Automated Grouping of Image and Other User Data

Abstract

A user selects a data file (e.g., an image file) from an interface (e.g., a thumbnail view). Upon selecting a file from the interface, the contents of that file are presented to the user in an appropriate manner (e.g., providing an enlarged image display). The selected file is also moved to a separate folder. As the contents of additional files are presented to the user, those files are also moved to the separate folder. A new folder is created when the user returns to the interface and selects another file from that interface, or alternatively, upon instruction from the user to create a new folder. The user may then rename or otherwise modify the folder(s).

1 . A machine-readable medium having machine-executable instructions for:
 storing a plurality of user data files in a first folder in a memory;   receiving a selection of a first user data file of the plurality of user data files;   creating a second folder within said memory;   storing the first user data file in the second folder in response to the selection of the first user data file;   receiving a user instruction to present a second user data file of the plurality of user data filed; and   storing the second user data file in the second folder in response to the instruction to present the second user data file.   
   
   
       2 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein each user data file includes at least one of: an audio recording and an electronic image. 
   
   
       3 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 1 , further comprising instructions for displaying a file selection user interface presenting information about each of the plurality of user data files, wherein selection of a user data file from said interface generates a presentation of the selected user data file, said presentation comprising at least one of: an audio playback and a visual display of the contents of the selected user data file. 
   
   
       4 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein the selection of the first user data file is received from the file selection user interface. 
   
   
       5 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein creating the second folder includes automatically creating the second folder in response to at least one of: the displaying of the file selection user interface and the receiving of the selection of the first user data file. 
   
   
       6 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3 , further comprising instructions for:
 redisplaying the file selection user interface;   receiving a selection of a third user data file of the plurality of user data files from the file selection user interface;   automatically creating a third folder in response to the selection of the third user data file; and   automatically placing the third user data file in the third folder.   
   
   
       7 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 6 , further comprising instructions for automatically discontinuing storage of user data files in the second folder upon a first redisplay of the file selection user interface following receipt of the selection of the first user data file. 
   
   
       8 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the plurality of user data files are electronic image files,   the file selection user interface includes a display of thumbnail images corresponding to the plurality of user data files, and   the presentation of the selected user data file includes display of an enlarged image corresponding to the selected user data file.   
   
   
       9 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein the file selection user interface is not displayed during a time beginning at the presentation generated by selection of the first user data file and ending at the storing of the second user data file in the second folder. 
   
   
       10 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for:
 receiving an instruction to delete the second user data file from the second folder;   deleting the second user data file from the second folder;   automatically displaying a third user data file of the plurality of user data files; and   storing the third user data file in the second folder, wherein the file selection user interface is not displayed during a time beginning at the presentation generated by selection of the first user data file and ending at the automatic storing of the third user data file in the second folder.   
   
   
       11 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3 , further comprising instructions for redisplaying the file selection user interface after the storage of the first user data file in the second folder, wherein receiving the user instruction to present the second user data file includes receiving a selection of the second user data file from the redisplayed file selection user interface. 
   
   
       12 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
 receiving an instruction to present a third user data file of the plurality of user data files; and   storing the third user data file in the second folder in response to the instructions to present the third user data file, wherein the file selection user interface is not displayed during a time beginning at the file presentation generated by selection of the second user data file and ending at the automatic storing of the third user data file in the second folder.   
   
   
       13 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3 , further comprising instructions for:
 closing the second folder;   reopening the second folder;   receiving a selection of a third user data file of the plurality of user data files from the file selection user interface; and   storing the third user data file in the reopened second folder in response to the selection of the third user data file from the file selection user interface.   
   
   
       14 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the instructions for storing the plurality of user data files in the first folder, storing the first user data file in the second folder in response to the selection of the first user data file and storing the second user data file in the second folder in response to the instruction to present the second user data file are executed by a server,   the file selection user interface is displayed on a mobile device capable of wireless communication with the server, and   selection of a user data file from said file selection user interface generates the presentation of the selected user data file on the mobile device.   
   
   
       15 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile device is in communication with the server via at least one of: a short-range wireless connection, a wireless network connection and a wired connection. 
   
   
       16 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of user data files was created with a mobile device communicating user data files over a wireless communication network to a server executing the instructions for storing the plurality of user data files in the first folder, receiving the selection of the first user data file, creating the second folder, storing the first user data file in the second folder, receiving the user instruction to present the second user data file and storing the second user data file in the second folder in response to the instruction to present the second user data file. 
   
