch is formed along the other of the pair of side edges, between the forward and rearward edges.

1. A portable, handheld game console comprising a main body incorporating a first display screen on an inner face of said main body, and a cover body incorporating a second display screen on an inner face of said cover body, said main body hingedly connected to said cover body along adjacent forward and rearward edges, respectively, such that said cover body is movable between a closed position where said cover body overlies said main body with said first and second display screens hidden from view, and an open position where said cover body is folded away from said main body with said first and second display screens visible to a user; wherein said main body is provided with a plurality of control buttons and at least one game card slot for receiving a game card of first predetermined dimensions. 2. The portable, handheld game console of claim 1 wherein said at least one game slot is located in a forward or lower portion of a peripheral edge of said main body. 3. The portable, handheld game console of claim 1 wherein said main body is provided with a second game slot for receiving another game card of second predetermined dimensions different from said first predetermined dimensions. 4. The portable, handheld game console of claim 3 wherein said second game slot is located in a rearward or upper portion of a peripheral edge surrounding said main body. 5. The portable, handheld game console of claim 2 wherein said main body is provided with a second game slot for receiving another game card of second predetermined dimensions different from said first predetermined dimensions. 6. The portable, handheld game console of claim 5 wherein said second game slot is located in a rearward or upper portion of a peripheral edge of said main body. 7. The portable, handheld game console of claim 1 wherein said first display screen comprises a touch-sensitive liquid crystal display. 8. The portable, handheld game console of claim 2 wherein a volume-control slide is located in said forward or lower portion of said peripheral edge. 9. The portable, handheld game console of claim 1 wherein a microphone is located on said inner face of said main body. 10. The portable, handheld game console of claim 2 wherein headphone and microphone connectors are located in said forward or lower portion of said peripheral edge. 11. The portable, handheld game console of claim 4 wherein an AC adaptor connector is located in said rearward or upper portion of said peripheral edge. 12. The portable, handheld game console of claim 4 wherein a stylus port is provided in said main body, accessible via said rearward or upper portion of said peripheral edge. 13. The portable, handheld game console of claim 1 wherein additional control buttons are located in a rearward or upper portion of a peripheral edge surrounding said main body. 14. The portable, handheld game console of claim 4 wherein additional control buttons are located in said rearward or upper portion of said peripheral edge surrounding said main body. 15. The portable, handheld game console of claim 1 wherein a pair of stereo speakers are located in said cover body, with speaker grills on said inner face of said cover body, on either side of said second display screen. 16. A portable, handheld game console comprising a main body incorporating a first touch-sensitive display screen on an inner face of said main body, and a cover body incorporating a second display screen on an inner face of said cover body, said main body hingedly connected to said cover body along adjacent forward and rearward edges, respectively, such that said cover body is movable between a closed position where said cover body overlies said main body with said first and second display screens hidden from view, and an open position where said cover body is folded away from said main body with said first and second display screens visible to a user; wherein said main body is provided with a plurality of control buttons, at least one game card slot for receiving a game card of first predetermined dimensions; and a second game slot for receiving another game card of second predetermined dimensions different from said first predetermined dimensions. 17. The portable, handheld game console of claim 16 wherein said at least one game slot is located in a forward or lower portion of a peripheral edge surrounding said main body. 18. The portable, handheld game console of claim 16 wherein said second game slot is located in a rearward or upper portion of a peripheral edge surrounding said main body. 19. The portable, handheld game console of claim 17 wherein a volume-control slide is located in said forward or lower portion of said peripheral edge. 20. The portable, handheld game console of claim 17 wherein headphone and microphone connectors are located in said forward or lower portion of said peripheral edge. 21. The portable, handheld game console of claim 16 wherein a microphone is located on said inner face of said main body. 22. The portable, handheld game console of claim 18 wherein an AC adaptor connector is located in said rearward or upper portion of said peripheral edge. 23. The portable, handheld game console of claim 18 wherein a stylus holder is provided in said main body, accessible via said rearward or upper portion of said peripheral edge. 24. The portable, handheld game console of claim 16 wherein a pair of stereo speakers are located in said cover body, with speaker grills on said inner face of said cover body, on either side of said second display screen. 25. A substantially square memory card for a game machine comprising a substantially flat card body having length, width and thickness dimensions, said card body defined by upper and lower surfaces, and by a forward edge, a rearward edge and a pair of side edges; and a plurality of electrically conductive terminal strips adjacent said forward edge; wherein one of said side edges has a single continuous step configuration along the entire length dimension of said card, and wherein a first notch is formed in a first forward corner of said card where said forward edge meets the other of said pair of side edges. 26. The memory card of claim 25 wherein said plurality of terminal strips are located in a recess formed in a forward end of the card to a depth of about one half the thickness of the card, said recess and said plurality of terminal strips offset laterally along the forward edge of the card toward said one of said side edges. 27. The memory card of claim 25 wherein a second notch is formed along said other of said pair of side edges, between said forward and rearward edges. 28. The memory card of claim 25 wherein said plurality of terminal strips comprises seventeen terminal strips arranged in a parallel array, each pair of adjacent terminal strips separated by a non-conductive rib. 29. The memory card of claim 25 wherein said length dimension is 1⅜″; said width dimension is 1¼″; and said thickness dimension is ⅛″. 30. The memory card of claim 25 wherein said first notch has a length dimension of about ¼″. 31. The memory card of claim 25 wherein said second notch has a length dimension of about ⅛″. 32. The memory card of claim 26 wherein said first and second notches each have a depth of about half the thickness dimension of said card body. 33. The memory card of claim 25 wherein said first forward corner, a second forward corner, and third and fourth rearward corners are radiused, and wherein said first forward corner is defined by a radius larger than radii at said second, third and fourth corners of the card. 34. The memory card of claim 25 wherein said card body has four corners including said first forward corner, none of which is identical to any other of said four corners. 35. A portable, handheld game console comprising a main body incorporating a first display screen on an inner face of said main body, and a second body incorporating a second display screen on an inner face of said second body, said main body being spaced apart from said second body; wherein said main body is provided with a plurality of control buttons and a game memory slot, and further including image processing circuitry for simultaneously displaying different images on said first display screen and said second display screen, wherein at least one of said images is a three-dimensional image. 36. A portable hand-held game console according to claim 35, wherein said image processing circuitry includes a three-dimensional image processing unit which generates a first game image based on three-dimensional model data for each of a plurality of frames; a capture circuit which captures the first game image generated by the three-dimensional image processing unit as two-dimensional image data; storage locations that store the two-dimensional image data captured by the capture circuit; a two-dimensional image processing unit which generates a second game image based on two-dimensional image data in a previous frame already stored in the storage locations; and an output destination setting circuit which sets one of the first display and the second display as an output destination of the first game image and another one of the first display and the second display as an output destination of the second game image. 37. The portable, handheld game console of claim 35 wherein said game memory slot is located in a forward or lower portion of a peripheral edge of said main body. 38. The portable, handheld game console of claim 35 wherein said first display screen comprises a touch-sensitive liquid crystal display. 39. The portable, handheld game console of claim 38 further including a stylus port. 40. The portable, handheld game console of claim 35 wherein said plurality of control buttons are located on said main body and on each of a left and right side of said first display screen. 