Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.

Methods And Systems For Managing Data

A system and method for automatically providing content associated with captured information is described. In some examples, the system receives input by a user, and automatically provides content or links to content associated with the input. In some examples, the system receives input via text entry or by capturing text from a rendered document, such as a printed document, an object, an audio stream, and so on.

Automatically providing content associated with captured information, such as information captured in real-time

A device for capturing rendered text is described. The device incorporates one or more visual sensors that receive visual information as a part of capturing rendered text. The visual sensors are collectively capable of capturing both text that is permanently printed on a page, and text that is displayed transitorily on a dynamic device. The device further incorporates a visual information disposition subsystem for disposing of visual information received by the visual sensors. The device further incorporates a package that bears the visual sensors and the visual information disposition subsystem, and is suitable to be held in a human hand.

Handheld device for capturing text from both a document printed on paper and a document displayed on a dynamic display device

User interfaces for browsing and/or searching are described. In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a first display area for display representations of documents matching a search query, the first display area configured to display content of the documents which can have a plurality of different types of content including at least one of text-based content and a folder, and displaying a second display area for selecting a selected document to be displayed in the first display area. Other embodiments are also described, and computer readable media and apparatuses are also described.

Browsing or searching user interfaces and other aspects

A portable device having scanning, imaging or other data-capture capability is described. In some cases, the portable device can indicate to the user when enough information has been captured to uniquely identify a source document. In some cases, the portable device calculates timestamps and location-stamps indicating when and where a data capture occurred. In some cases, the portable device is controlled by gestures. In some cases, the portable scanning device has associated billing and content/service subscription information.

Data capture from rendered documents using handheld device

An improved command handler (and database system utilizing the improved command handler) interfaces to a datastore storing item data for a plurality of items and bi-directional modifier data, corresponding to a relation between at least one first item and at least one second item, that represents first text characterizing semantics of a relationship of the at least one first item to the at least one second item, and represents second text characterizing semantics of a relationship of the at least one second item to the at least one first item. The command handler operates, in response to receiving a first-type query command that specifies at least one given item, to access the datastore to identify i) at least one related item that is related to the given item, and identify ii) either the first text or the second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item. The command hander returns i) data corresponding to the at least one related item; and ii) data corresponding to the identified first text and or second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item. Preferably, the data returned in response to the first-type query command identifies the at least one related item. and identifies the first text or second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item. In addition, the command handler preferably supports additional commands that retrieve from the datastore information related to specified objects, object types, and relations. The command handler (and database system) of the present invention may be used in a wide assortment of software applications, including enterprise applications (such as e-business applications, supply chain management applications, customer relationship management applications, decision support applications), the file system in operating systems, web browsers, e-mail applications and personal information management applications. Importantly, the command handler (and database system) provides an efficient mechanism to query the organization of the data elements (and the relationships therebetween) stored and accessed in such software applications, in a manner that efficient and readily adaptable to client-server database systems or other distributed database systems.

Database query handler supporting querying of textual annotations of relations between data objects

A method (and corresponding database system) for displaying in a view window information characterizing semantics of relations between objects. For each given relation between at least one subject object and at least one direct object, bi-directional modifier data is stored that represents first text characterizing semantics of a relationship of the at least one first object to the at least one second object, and represents second text characterizing semantics of a relationship of the at least one second object to the at least one first object. In response to predetermined user input associated with an object node displayed in the view window, a set of relations whose at least one subject object or at least one direct object is associated with the object node is identified. For at least one relation in the set of relations, the view window is updated to include a second node comprising a graphical representation of: the first text of the given relation in the event that the given object is a subject object in the given relation, or the second text of the given relation in the event that the given object is a direct object in the given relation. The second node may be a relation node associated with a given relation, or a mixed node associated with a relation-type pair. In response to predetermined input with a second node, the second node may be expanded to identify and display one or more object nodes (identifying direct object(s) of relations derived from expansion of a subject object associated therewith or identifying subject object(s) of relations derived from expansion of a direct object associated therewith). Preferably, this expansion routine is recursive in nature. The method (and database system) of the present invention may be used in a wide assortment of software applications, including enterprise applications (such as e-business applications, supply chain management applications, customer relationship management applications, decision support applications), the file system in operating systems, web browsers, e-mail applications and personal information management applications. Importantly, the method (and database system) provides an easy, user friendly and efficient mechanism to define, view and query the organization of the data elements (and the relationships therebetween) stored and accessed in such software applications, in a manner that conveys the real-world meaning of such relationships.

View navigation for creation, update and querying of data objects and textual annotations of relations between data objects

A method and system for displaying information characterizing the semantics of relations between objects. For each given relation between at least one subject object and at least one direct object, bi-directional modifier data is stored in a separate table and characterizes the semantics of a relationship between objects of different type. A bi-directional modifier is stored in distinct tables and comprises arbitrary text strings defined by user input. Test is linked to a relation between at two different object types and represents text. The present invention may be used in a wide assortment of software applications, including enterprise applications.

Object data model for a framework for creation, update and view navigation of data objects and textual annotations of relations between data objects

A database including a first graphical user interface adapted to create and store data objects, and a second graphical user interface adapted to define and store bidirectional text describing relations between related data objects. A third graphical user interface is adapted to view the data objects. Preferably, the third graphical is adapted to identify related data objects and display relevant parts of the bidirectional text with respect to related data objects in conjunction with visual indicia representing the related data objects. In another aspect, a computer implemented method is provided that stores data objects and textual annotations, each textual annotation corresponding to a given set of related data objects and describing relations between the given set of related data objects. In response to receiving a query command that specifies at least a particular textual annotation, at least one data object that belongs to a set of related data objects corresponding to the particular textual annotation is identified. Preferably, the query command is generated in accordance with user supplied parameters and the textual annotations (and associations with data objects) are arbitrarily specified by user input. The query command may further specify a particular data object and the processing adapted to identify at least one data object that i) belongs to a set of related data objects corresponding to the particular textual annotation and ii) is related to the particular data object. Alternatively, the query command may further specify a particular data object type and the processing adapted to identify at least one data object that i) belongs to a set of related data objects corresponding to the particular textual annotation, ii) is of a type corresponding to the particular data object type.

Data store supporting creation, storage and querying of data objects and textual annotations of relations between data objects

A database including a first graphical user interface adapted to create and store data objects, and a second graphical user interface adapted to define and store bidirectional text describing relations between related data objects. A third graphical user interface is adapted to view the data objects. Preferably, the third graphical is adapted to identify related data objects and display relevant parts of the bidirectional text with respect to related data objects in conjunction with visual indicia representing the related data objects.

Harold H. Engstrom

Papers

Database query handler supporting querying of textual annotations of relations between data objects

View navigation for creation, update and querying of data objects and textual annotations of relations between data objects

Object data model for a framework for creation, update and view navigation of data objects and textual annotations of relations between data objects

Data store supporting creation, storage and querying of data objects and textual annotations of relations between data objects

Database supporting creation and storage of data objects and textual annotations of relations between data objects