Systems and methods for searching digital assets using virtual folders having labels based on taxonomy tags
Systems and methods for managing digital assets in a distributed computing environment are described. Meta-data for the digital assets is stored separately from the digital assets. Meta-data for some of the digital assets is copied and stored at a central location. Meta-data for the digital assets is generated by clients of the system.
1 . A method of locating a digital asset in a distributed computing environment, the environment having a central computing device that stores meta-data for at least one digital asset and one or more clients that locally stores respective digital assets, the method comprising:
(a) receiving a search command from an end-user of the client;
(b) identifying at least one taxonomy tag associated with a digital asset stored by the client; and
(c) displaying at least one folder to the end-user, the at least one folder having a label associated with the at least one identified taxonomy tag.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying at least one keyword by processing the digital assets stored by the client.
3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying at least one additional folder containing a reference to a digital asset including the at least one keyword.
4 . The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying at least one folder having a label comprising the identified keyword.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one folder is displayed graphically to the end-user.
6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising intercepting the search command by a filter driver.
7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising intercepting the search command by a plug-in module.
8 . A system for locating a digital asset in a distributed computing environment, the environment having a central computing device that stores meta-data for at least one digital asset and one or more clients that locally stores respective digital assets, the system comprising:
a computing device that receives a search command from an end-user of the computing device, identifies at least one taxonomy tag associated with a digital asset stored by the client, and displays at least one folder to the end-user, the at least one folder having a label associated with the at least one identified taxonomy tag.
9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the computing device identifies at least one keyword by processing the digital assets stored by the computing device.
10 . The system of claim 9 wherein the computing device displays at least one additional folder containing a reference to a digital asset including the at least one keyword.
11 . The system of claim 9 wherein the computing device displays at least one folder having a label comprising the identified keyword.
12 . The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one folder is displayed graphically to the end-user.
13 . The system of claim 8 wherein the computing device comprises a filter driver that intercepts the search command.
14 . The system of claim 8 wherein the computing device comprises a plug-in module that intercepts the search command.
15 . A computer readable medium having executable instructions thereon to locate a digital asset in a distributed computing environment, the environment having a central computing device that stores meta-data for at least one digital asset and one or more clients that locally stores respective digital assets, the computer readable medium comprising:
(a) instructions receive a search command from an end-user of the client
(b) instructions to identify at least one taxonomy tag associated with a digital asset stored by the client; and
(c) instruction to display at least one folder to the end-user, the at least one folder having a label associated with the at least one identified taxonomy tag.
16 . The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions to identify at least one keyword by processing the digital assets stored by the client.
17 . The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising instructions to display at least one additional folder containing a reference to a digital asset including the at least one keyword.
18 . The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising instructions to displays at least one folder having a label comprising the identified keyword.
19 . The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the at least one folder is displayed graphically to the end-user.
20 . The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions to cause a filter driver to intercept the search command.
21 . The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions to cause a plug-in module to intercept the search command.