41. A portable, handheld game console comprising a main body incorporating a first display screen on an inner face of said main body, and a second display screen coupled to said main body; wherein said main body is provided with a plurality of control buttons and a game memory slot, and further including image processing circuitry for simultaneously displaying different images on said first display screen and said second display screen, wherein at least one of said images is a three-dimensional image, said game processing circuitry including a three-dimensional image processing unit which generates a first game image based on three-dimensional model data; and a two-dimensional image processing unit which generates a second game image based on two-dimensional image data. 42. A portable, handheld game console according to claim 41, wherein in an n-th frame, the first game image, generated by the three-dimensional image processing unit, is output to the first display and is simultaneously captured, and the second game image, captured in an (n−1)-th frame and based on the two-dimensional image data, is output to the second display, and in an (n+1)-th frame, the first game image, generated by the three-dimensional image processing unit is output to the second display and is simultaneously captured, and the second game image, based on the two-dimensional image data and captured in the n-th frame, is output to the first display. 43. The portable, handheld game console of claim 41 wherein said first display screen comprises a touch-sensitive liquid crystal display. 44. The portable, handheld game console of claim 43 further including a stylus port. 45. The portable, handheld game console of claim 41 wherein said plurality of control buttons are located on said main body and on each of a left and right side of said first display screen.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Portable, handheld game devices are by now well known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,716,103; 6,743,104; 6,821,204. Game devices previously have not had, however, dual screen functionality in combination with touch-sensitive technology, and the capability of accommodating different-sized game cards packaged in a novel and easy-to-use game console.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS <EOH>In an exemplary embodiment of this invention, a portable, handheld electronic game device is provided in a unique console configuration, outfitted and arranged for easy access to various functional features and related aspects of the game device. Generally, the portable game device in the exemplary embodiment is made up of a main body and a cover body that is pivotally attached to the main body for movement between open and closed positions. Twin, backlit, color liquid crystal displays (LCD's) are provided, one on each of the inner surfaces of both the main body and cover body such that, when the cover body is pivoted over the main body to the closed position, the display screens substantially overlie one another and are hidden from view (and thus protected). Each LCD is a three inch screen that can reproduce true 3-D views, and one of the screens also employs touch-sensitive technology for enhanced interaction with associated games. To further enhance the interactive experience, a stylus is provided with the game for activating the touch screen, and a blind bore is provided in the main body for storing the stylus when it is not being used. The main body of the device is also provided with all of the game control buttons. Most of the control buttons are on the inner face of the main body, on either side of the display screen, along with microphone, recharge, and power indicators. The rearward portion of a peripheral edge surrounding the main body also supports an additional pair of buttons for game control. The peripheral edge of the main body also provides access to various other features and functions of the device. For example, a forward portion of the peripheral edge incorporates a volume control slide, a first game slot as well as headphone/microphone connectors. The rearward portion of the peripheral edge is provided with, in addition to the control buttons, an external extension connector for connecting an AC adaptor that can be used to either recharge the internal battery or to operate the game device using household power; a wrist strap attachment mechanism; the stylus port; and a second game slot designed to accommodate larger game cards from earlier game systems manufactured by the assignee of this invention. In addition to the LCD on the inner face of the cover body, the latter is also provided with a pair of stereo speakers, one on either side of the display screen. A substantially square game or memory card designed especially for use with the game device disclosed herein has planar upper and lower surfaces, a forward edge, a rearward edge, and a pair of side edges. The forward end of the upper surface is formed with a recess in which a plurality of terminal or electrical connector strips are located, extending from a rear wall of the recess to the forward edge of the card. The terminal strips are parallel to each other and are separated by raised ribs that extend from the rear wall of the recess to the forward edge. These ribs protect the terminal strips from contact with the user's hands or other objects. An enlarged radius is provided at one forward corner of the card, where the forward edge of the card meets one side edge of the card. A first notch is also formed at this same corner, and a second notch is formed along this same side edge, intermediate the forward and rearward ends of the card. These two notches interact with a spring-loaded “push-push” mechanism inside the game slot for controlled insertion and ejection of the game card into and from the game console. The opposite forward corner of the card is defined by a smaller radius merging into the other side edge that is defined by a stepped shoulder in the upper plane of the card, extending along the entire length of the card. This shoulder insures correct orientation of the card when inserted into the game card slot. Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention relates to a portable, handheld game console comprising a main body incorporating a first display screen on an inner face of the main body, and a cover body incorporating a second display screen on an inner face of the cover body, the main body hingedly connected to the cover body along adjacent forward and rearward edges, respectively, such that the cover body is movable between a closed position where the cover body overlies the main body with the first and second display screens hidden from view, and an open position where the cover body is folded away from the main body with the first and second display screens visible to a user; wherein the main body is provided with a plurality of control buttons and at least one game card slot for receiving a game card of first predetermined dimensions. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a portable, handheld game console comprising a main body incorporating a first touch-sensitive display screen on an inner face of the main body, and a cover body incorporating a second display screen on an inner face of the cover body, the main body hingedly connected to the cover body along adjacent forward and rearward edges, respectively, such that the cover body is movable between a closed position where the cover body overlies the main body with the first and second display screens hidden from view, and an open position where the cover body is folded away from the main body with the first and second display screens visible to a user; wherein the main body is provided with a plurality of control buttons, at least one game card slot for receiving a game card of first predetermined dimensions; and a second game slot for receiving another game card of second predetermined dimensions different from the first predetermined dimensions. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a substantially square memory card for a game machine comprising a substantially flat card body having length, width and thickness dimensions, the card body defined by upper and lower surfaces, and by a forward edge, a rearward edge and a pair of side edges; and a plurality of electrically conductive terminal strips adjacent the forward edge; wherein one of the side edges has a single continuous step configuration along the entire length dimension of the card, and wherein a first notch is formed in a first forward corner of the card where the forward edge meets the other of the pair of side edges. In accordance with a feature of an illustrative embodiment, the portable game machine includes hardware/software capable of simultaneously displaying different three-dimensional images on two display units by using a single three-dimensional image processing unit without causing flicker on display screens. Also, another feature of an illustrative embodiment is to make it possible for a portable game machine to include two display units, at least one two-dimensional image processing unit, and a single three-dimensional image processing unit, wherein a game image generated by the two-dimensional image processing unit is displayed on one of the display units and a game image generated by the three-dimensional image processing unit is displayed on the other display unit, and to simultaneously display different three-dimensional game images on the two display units without adding another three-dimensional image processing unit or substantially changing the configuration of the portable game machine. The handheld portable game device and associated memory card in accordance with this invention will now be described in detail in connection with the drawings identified below.

