Collection content classifier
View Patent ↗Collection content classifiers classify computer files and other collection content in accordance with predetermined classification specifications. In operation, collection content classifiers dynamically discover collection content members, assign data types to content members, associate symbolic actions with content members, determine processing dependencies among content members, and return organized classification information to calling programs for subsequent use in processing content members. Collection content classifiers thereby improve the productivity of human knowledge workers by enabling the construction of smart, collection-aware application programs that can perform more extensive, more complex, and more automated collection processing operations than were previously possible.
1. A collection content classifier process, to be performed on or with the aid of a programmable device that is configured with collection content classifier software means for producing classification information for collections, the process comprising the steps of:
determining collection membership information for a collection being processed;
making said collection membership information available for use by software programs;
assigning content types to collection content files listed in said collection membership information; and
making said assigned content types available for use by software programs,
wherein collections are data structures comprised of a collection specifier and collection content containing zero or more collection content files, and wherein a collection specifier contains information about a collection instance, and wherein collection membership information describes collection content.
2. The process of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of
assigning symbolic processing actions to collection members, or to collection product members, or to content file members listed in said collection membership information; and
making said assigned symbolic processing actions available for use by software programs.
3. The process of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of
determining dependency information for collection content file members listed in said collection membership information; and
making said dependency information available for use by software programs.
4. A programmable collection content classifier device, configured with collection content classifier software means for producing classification information for collections, whose actions are directed by software means executing a process comprising the following steps:
determining collection membership information for a collection being processed;
making said collection membership information available for use by software programs;
assigning content types to collection content files listed in said collection membership information; and
making said assigned content types available for use by software programs,
wherein collections are data structures comprised of a collection specifier and collection content containing zero or more collection content files, and wherein a collection specifier contains information about a collection instance, and wherein collection membership information describes collection content.
5. The programmable device of claim 4 , further comprising the process steps of
assigning symbolic processing actions to collection members, or to collection product members, or to content file members listed in said collection membership information; and
making said assigned symbolic processing actions available for use by software programs.
6. The programmable device of claim 4 , further comprising the process steps of
determining dependency information for collection content file members listed in said collection membership information; and
making said dependency information available for use by software programs.
7. A computer readable memory, encoded with data representing a collection content classifier computer program that can be used to direct a programmable device when used by the programmable device, comprising
means for determining collection membership information for a collection being processed;
means for making said collection membership information available for use by software programs;
means for assigning content types to collection content files listed in said collection membership information; and
means for making said assigned content types available for use by software programs,
wherein collections are data structures comprised of a collection specifier and collection content containing zero or more collection content files, and wherein a collection specifier contains information about a collection instance, and wherein collection membership information describes collection content.
8. The computer readable memory of claim 7 , further comprising
means for assigning symbolic processing actions to collection members, or to collection product members, or to content file members listed in said collection membership information; and
means for making said assigned symbolic processing actions available for use by software programs.
9. The computer readable memory of claim 8 , further comprising
means for determining dependency information for collection content file members listed in said collection membership information; and
means for making said dependency information available for use by software programs.