   
       17 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 1 , further comprising instructions for deleting the first and second user data files from the first folder in response to the selection of the first user data file and the user instruction to present the second user data file, respectively. 
   
   
       18 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 1 , further comprising instructions for renaming the second folder. 
   
   
       19 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , further comprising instructions for automatically generating a prompt for user entry of a name for the second folder. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to:
 store a plurality of user data files in a first folder in the memory, 
 receive a selection of a first user data file of the plurality of user data files, 
 create a second folder within said memory, 
 store the first user data file in the second folder in response to the selection of the first user data file, 
 receive a user instruction to present a second user data file of the plurality, and 
 store the second user data file in the second folder in response to the user instruction to present the second user data file. 
   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the user data files include at least one of an audio recording and an electronic image. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to display a file selection user interface presenting information about each of the plurality of user data files, wherein selection of a user data file from said interface generates a presentation of a selected user data file, said presentation comprising at least one of: an audio playback and a visual display of the contents of the selected user data file. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the selection of the first user data file is received from the file selection user interface. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein creating the second folder includes automatically creating the second folder in response to at least one of: the displaying of the file selection user interface and the receiving of the selection of the first user data file. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to:
 redisplay the file selection user interface,   receive a selection of a third user data file of the plurality of user data from the file selection user interface,   automatically create a third folder in response to the selection of the third user data file, and   place the third user data file in the third folder.   
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to automatically discontinue storage of user data files in the second folder upon a first redisplay of the file selection user interface following the receipt of the selection of the first user data file. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the plurality of user data files are electronic image files,   the file selection user interface includes a display of thumbnail images corresponding to the plurality of user data files, and   the presentation of the selected user data file includes display of an enlarged image corresponding to the selected user data file.   
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the file selection user interface is not displayed during a time beginning at the presentation generated by selection of the first user data file and ending at the storing of the second user data file in the second folder. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to:
 receive an instruction to delete the second user data file from the second folder,   delete the second user data file from the second folder,   display a third user data file of the plurality of user data files, and   store the third user data file in the second folder, wherein the file selection user interface is not displayed during a time beginning at the presentation generated by selection of the first user data file and ending at the automatic storing of the third user data file in the second folder.   
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to redisplay the file selection user interface after the automatic storing of the first user data file in the second folder, wherein receipt of the user instruction to present the second user data file comprises receiving a selection of the second user data file from the redisplayed file selection user interface. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to:
 receive an instruction to present a third user data file of the plurality of user data files, and   store the third user data file in the second folder in response to the instruction to present the third user data file, wherein the file selection user interface is not displayed during a time beginning at the file presentation generated by selection of the second user data file and ending at the automatic storing of the third user data file in the second folder.   
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to:
 close the second folder,   reopen the second folder,   receive a selection of a third user data file of the plurality of user data from the file selection user interface, and   store the third user data file in the reopened second folder in response to the selection of the third user data file.   
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to:
 transmit the file selection user interface for display on a mobile device capable of wireless communication with the server, and   in response to selection of a user data file from said interface displayed on the mobile device, transmitting the selected user data file to said mobile device for presentation on the mobile device.   
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the server is in communication with the mobile device via at least one of: a short-range wireless connection, a wireless network connection and a wired connection. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of user data files was created with a mobile device and communicated to the server through the communications interface. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to delete the first and second user data files from the first folder in response to the selection of the first user data file and the instruction to present the second user data file, respectively. 
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to rename the second folder. 
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to automatically generate a prompt for user entry of a name for the second folder. 
   
   
       39 . A method comprising:
 storing a plurality of user data files in a first folder in a memory;   receiving a selection of a first user data file of the plurality of user data files;   creating a second folder within said memory;   storing the first user data file in the second folder in response to the selection of the first user data file;   receiving a user instruction to present a second user data file of the plurality of user data filed; and   storing the second user data file in the second folder in response to the instruction to present the second user data file.   
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising displaying a file selection user interface presenting information about each of the plurality of user data files, wherein selection of a user data file from said interface generates a presentation of the selected user data file, said presentation comprising at least one of: an audio playback and a visual display of the contents of the selected user data file. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the selection of the first user data file is received from the file selection user interface. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein creating the second folder includes automatically creating the second folder in response to at least one of: the displaying of the file selection user interface and the receiving of the selection of the first user data file. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 redisplaying the file selection user interface;   receiving a selection of a third user data file of the plurality of user data files from the file selection user interface;   automatically creating a third folder in response to the selection of the third user data file; and   automatically placing the third user data file in the third folder.