Local thumbnail cache

Systems and methods are provided for storing and retrieving thumbnail images in a per-user/per-system thumbnail cache. One or more data files may be used to store thumbnail images of varying sizes. An index is updated with the location or locations of thumbnails for a particular file, the URL and modification time of which may be used as a key to finding the thumbnails within the index. Direct memory mapping of thumbnail images are provided. Concurrency techniques are utilized to maintain cooperative access to the cache among multiple processes. Cache contents which are orphaned or unused are reclaimed for use by newer or more frequently used thumbnail images.

1. A computer-implemented method for managing thumbnail images, the method comprising: maintaining a thumbnail cache in a computer, the thumbnail cache including an index and a data store; receiving a first request to add a thumbnail image to the thumbnail cache, the first request including the thumbnail image, identifying information, and a thumbnail size; storing the thumbnail image in the data store; and storing in the index the identifying information, the thumbnail size, and a location of the thumbnail image within the data store. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying information includes a file location and a modification time. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a second request to retrieve the thumbnail image, the second request including the identifying information and the thumbnail size; and replying to the second request with the thumbnail image. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: displaying the thumbnail image on a display, a memory associated with the display reading an uncompressed copy of the thumbnail image directly from the thumbnail cache. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein: the data store includes a plurality of data files, one data file for each of a plurality of different thumbnail sizes; and an entry in the index includes the identifying information and a plurality of thumbnail image locations within the plurality of data files. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein each recognized user of the computer has a dedicated thumbnail cache. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein each dedicated thumbnail cache is accessible only by the corresponding recognized user. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the thumbnail cache is simultaneously accessible by a plurality of processes running on the computer. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of processes cooperatively synchronize their access to the thumbnail cache. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the thumbnail image in the data store comprises: determining whether an old thumbnail image associated with the identifying information already exists in a location in the data store; and responsive to the old thumbnail image existing in the data store, storing the thumbnail image in the location of the old thumbnail image. 11. A system for managing thumbnail images, the system comprising: a storage for storing a thumbnail cache, the thumbnail cache including an index file and one or more data files; and a processor configured to: receive a first request to store a thumbnail image in the thumbnail cache, the first request including the thumbnail image and identifying information; store in one of the one or more data files the thumbnail image; store in the index the identifying information and a location of the thumbnail image within the one of the one or more data files. receive a second request to retrieve the thumbnail image, the second request including the identifying information; and reply to the second request with a reference to the thumbnail image. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the identifying information includes a file location and a date and time of modification. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the file location is a uniform resource locator. 14. The system of claim 10, further comprising: a display; and a memory, wherein the reference to the thumbnail image points to a memory location within the memory where a representation of the thumbnail image is located, and wherein the processor is further configured to display the thumbnail image on the display by directly referencing the memory location. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine whether an older thumbnail image was previously stored in a memory location for the identifying information; responsive to the older thumbnail image having been previously stored, reuse the memory location of the older thumbnail image within the one of the one or more data files to store the thumbnail image. 16. The system of claim 11, wherein a recognized user of the system has a dedicated thumbnail cache. 17. The system of claim 11, wherein the thumbnail cache is simultaneously accessible by multiple processes running on the computer. 18. The system of claim 11, wherein: the thumbnail cache comprises a plurality of data files, one data file for each of a plurality of different thumbnail image sizes; an entry in the index file includes the identifying information and one or more thumbnail image locations within the plurality of data files; and the first request further includes an indicator of one of the plurality of different thumbnail image sizes. 19. A system for managing thumbnail images, the system comprising: a display; a storage for storing a thumbnail cache, the thumbnail cache including an index file and a plurality of data files; and a processor configured to: receive a first request to store a thumbnail image in the thumbnail cache, the first request including the thumbnail image, a file location, a date and time of modification, and a thumbnail size; store the thumbnail image in one of the plurality of data files; store in the index file the file location, the date and time of modification, and the thumbnail size of the thumbnail image within the one of the plurality of data files. receive a second request to retrieve the thumbnail image, the second request comprising the file location, the date and time of modification, and the thumbnail size; reply to the second request with a reference to the thumbnail image; and display the thumbnail image on the display. 20. The system of claim 18, further comprising: a video adapter, wherein the video adapter directly reads the thumbnail image from the thumbnail cache.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Thumbnail images are a common scheme used on computers for conveying the contents of an image or file without actually having to open the image or file. A thumbnail may present miniaturized portraits of images, word processing documents, web pages, presentation slides, and so forth. Thumbnails are frequently used as icons to represent files in graphical operating systems. FIG. 2A presents a prior art example of thumbnail usage in a graphical operating system. Window 201 displays thumbnail images of a collection of JPEG formatted files 202 contained in a common file directory. Each thumbnail image is a replica of the contents of the file, re-sized to fit a standard size. One file in particular is selected, and window 201 displays the thumbnail 203 of the selected file. FIG. 2B presents a prior art example of thumbnail storage in a file hierarchy 205 available to computer 110 . The files represented in file hierarchy 205 may be stored on computer 110 (e.g., on a hard drive or in dynamic memory), on removable media (e.g., on a floppy drive or a USB thumbdrive), on a network server, or in a location otherwise accessible to computer 110 . Files within file hierarchy 205 may be stored in hierarchical fashion using a system of file folders, which contain files as well as other file folders. First file folder 211 stores a first collection of files 212 , and second file folder 221 stores a second collection of files 222 . Using a conventional methodology, an operating system on computer 110 creates thumbnails of the files in file folders 211 , 221 . For example, to create the folder view of window 201 , the operating system may create thumbnails of the files by iterating through each file, scanning its contents and generating a standard-sized replica of the contents. In some operating systems, this step may be repeated each time a particular set of thumbnails is needed. In other operating systems, the thumbnails are generated once and then may be stored as graphical files (e.g., bitmaps or jpegs) for later retrieval. Such a system saves processing time for future thumbnail retrieval. Computer 110 stores previously rendered thumbnails in thumbnail caches 214 , 224 . First thumbnail cache 214 may contain thumbnails for each of the files in the first collection 212 . Whenever called upon, first thumbnail cache 214 may offer up these images for use by either the operating system, or a third party piece of software. Likewise, second thumbnail cache 224 may offer up the images from the second collection 222 on demand. Storing thumbnails in this folder-by-folder fashion, while straightforward, can create problems for a user of computer 110 . Using present methodologies, computer 110 is only able to store generated thumbnails in file folders for which it has write access. If, for example, a user of computer 110 browses images stored on a read-only CD-ROM, the generated thumbnails cannot be stored for future reuse, since the operating system cannot create a thumbnail cache in file folders stored on the CD-ROM. In addition, with present methodologies, secure access to sensitive files may be compromised. For example, if the owner of slide presentation 223 made the file inaccessible to any other user of computer 110 , another user may still be able to view the thumbnail generated by the operating system and stored in second thumbnail cache 224 . Although it is only a miniaturized version of a presentation slide, the thumbnail may still be enough to disclose sensitive information. As thumbnail images grow in size and detail, such security issues may become more of a concern. Prior thumbnail systems allowed multiple copies of thumbnail images to be created in memory as thumbnail contents are duplicated for display, utilizing more memory than necessary. Also, disparately stored thumbnail caches prevent intelligent pruning of less-used thumbnails from occurring (e.g., when additional disk space is needed). And if a user of computer 110 views file search results including files from multiple directories, query results are not displayable as thumbnails. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a thumbnail cache which honors file access privileges, allowing users to view only those thumbnails for files to which they have access. Further, there is a need for a thumbnail cache which can store thumbnails for files which may reside in read-only locations. There is also a need for a thumbnail cache which minimizes unnecessary duplication of thumbnail images in memory. Finally, there is a need for a thumbnail cache which allows for intelligent pruning of thumbnails, and which allows for the global display of thumbnail images independent of file location.

<SOH> BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description below. A first illustrative embodiment provides a method for storing a thumbnail in a local thumbnail cache. A thumbnail image and identifying information (e.g., a modification timestamp, a file path, or even a CRC-64 hash of a string URL) are presented with a request to store the image. The image is stored in one of one or more data files, and the identifying information is stored in an index file accompanied by a location of the thumbnail within the data file. A second illustrative embodiment provides a system for managing a thumbnail cache. The system includes storage for storing a data file and an index file. The system also includes a processor configured to receive a request to store a thumbnail image accompanied by identifying information associated with a file. The processor is also configured to store the thumbnail image in the data file, and store its location within the data file, along with the identifying information, in the index file.

Glass substrate for information recording medium, process for producing the glass substrate, information recording medium, and process for producing the same

A glass substrate for an information recording medium, which has high heat resistance, has such high thermal shock resistance that it does not break when exposed to a sharp change in temperature and has high strength against scratching, and which is formed of a glass comprising SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, CaO, BaO, Li2O and Na2O as essential components and comprises, by mold %, 50 to 70% of SiO2, 1 to 10% of Al2O3, over 0% but not more than 12% of ZrO2, 2 to 24% of CaO, over 0% but not more than 15% of BaO, 0 to 10% of MgO, 0 to 15% of SrO, provided that the content of CaO+BaO+MgO+SrO is over 10% but less than 25%, over 0% but not more than 6% of Li2O, over 0% but not more than 10% of Na2O, 0 to 5% of K2O, and 0 to 10% of TiO2.

1. A glass substrate for an information recording medium, which is formed of a glass comprising SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, CaO, BaO, Li2O and Na2O as essential components and comprising, by mol %, 50 to 70% of SiO2, 1 to 10% of Al2O3, over 0% but not more than 12% of ZrO2, 2 to 24% of CaO, over 0% but not more than 15% of BaO, 0 to 10% of MgO, 0 to 15% of SrO, provided that the content of CaO+BaO+MgO+SrO is over 10% but less than 25%, over 0% but not more than 6% of Li2O, over 0% but not more than 10% of Na2O, 0 to 5% of K2O, and 0 to 10% of TiO2- 2. The glass substrate for an information recording medium as recited in claim 1, which has such thermal shock resistance that it does not break when rapidly cooled in a manner in which it is introduced into water maintained at 20° C. from a heating state under heat at 170° C. and immersed in the water. 3. The glass substrate for an information recording medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the glass has a glass transition temperature of 560° C. or higher. 4. The glass substrate for an information recording medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the glass has an average linear expansion coefficient of 70×10−7/K or more at 100 to 300° C. 5. The glass substrate for an information recording medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the glass is a chemically strengthened glass. 6. The glass substrate for an information recording medium as recited in claim 1, which is a substrate for an information perpendicular-recording medium. 7. A process for producing a glass substrate for an information recording medium, which comprises the step of shaping a molten glass into a plate-shaped glass, the molten glass containing SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, CaO, BaO, Li2O and Na2O as essential components and comprising, by mol %, 50 to 70% of SiO2, 1 to 10% of Al2O3, over 0% but not more than 12% of ZrO2, 2 to 24% of CaO, over 0% but not more than 15% of BaO, 0 to 10% of MgO, 0 to 15% of SrO, provided that the content of CaO+BaO+MgO+SrO is but less than 25%, over 0% but not more than 6% of Li2O, over 0% but not more than 10% of Na2O, 0 to 5% of K2O, and 0 to 10% of TiO2. 8. An information recording medium comprising the glass substrate for an information recording medium recited in claim 1 and at least an information recording layer formed on said glass substrate. 9. A process for producing an information recording medium, which comprises the step of forming an information recording layer on the glass substrate from an information recording medium recited in claim 1.

<SOH> TECHNICAL BACKGROUND <EOH>Aluminum and glass are now mainstream materials as substrate materials for information recording media such as a hard disk, and the like. As a glass substrate, a chemically strengthened glass is used as described in Japanese Patent No. 3412804, and an information recording medium using such a chemically strengthened glass is imparted with full reliability. Meanwhile, in recent years, in the production of an information recording medium such as the above hard disk, it has come to be necessary to heat-treat a substrate at a high temperature for imparting a film formed on the substrate with novel properties, for example, for obtaining a film structure of a perpendicular magnetic recording mode. Aluminum as a typical substrate material has a problem that when exposed to a high temperature, an aluminum substrate is deformed and impaired in flatness that a hard disk is required to have, so that aluminum is not suitable for the above use. On the other hand, a glass substrate is also required to have high heat durability (high glass transition temperature) so that it can maintain sufficient flatness even when treated at high temperatures. However, even if a glass constituting a glass substrate is improved in heat durability alone, the glass substrate may break due to a thermal shock when exposed to a sharp change in temperature. That is, even a glass substrate formed of a glass having a high glass transition temperature sometimes undergoes a breaking when rapidly cooled close to room temperature from a state where it is heated at a high temperature. As a glass substrate, further, there is demanded a highly reliable substrate that has high strength against scratching and that does not break in a production step.

Optical pick-up apparatus

A compatible optical pick-up apparatus, which records to and/or reproduce from both digital versatile disc (DVD)-type optical disks and compact disc (CD)-type optical disks for improving a signal regeneration capacity and a tracking capacity in operation at a high temperature. A polarized hologram of the optical pick-up apparatus is divided into six diffraction regions. The rays of a first light diffracted at the first and second diffraction regions are separately received by divided parts of a first bisected light-receiving portion of a photodetector.

1. An optical pick-up apparatus comprising: a light source; an objective lens for focusing light emitted from the light source into an optical disk; a hologram for splitting the light reflected by the optical disk, and diffracting rays split from the light; and a photodetector for detecting a reproduction signal and a servo signal from the reflected rays split by the hologram, wherein the hologram comprises first and second diffraction regions extended in the tangential direction of the optical disk, and third to sixth diffraction regions formed at both sides of the first and second diffraction regions in the radial direction of the optical disk. 2. The optical pick-up apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the photodetector comprises: a first bisected light-receiving portion for receiving negative first-order rays diffracted at the first and second diffraction regions; a first single light-receiving portion for receiving positive first-order rays diffracted at the first and second diffraction regions; third to sixth single light-receiving portions for respectively receiving negative first-order rays diffracted at the third to sixth diffraction regions; and third to sixth bisected light-receiving portions for respectively receiving positive first-order rays diffracted at the third to sixth diffraction regions. 3. The optical pick-up apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the negative first-order rays diffracted at the first and second diffraction regions respectively form images at divided parts of the first bisected light-receiving portion. 4. The optical pick-up apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hologram is a polarized hologram for diffracting a designated linear polarized ray, and a quarter-wave plate is provided between the hologram and the optical disk. 5. An optical pick-up apparatus comprising: a light source for emitting a first light to record and/or reproduce from a DVD-type optical disk; a hologram optical module for emitting a second light to record and/or reproduce from a CD-type optical disk; an objective lens for focusing the first and second lights onto an optical disk; a hologram element provided with a polarized hologram for splitting and diffracting the first light reflected by the optical disk; and a photodetector for receiving the first light split by the hologram element and detecting a regeneration signal and a servo signal, wherein the polarized hologram includes first and second diffraction regions extended in parallel in the tangential direction of the optical disk, and third to sixth diffraction regions formed at both sides of the first and second diffraction regions. 6. The optical pick-up apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the hologram optical modules comprise: a second light source for emitting the second light; a second hologram for diffracting the second light reflected by the optical disk; and a second photodetector for detecting a signal from the second light diffracted by the second hologram. 7. The optical pick-up apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the polarized hologram serves to diffract a designated linear polarized ray, and a quarter-wave plate is provided between the polarized hologram and the optical disk. 8. The optical pick-up apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the photodetector comprises: a first bisected light-receiving portion for receiving negative first-order rays diffracted at the first and second diffraction regions; a first single light-receiving portion for receiving positive first-order rays diffracted at the first and second diffraction regions; third to sixth single light-receiving portions for respectively receiving negative first-order rays diffracted at the third to sixth diffraction regions; and third to sixth bisected light-receiving portions for respectively receiving positive first-order rays diffracted at the third to sixth diffraction regions. 9. The optical pick-up apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the lights diffracted at the first and second diffraction regions and received by the first bisected light-receiving portion and the first single light-receiving portion are decreased in size so that positive and negative first-order rays do not interfere with a zero-order ray. 10. The optical pick-up apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the negative first-order rays diffracted at the first and second diffraction regions respectively form images at divided parts of the first bisected light-receiving portion.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical pick-up apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hologram element used in a compatible optical pick-up apparatus for recording data to and/or reproducing data from both digital versatile disc (DVD)-type optical disks and compact disc (CD)-type optical disks. 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, optical disks are used as storage media for recording and/or reproducing data, such as audio, images and text, by varying the reflection of a laser beam through a plurality of pits formed on the surfaces thereof. The optical disks have a high storage capacity, and are handy to carry, thereby being substituted for conventional storage media such as floppy disks. Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003-0097328, which is assigned to the assignee of the instant application and the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a conventional optical pick-up apparatus for recording and/or reading optical disks. The optical pick-up apparatus disclosed by the above patent records data to and/or reproduces data from optical disks, such as DVD-RAM/RW/R and CD-RW/R. The above described optical pick-up apparatus includes a polarized hologram for diffracting light, reflected by the optical disk, into zero-order and positive and negative first-order rays before the beam forms an image onto a photodetector. The polarized hologram diffracts only linear polarized rays in a designated direction. That is, the polarized hologram linearly transmits a P-polarized ray, and diffracts an S-polarized ray. The polarized hologram is divided into five diffraction regions, and serves to split the light forming the image onto the photodetector. The photodetector includes a plurality of light-receiving portions for generating signals from the beams split by the polarized hologram. The signals detected by the respective light-receiving portions are selectively used to generate a servo control signal and a reproduction signal. When an optical disk player set including the above optical pick-up apparatus is operated to record data to and/or reproduce data from an optical disk, the optical disk player set reaches a comparatively high temperature due to heat generated from a chip or motor installed therein. Although a cooling fan for exhausting the heat is installed in the set, it is difficult to prevent the temperature from increasing in the optical disk set. Particularly, the high power of a laser beam increases the temperature of the set to 60° C. in a DVD recording mode. Optical components constituting the optical pick-up apparatus are warped or distorted by the heat deformation when operating at such a high temperature. The warpage or the distortion of the optical components changes the optical path, thereby deviating the light received by the photodetector from a designated position, or distorting an image of the light to deteriorate a signal reproducing capacity. Particularly, it generates an error in detecting a signal for a tracking the servo, thereby increasing the possibility of tracking errors. Hereinafter, with reference to the above Laid-open Patent, the tracking errors will be described in more detail. Using a push-pull method, a tracking error signal is detected by the difference between a first push-pull signal regarding a detecting signal of second to fifth single signal light-receiving portions and a second push-pull signal regarding a detecting signal of a first quartered light-receiving portion. When the optical pick-up apparatus is operated at a high temperature, images formed on the respective light-receiving portions are deformed. When the images formed on the second to fifth single light-receiving portion are deformed, the amount of the overall light is not changed. However, when the image formed on the first quartered light-receiving portion is deformed, the balance of the optical power in divided regions of the first quartered light-receiving portion is disturbed. Consequently, the second push-pull signal regarding the detecting signal of the first quartered light-receiving portion is changed, thereby generating errors in the tracking error signal.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Therefore, one aspect of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an optical pick-up apparatus, which improves a signal reproduction capacity and a tracking capacity in operation at a high temperature. In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides an optical pick-up apparatus comprising a light source; an objective lens for focusing light emitted from the light source into an optical disk; a hologram for splitting the light reflected by the optical disk, and diffracting rays split from the light; and a photodetector for detecting a regeneration signal and a servo signal from the reflected rays split by the hologram, wherein the hologram comprises first and second diffraction regions extended in the tangential direction of the optical disk, and third to sixth diffraction regions formed at both sides of the first and second diffraction regions in the radial direction of the optical disk. Preferably, the photodetector can comprise a first bisected light-receiving portion for receiving negative first-order rays diffracted at the first and second diffraction regions, a first single light-receiving portion for receiving positive first-order rays diffracted at the first and second diffraction regions, third to sixth single light-receiving portions for respectively receiving negative first-order rays diffracted at the third to sixth diffraction regions, and third to sixth bisected light-receiving portions for respectively receiving positive first-order rays diffracted at the third to sixth diffraction regions. Further, preferably, the negative first-order rays diffracted at the first and second diffraction regions can respectively form images at divided parts of the first bisected light-receiving portion. Moreover, the hologram can be a polarized hologram for diffracting a designated linear polarized ray, and a quarter-wave plate can be provided between the hologram and the optical disk. In accordance with another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide an optical pick-up apparatus comprising a light source for emitting a first light to record data to and/or reproduce data from a DVD-type optical disk; a hologram optical module for emitting a second light to record and/or reproduce a CD-type optical disk; an objective lens for focusing the first and second lights into an optical disk; a hologram element provided with a polarized hologram for splitting and diffracting the first light reflected by the optical disk; and a photodetector for receiving the first light split by the hologram element and detecting a regeneration signal and a servo signal, wherein the polarized hologram includes first and second diffraction regions extended in parallel in the tangential direction of the optical disk, and third to sixth diffraction regions formed at both sides of the first and second diffraction regions.

Systems, methods, and user interfaces for storing, searching, navigating, and retrieving electronic information

Computer system navigation tools provide “links” to various different files, lists, folders, and/or other storage elements and allow users to organize files, e.g., by hierarchical properties, lists, auto lists, folders, and the like. Such systems and methods allow users to assign properties to a file (optionally in a hierarchical manner), to change assigned properties, to search, view, and retrieve information based on the assigned properties, and the like.

1. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon, the data structure comprising: a first data set containing at least some of content of an electronic file; and a second data set containing property data associated with the electronic file, wherein the second data set includes a first flat path string indicating a first property associated with the electronic file, wherein the first flat path string indicates a hierarchical structure of the property data. 2. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set constitutes metadata included in or associated with the first data set. 3. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set includes data in the format: parent property value-delimiter-child property value. 4. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set includes data in the format: parent property value-delimiter-child property value-delimiter-grandchild property value. 5. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the data structure further includes: a third data set containing additional property data associated with the electronic file, wherein the third data set includes a second flat path string indicating a second property associated with the electronic file, wherein the second flat path string indicates a hierarchical structure of the property data in the third data set. 6. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set includes a second flat path string indicating a second property associated with the electronic file. 7. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set includes data in the format: child property value-delimiter-parent property value. 8. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the second data set includes data in the format: child property value-delimiter-parent property value-delimiter-grandparent property value. 9. A method for storing electronic data, comprising: creating an electronic file including electronic data for storage on a computer-readable medium; receiving input data indicating a first property value to be included as part of the electronic file or associated with the electronic file, wherein the first property value includes a first data set including a first flat path string indicating the first property value, wherein the first flat path string indicates a hierarchical structure of the first property value; and storing the electronic file with the first flat path string included therein or associated therewith. 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the input data indicating the first property constitutes metadata included in or associated with the electronic file. 11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the input data indicating the first property value includes data in the format: parent property value-delimiter-child property value. 12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the input data indicating the first property value includes data in the format: parent property value-delimiter-child property value-delimiter-grandchild property value. 13. A method according to claim 9, further comprising: receiving input data indicating a second property value to be included as part of the electronic file or associated with the electronic file, wherein the second property value includes a second data set including a second flat path string indicating the second property value, wherein the second flat path string indicates a hierarchical structure of the second property value, and wherein the storing of the electronic file includes storing the electronic file with the second flat path string included therein or associated therewith. 14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the input data indicating the first property value includes data in the format: child property value-delimiter-parent property value. 15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the input data indicating the first property value includes data in the format: child property value-delimiter-parent property value-delimiter-grandparent property value. 16. A method for processing electronic data, comprising: receiving data on a computer system or network indicating a hierarchical structure of plural defined property values, wherein each defined property value has an unique flat path data string associated with it as compared with all other defined property values in the hierarchical structure; receiving user input indicating a new property value to be included at a user desired location in the hierarchical structure; and based on the user desired location in the hierarchical structure, determining whether the new property value would have a flat path data string that differs from all other flat path data strings existing in the hierarchical structure. 17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the flat path data string for the new property value includes a first parent property portion and a first child property portion, and wherein at least one of the first parent property portion or the first child property portion is identical to a portion of at least one defined property value in the hierarchical structure. 18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising: adding the new property value to the hierarchical structure at the user desired location when the flat path data string for the new property value is determined to differ from all other flat path data strings for properties existing in the hierarchical structure. 19. A method according to claim 16, further comprising: receiving user input indicating a search query, wherein the search query includes selection of a first search property, wherein the first search property includes a first property value in the hierarchical structure; and determining which electronic files stored on stored on or available through a computer system or network meet the search query, wherein the electronic files determined to meet the search query include the first search property stored therein or associated therewith. 20. A method according to claim 16, further comprising: receiving user input indicating a search query, wherein the search query includes selection of a first search property including a first property value in the hierarchical structure and selection of a second search property including a second property value in the hierarchical structure; and determining which electronic files stored on or available through a computer-system or network meet the search query, wherein the electronic files determined to meet the search query include at least one of the first search property or the second search property stored therein or associated therewith.

<SOH> BACKGROUND <EOH>Tremendous volumes of information are stored on and/or available through computer systems and networks, and this information can be made available to computer users for a variety of different purposes. Although computers can provide this wealth of information to users, the information is only valuable and useful to users if users can reliably locate and retrieve the desired information from the system or network. The stored information is of little or no value to users if it cannot be readily located and/or retrieved without substantial searching time, effort, and/or frustration.

<SOH> SUMMARY <EOH>Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and user interfaces that provide navigational tools for storage systems of computers, their operating systems, networks, and the like. In accordance with at least some examples of this invention, navigation tools and/or their corresponding user interfaces and displays may be provided in multiple different windows, application programs, and the like. In at least some examples of this invention, navigation tools or and/or their corresponding user interfaces and display panel(s) may include windows or panes that include “links” to various different files, lists, folders, pages, and/or other storage elements. If desired, navigational tools in accordance with at least some aspects of this invention may be customized for different application programs, for portions of applications programs, for portions of operating systems, by different users, and the like (e.g., by independent software providers from those providing the computer operating system) to be better suited or targeted for navigating information relating to that set of files, etc., and/or to that user. The navigational tools in accordance with at least some examples of this invention also may provide useful ways of organizing and/or displaying information regarding the user's files, e.g., by hierarchical properties, lists, auto lists, folders, etc. Systems and methods according to at least some examples of the invention also may make it easy for users to assign properties to files, change assigned properties associated with files, and the like, optionally with the use of hierarchical properties. Additionally, in accordance with at least some examples of the invention, navigational tools may be provided for searching, locating, and viewing information relating to stored or accessible files, e.g., in a query-based file and/or retrieval system. Additional aspects of the invention relate to computer-readable media including computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing various methods and/or operating various systems, including systems and methods having navigational tools for organizing, searching, locating, and/or displaying information relating to files located in a computer storage system and/or accessible through a computer system as described above (and as will be described in more detail below).

File dialog user interfaces and creation of same

An OS generates a file dialog in response to a request from an application program. The file dialog has a format with a dedicated extensibility region. Multiple user interface controls from a predefined collection of UI control types can be placed within the extensibility region. An application requesting display of a file dialog requests one or more controls of the types in the predefined collection. The OS then places the requested controls in the extensibility region of the displayed dialog. The application need not provide data explicitly indicating the positions within the dialog of the requested controls.

1. A method of creating a dialog user interface, comprising: (a) receiving from a first computer program a request to generate a file dialog graphical user interface, wherein (i) the file dialog has a format defined by a second computer program, (ii) the format defines a graphical display area for the file dialog, the defined area having plural regions, one of the plural regions being an extensibility region having a predefined position relative to one or more other of the plural regions, (iii) the format includes a predefined collection of user interface (UI) control types, each UI control type of the collection being capable of receiving user input, (iv) the format permits inclusion in the extensibility region of multiple UI controls of one or more types selected from the collection, and (v) the request identifies at least one UI control of a type in the collection; and (b) generating the requested file dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (a) and according to the format, so as to include the at least one identified UI control in an extensibility region of the generated dialog. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plural regions further include: (i) an infopane region having fields for display of information pertaining to a file being acted on by the file dialog, and (ii) a command region having at least one UI control defined by the format. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plural regions defined by the format further include a browser region which can be hidden and shown by a user of the file dialog. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises receiving a request from the first computer program to generate a file opening dialog for selection of a file to be opened, and wherein the format is a first format, and further comprising the steps of: (c) receiving from the first computer program a request to generate a file saving dialog graphical user interface for input of information associated with storing a file, wherein (i) the file saving dialog has a second format defined by the second computer program, (ii) the second format defines a graphical display area for the file saving dialog, said defined area having plural file saving dialog regions, one of said regions being a file saving dialog extensibility region having a predefined position relative to one or more other of the file saving dialog plural regions, (iii) the second format includes the predefined collection of user interface (UI) control types, (iv) the second format permits inclusion in the file saving dialog extensibility region of multiple UI controls of one or more types selected from the collection, and (v) the request identifies at least one UI control of a type in the collection; and (d) generating the requested file saving dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (c) and according to the second format, so as to include in an extensibility region of the generated file saving dialog the at least one UI control identified in step (c). 5. The method of claim 4, wherein: (i) the plural regions of the display area defined by the first format include an infopane region having fields for display of information pertaining to a file; (ii) the plural regions of the display area defined by the second format include an infopane region having fields for display of information pertaining to a file; (iii) the first format requires placement of the file opening dialog infopane region in a first position relative to other of the plural regions of the area defined by the first format, (iv) the second format requires placement of the file saving dialog infopane region in a second position relative to other of the plural regions of the area defined by the second format, and (v) the first position is different from the second position. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined collection of user interface (UI) control types includes at least three UI control types from the following group: check box control, radio button control, text entry control, push button control, drop-down box control, and combo box control. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein: (i) the request of step (a) does not include data explicitly providing a location in the requested dialog for the identified at least one UI control, (ii) the request received in step (a) identifies multiple UI controls of one or more of the types in the predefined collection, and (iii) step (b) comprises arranging the identified multiple UI controls based on an order in which said UI controls were identified in the request of step (a). 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (c) receiving from the first computer program a second request to generate a file dialog having the format defined by the second computer program; and (d) generating the second requested file dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (c) and according to the format, so as not to include an extensibility region. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein: (i) the request received in step (a) identifies multiple UI controls of multiple types in the predefined collection, and (ii) step (b) comprises generating the requested file dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (a) and according to the format, so as to include the identified UI controls in the extensibility region of the generated dialog. 10. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps of a method for creating a dialog user interface, said steps comprising: (a) receiving from a first computer program a request to generate a file dialog graphical user interface, wherein (i) the file dialog has a format defined by a second computer program, (ii) the format defines a graphical display area for the file dialog, the defined area having plural regions, one of the plural regions being an extensibility region having a predefined position relative to one or more other of the plural regions, (iii) the format includes a predefined collection of user interface (UI) control types, each UI control type of the collection being capable of receiving user input, (iv) the format permits inclusion in the extensibility region of multiple UI controls of one or more types selected from the collection, and (v) the request identifies at least one UI control of a type in the collection; and (b) generating the requested file dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (a) and according to the format, so as to include the at least one identified UI control in an extensibility region of the generated dialog. 11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the plural regions further include: (i) an infopane region having fields for display of information pertaining to a file being acted on by the file dialog, and (ii) a command region having at least one UI control defined by the format. 12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plural regions defined by the format further include a browser region which can be hidden and shown by a user of the file dialog. 13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein step (a) comprises receiving a request from the first computer program to generate a file opening dialog for selection of a file to be opened, and wherein the format is a first format, and comprising further instructions for performing the steps of: (c) receiving from the first computer program a request to generate a file saving dialog graphical user interface for input of information associated with storing a file, wherein (i) the file saving dialog has a second format defined by the second computer program, (ii) the second format defines a graphical display area for the file saving dialog, said defined area having plural file saving dialog regions, one of said regions being a file saving dialog extensibility region having a predefined position relative to one or more other of the file saving dialog plural regions, (iii) the second format includes the predefined collection of user interface (UI) control types, (iv) the second format permits inclusion in the file saving dialog extensibility region of multiple UI controls of one or more types selected from the collection, and (v) the request identifies at least one UI control of a type in the collection; and (d) generating the requested file saving dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (c) and according to the second format, so as to include in an extensibility region of the generated file saving dialog the at least one UI control identified in step (c). 14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein: (i) the plural regions further include a command region having at least one UI control defined by the format, and (ii) the format permits optional inclusion in the command region of a UI control in addition to the at least one command region UI control defined by the format, and comprising further instructions for performing the steps of (c) receiving from the first computer program a second request to generate a file dialog having the format defined by the second computer program, the second request specifying a UI control in addition to the at least one command region UI control defined by the format; and (d) generating the second requested file dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (c) and according to the format, so as to include the specified UI control. 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the predefined collection of user interface (UI) control types includes at least three UI control types from the following group: check box control, radio button control, text entry control, push button control, drop-down box control, and combo box control. 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein: (i) the request of step (a) does not include data explicitly providing a location in the requested dialog for the identified at least one UI control, (ii) the request received in step (a) identifies multiple UI controls of one or more of the types in the predefined collection, and (iii) step (b) comprises arranging the identified multiple UI controls based on an order in which said UI controls were identified in the request of step (a). 17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, comprising further instructions for performing the steps of: (c) receiving from the first computer program a second request to generate a file dialog having the format defined by the second computer program; and (d) generating the second requested file dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (c) and according to the format, so as not to include an extensibility region. 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein: (i) the request received in step (a) identifies multiple UI controls of multiple types in the predefined collection, and (ii) step (b) comprises generating the requested file dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (a) and according to the format, so as to include the identified UI controls in the extensibility region of the generated dialog. 19. A software architecture, stored on one or more computer-readable media, for creating dialog user interfaces, comprising: (a) at least one component configured to generate on a computer display a file dialog user interface having a format defined by the at least one component, wherein the format (i) defines a graphical display area for the file dialog, the defined area having plural regions, one of the plural regions being an extensibility region having a predefined position relative to one or more other of the plural regions, (ii) includes a predefined collection of user interface (UI) control types, each UI control type of the collection being capable of receiving user input, and (iii) permits inclusion in the extensibility region of multiple UI controls of one or more types selected from the collection, and (b) at least one application program interface to access the at least one component, the at least one application program interface configured to accept data indicative of one or more UI controls of a type in the collection and to be included in a file dialog. 20. The software architecture of claim 19, wherein the format: (i) defines the graphical display area so as to include in the plural regions an infopane region for display of information pertaining to a file being acted on by the file dialog, (ii) defines the graphical display area so as to include in the plural regions a command region including at least one UI control, the at least one UI control in the command region also being defined by the format, (iii) defines the graphical display area so as to include in the plural regions a browser region which can be hidden and shown by a user of the file dialog, and (iv) includes within the predefined collection at least three UI control types from the following group: check box control, radio button control, text entry control, push button control, drop-down box control, and combo box control.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The use of dialogs as part of a computer's graphical user interface (GUI) is known. As used herein, a “dialog” includes a window or other portion of a graphical computer display which appears in order to communicate information from a computer program and/or obtain information from the user. Some of the most frequently-used types of dialogs can be categorized as “file” dialogs. In general, file dialogs allow a user to specify one or more files that are to be processed in some manner by a computer. Familiar examples include dialogs for opening a file and dialogs for saving a file. Other examples include dialogs for inserting file attachments into an email, dialogs for importing files into or exporting files from a database, etc. The specific content and layout of file dialogs can vary widely. The requirements of an application or other software program instantiating a file dialog have a large impact on that file dialog's content and format. However, the preferences and objectives of the software developer are also of major importance. Many software developers wish to customize file dialogs for their programs. The reasons for this can vary. In some cases, for example, a developer may wish to add functionality that is not available in a standardized file dialog. For example, the developer may wish to enable a user to place a password on a file or make a file open in read-only mode by default. As another example, a graphics application may have options dealing with things (e.g., color depth) that would not be included in a standardized file dialog. In many computing environments, a file dialog is generated by an operating system (OS) in response to a function call or other request from an application program. Unfortunately, such an arrangement can pose several challenges in connection with customizing a file dialog. In order to be commercially viable, an OS typically offers a finite number of standardized file dialogs and programming interfaces allowing some degree of modifying a standardized dialog. However, known OSs typically do not provide enough modification choices to satisfy the file dialog customization desires of many application developers. As a result, many developers design their own file dialogs by writing extensive code to generate desired dialog elements within a standard dialog. This can be described more clearly using a simplified example. Suppose a hypothetical OS includes a function “FileDialog(argument_a, argument_b, . . . ).” By calling FileDialog and specifying values for the various arguments, an application causes the OS to display a standardized file dialog as a new window on a computer display. The function arguments might include things such as a directory location in which to search for files to open, etc. However, the customization options available using the FileDialog function may not be enough to satisfy the needs of a hypothetical application developer. In such cases, the developer may be required to write detailed code which creates the desired customization as a child window of a standardized file dialog. This scenario can create a number of problems. Much more effort is required by the application developer creating a customized file dialog. This can increase the cost of creating new software and increase code complexity. This scenario is also problematic for the OS developer. If numerous applications create customized file dialogs in this manner, the OS developer may have difficulty learning about all of those customizations. This can then impair the OS developer's ability to make future OS upgrades. If the OS is changed in a way that is incompatible with some customized dialogs, the OS may no longer support the software applications which rely on those dialogs. Consistency across dialogs generated by various computer programs is also an area of concern. Although application developers should be allowed a great deal of creativity, some commonality is also desirable. If all file dialogs have a similar design, users become accustomed to a general dialog format. Users then know where to look in each dialog for important information and can thereby respond more quickly. If many files dialogs have vastly different layouts and are otherwise not consistent in how they communicate information and seek user input, users may be required to spend more time studying each dialog. For these and other reasons, there remains a need for methods and systems to assist software developers in creating better file dialog user interfaces.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Embodiments of the invention address these and other challenges. In at least some embodiments, an OS generates a file dialog having a dedicated extensibility region for inclusion of one or more user interface (UI) controls. The controls which can be included in an extensibility region are selectable from a predefined collection of UI control types. When an application requests the OS to display a file dialog, the application can request inclusion of one or more controls of the types in the predefined collection. The OS then places the requested controls in the extensibility region of the displayed dialog. The application need not provide data explicitly indicating the positions within the dialog of the identified controls. The application may also request that the controls be placed in groups and/or that separators be included between groups.

Memory device including a dielectric multilayer structure and method of fabricating the same

In a memory device including a dielectric multilayer structure, and a method of fabricating the same, the memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first impurity region and a second impurity region spaced apart from each other in the semiconductor substrate, and a gate structure formed on the semiconductor substrate and contacting the first impurity region and the second impurity region, the gate structure including a tunneling oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate, a charge storage layer on the tunneling oxide layer, an insulating layer on the charge storage layer, the insulating layer including at least two dielectric layers, and a gate electrode layer on the insulating layer.

1. A memory device including a dielectric multilayer structure, the memory device including a semiconductor substrate, a first impurity region and a second impurity region spaced apart from each other in the semiconductor substrate, and a gate structure formed on the semiconductor substrate and contacting the first impurity region and the second impurity region, the gate structure comprising: a tunneling oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate; a charge storage layer on the tunneling oxide layer; an insulating layer on the charge storage layer, the insulating layer including at least two dielectric layers; and a gate electrode layer on the insulating layer. 2. The memory device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tunneling oxide layer includes silicon oxide. 3. The memory device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the tunneling oxide layer is about 1.5 to about 4 nm. 4. The memory device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charge storage layer includes nitride. 5. The memory device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two dielectric layers of the insulating layer comprise a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer, which are sequentially formed on the charge storage layer, and wherein an energy band gap of the first dielectric layer is greater than an energy band gap of the second dielectric layer. 6. The memory device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of a first dielectric layer of the at least two dielectric layers is about 2 nm to about 4 nm and a thickness of a second dielectric layer of the at least two dielectric layers is about 3 nm to about 4 nm. 7. The memory device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two dielectric layers of the insulating layer are composed of a material having a dielectric constant greater than that of silicon oxide. 8. The memory device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two dielectric layers comprise one of the group consisting of MO, MON, MSiO, and MSiON, wherein M is a metal. 9. The memory device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the metal is one selected from the group consisting of aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), lanthanum (La) and the lanthanide series of elements. 10. A method of fabricating a memory device including a dielectric multilayer structure, the method comprising: forming a tunneling oxide layer and a charge storage layer sequentially on a semiconductor substrate; forming an insulating layer including at least two dielectric layers on the charge storage layer, and forming a gate electrode layer on the insulating layer; removing end portions of the gate electrode layer, the insulating layer, the charge storage layer, and the tunneling oxide layer, thereby exposing portions of the semiconductor substrate; and doping the exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate with impurities, thereby forming a first impurity region and a second impurity region. 11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tunneling oxide layer is composed of silicon oxide and has a thickness of about 1.5 to about 4 nm. 12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the charge storage layer includes nitride. 13. The memory device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a thickness of a first dielectric layer of the at least two dielectric layers is about 2 nm to about 4 nm and a thickness of a second dielectric layer of the at least two dielectric layers is about 3 nm to about 4 nm. 14. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein forming the insulating layer comprises sequentially stacking at least two dielectric layers, which are each composed of a material having a dielectric constant greater than that of silicon oxide. 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least two dielectric layers comprise one of the group consisting of MO, MON, MSiO, and MSiON, wherein M is a metal. 16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the metal comprises one selected from the group consisting of aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), lanthanum (La) and the lanthanide series of elements. 17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the MON or MSiON is formed by a method selected from the group consisting of chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALCVD), low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), metal oxide chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), and reactive sputtering. 18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the MON or MSiON is formed by initially forming MO or MSiO, and then performing a nitridation process on the MO or MSiO. 19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the nitridation process comprises one selected from the group consisting of plasma nitridation in the presence of N2 or NH3, rapid temperature annealing (RTA) in the presence of NH3, furnace treatment in the presence of NH3, and ion implantation of nitrogen (N) ions. 20. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising performing a reoxidation process selected from the group consisting of rapid temperature annealing (RTA) and furnace treatment, the reoxidation process being performed in the presence of oxygen.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory device including a dielectric multilayer structure and a method of fabricating the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a memory device including a dielectric multilayer structure, the memory device exhibiting characteristics of quick data storing and erasing times and improved data retention time, and a method of fabricating the same. 2. Description of the Related Art Data storage capacity of a semiconductor memory device is proportional to the number of memory cells per unit area, i.e., the degree of integration. Generally, a semiconductor memory device includes many memory cells, which are connected in circuits. In the case of dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a unit memory cell is generally composed of one transistor and one capacitor. Thus, the volume of the transistor and the capacitor should be reduced in order to increase the integration of the semiconductor memory device. Early semiconductor memory devices, with a low degree of integration, had sufficient process margins for photolithography and etching. Therefore, reducing the volume of the transistor and capacitor was a rather efficient way of increasing the integration of the semiconductor memory device. However, with technological developments in semiconductor and associated electronics industries, there is an increasing demand for more highly integrated semiconductor memory devices, which cannot be satisfied by existing methods. The integration of a semiconductor memory device is closely related to a design rule used in the fabrication of the semiconductor memory device. For that reason, a design rule should be more strictly applied in the fabrication, in order to increase the integration of the semiconductor memory device. Thus, since the process margins of photolithography and etching are decreased, it is necessary to apply more precise photolithography and etching in the fabrication of the semiconductor memory device. If the process margins of photolithography and etching in the fabrication of a semiconductor memory device are low, the production yield is decreased. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new methods of increasing the integration degree of semiconductor memory devices while maintaining production yield. One new type of semiconductor memory device, which has been introduced in an effort to solve this problem, has a structure which differs from that of a conventional semiconductor memory device in having a data storage medium, such as giant magnetoresistance (GMR) or tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), formed on a transistor. A silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory device is one of the recently introduced semiconductor memory devices. FIG. 1A illustrates a sectional view of a typical, conventional SONOS memory device (hereinafter, referred to as “the conventional memory device”). FIG. 1B illustrates a sectional view of another conventional SONOS memory device. Referring to FIG. 1A , the conventional memory device includes a first impurity region (source) and a second impurity region (drain), which are formed by doping a semiconductor substrate with impurities, and a channel region between the first and the second impurity regions. A gate structure is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The gate structure is made by sequentially forming a tunneling oxide layer, e.g., silicon oxide (SiO 2 ), a charge storage layer, e.g., silicon nitride (SiN), a blocking oxide layer, e.g., SiO 2 , and a gate electrode. The charge storage layer has a trap site with a predetermined density. Thus, if a predetermined voltage is applied to the gate electrode, electrons passing through the tunneling oxide layer are trapped in the trap site of the charge storage layer. The blocking oxide layer prevents the trapped electrons from moving to the gate electrode. The threshold voltage of the conventional memory device varies according to whether electrons are trapped in the trap sites of the charge storage layer. The conventional memory device stores and reproduces information using this property. However, the conventional SONOS memory device of FIG. 1A has the problems of slow data writing and erasing in the SiO 2 /SiN/SiO 2 gate structure thereof, and a short data retention time. In an effort to solve these problems, another SONOS memory device structure has been introduced in which a nitride charge storage layer is composed of a HfO 2 oxide layer having a high dielectric constant, and a blocking oxide layer is composed of an Al 2 O 3 oxide layer having a high dielectric constant, as shown in FIG. 1B . The SONOS memory device structure shown in FIG. 1B solves to some extent the problems of slow data writing and erasing and short data retention, but does not necessarily provide a memory device having improved characteristics.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention is therefore directed to a memory device including a dielectric multilayer structure and a method of fabricating the same, which substantially overcome one or more of the problems due to the limitations and disadvantages of the related art. It is therefore a feature of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a memory device with an improved structure that is capable of enhancing data writing and erasing characteristics. It is therefore another feature of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a memory device with an improved structure that is capable of improving data retention time. It is therefore still another feature of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a method of fabricating such a memory device. At least one of the above and other features and advantages of the present invention may be realized by providing a memory device including a dielectric multilayer structure, the memory device including a semiconductor substrate, a first impurity region and a second impurity region spaced apart from each other in the semiconductor substrate, and a gate structure formed on the semiconductor substrate and contacting the first impurity region and the second impurity region, the gate structure including a tunneling oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate, a charge storage layer on the tunneling oxide layer, an insulating layer on the charge storage layer, the insulating layer including at least two dielectric layers, and a gate electrode layer on the insulating layer. The tunneling oxide layer may include silicon oxide. A thickness of the tunneling oxide layer may be about 1.5 to about 4 nm. The charge storage layer may include nitride. The at least two dielectric layers of the insulating layer may include a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer, which are sequentially formed on the charge storage layer, and wherein an energy band gap of the first dielectric layer is greater than an energy band gap of the second dielectric layer. A thickness of a first dielectric layer of the at least two dielectric layers may be about 2 nm to about 4 nm and a thickness of a second dielectric layer of the at least two dielectric layers may be about 3 nm to about 4 nm. The at least two dielectric layers of the insulating layer may be composed of a material having a dielectric constant greater than that of silicon oxide. The at least two dielectric layers may include one of the group including MO, MON, MSiO, and MSiON, wherein M is a metal. The metal may be one selected from the group including aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), lanthanum (La) and the lanthanide series of elements. At least one of the above and other features and advantages of the present invention may be realized by providing a method of fabricating a memory device including a dielectric multilayer structure, the method including forming a tunneling oxide layer and a charge storage layer sequentially on a semiconductor substrate, forming an insulating layer including at least two dielectric layers on the charge storage layer, and forming a gate electrode layer on the insulating layer, removing end portions of the gate electrode layer, the insulating layer, the charge storage layer, and the tunneling oxide layer, thereby exposing portions of the semiconductor substrate, and doping the exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate with impurities, thereby forming a first impurity region and a second impurity region. Forming the insulating layer may include sequentially stacking at least two dielectric layers, which are each composed of a material having a dielectric constant greater than that of silicon oxide. The at least two dielectric layers may include one of the group including MO, MON, MSiO, and MSiON, wherein M is a metal. The metal may include one selected from the group including aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), lanthanum (La) and the lanthanide series of elements. The MON or MSiON may be formed by a method selected from the group including chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALCVD), low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), metal oxide chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), and reactive sputtering. The MON or MSiON may be formed by initially forming MO or MSiO, and then performing a nitridation process on the MO or MSiO. The nitridation process may include one selected from the group including plasma nitridation in the presence of N 2 or NH 3 , rapid temperature annealing (RTA) in the presence of NH 3 , furnace treatment in the presence of NH 3 , and ion implantation of nitrogen (N) ions. The method may further include performing a reoxidation process selected from the group consisting of rapid temperature annealing (RTA) and furnace treatment, the reoxidation process being performed in the presence of oxygen.

Microwave transponder

A microwave transponder. The microwave transponder includes a conductive plate including an antenna, and a semiconductor chip disposed within a terminal gap located in a vicinity of a center of the conductive plate. A window of a predetermined shape is formed to extend from the terminal gap toward a side of the conductive plate. The perfect impedance matching is fulfilled even when the transponder is bent. Since the return loss of the electromagnetic power is reduced at least in a quarter through the impedance matching, the energy transferred to the transponder is maximized.

1. A microwave transponder comprising: a conductive plate including an antenna; a semiconductor chip disposed within a terminal gap substantially located in a center of the conductive plate; and a window of a predetermined shape formed to extend from the terminal gap toward a side of the conductive plate. 2. The microwave transponder of claim 1, wherein the conductive plate is formed of a flexible material. 3. The microwave transponder of claim 1, wherein a length of the conductive plate is approximately 45% of an operating wavelength of a microwave in a free space. 4. The microwave transponder of claim 3, wherein a width of the conductive plate is approximately 5% of the length of the conductive plate. 5. The microwave transponder of claim 1, wherein the window matches impedances of the antenna and the semiconductor chip. 6. The microwave transponder of claim 1, wherein the predetermined shape of the window is a circular-shape. 7. The microwave transponder of claim 1, wherein the predetermined shape of the window is one of an ellipse-shape, a polygon-shape, and a curvilinear-shape. 8. The microwave transponder of claim 6, wherein the window has a maximal characteristic dimension to optimize an operating range depending on a bending degree of the conductive plate. 9. The microwave transponder of claim 8, wherein the maximal characteristic dimension is a diameter of the window.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of The Invention The present invention is related generally to a microwave transponder. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a microwave transponder having a circular window structure that fulfills impedance matching in order to transfer maximum energy. 2. Description of The Related Art A microwave transponder is utilized in various applications. For example, a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, which is one of the various applications, is coming into increasing use in industry. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional RFID system. Referring to FIG. 1 , the RFID system includes a transponder 10 , a reader 20 , and a main computer 30 . The reader 20 includes a transmitter and a receiver. The reader 20 transmits an interrogation signal to the transponder 10 through an antenna installed in the reader 20 (hereinafter, refer to as a reader antenna), and receives necessary data from the transponder 10 . The transponder 10 is classed into an active type including a battery and a passive type supplied power from the reader 20 . The active type, which includes an energy source, provides a long communication distance, but is large-sized and inoperative in conditions when it is hard to obtain the power source. The passive type, which derives energy from the reader 20 , is compact-sized and free from the power, but provides a shorter communication distance than the active type. The transponder 10 , which is the passive type, gets all the needed energy from the interrogation signal of the reader 20 . The transponder 10 responds by sending its data to the reader 20 by backscatter communication using the received energy. The reader 20 wirelessly identifies the transponder 10 by reading the data. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a conventional transponder 8 disclosed in the U.S. patent application No. 2003/0063002 A1. Referring to FIG. 2 , the transponder 8 includes a thin metal plate 2 forming an antenna, a semiconductor chip 3 mounted within or near a terminal gap 4 , and a narrow long slit 5 extended from the terminal gap 4 toward an outer edge of the metal plate 2 . The slit 5 mainly matches an impedance of the semiconductor chip 3 with that of the antenna. Recently, it has been required that a transponder be adhered onto a curved installation such as a cylindrical or spherical surface, or in the vicinity of a corner of an installation. When the transponder is bendable, the antenna on a flexible substrate is adversely affected by various distortions such as bending. The impedance of the semiconductor chip is not significantly affected by the deformation of the transponder while the impedance of the antenna is obviously affected by the deformation of the transponder. Accordingly, the impedances of the antenna and the semiconductor chip mismatch, thus limiting an operating range of the identification. Specifically, if the transponder is constructed to adhere on a curved installation, its operating range is limited so as to depreciate the performance or results in standstill. Conversely, when a larger operating range is needed, the microwave power radiated by the reader has to be increased. However, the increase of the microwave power is restricted due to safety regulation or other legislation.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>To address the above drawbacks of the conventional arrangement, an exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide a microwave transponder including a flexible antenna capable of adhering on various curved surface and operating within an improved operating range and with a lower microwave power using impedance matching. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the microwave transponder includes a conductive plate including an antenna, and a semiconductor chip disposed within a terminal gap located in a vicinity of a center of the conductive plate. A window of a certain shape is formed to extend from the terminal gap toward a side of the conductive plate. In an exemplary embodiment the conductive plate is formed of a flexible material. A length of the conductive plate is approximately 45% of an operating wavelength of the microwave in a free space. A width of the conductive plate is approximately 5% of the length of the conductive plate. The window matches impedances of the antenna and the semiconductor chip. The specific shape of the window can be a circular-shape. The specific shape of the window can also be one of an ellipse-shape, a polygon-shape, and a curvilinear-shape. The window has a maximal characteristic dimension to optimize an operating range depending on a bending degree of the conductive plate. The maximal characteristic dimension is a diameter of the window.