Display of a plurality of files from multiple devices
In a synchronization system that synchronizes files from multiple computing devices, the present invention provides a method for (1) displaying files from multiple computing devices in a multi-view user interface and (2) enabling content and file operations to be performed on such files through the user interface. The multi-view interface includes a file-system view and one or more media-specific views. In the file-system view files are organized in the same way in which they are organized on the devices on which they are stored. In the file-system view, users can perform file operations on files. In the media-specific view files are organized by media category. In one embodiment of the media-specific view, files are organized by metadata that relates to the files content. In the media-specific view, users can perform content operations on the files.
1. A method comprising:
providing a graphical user interface to a computer device that enables a user to interact with a plurality of files;
analyzing, by at least one processor, metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files to identify a group of related files;
generating an album icon that represents the group of related files;
associating each file of the group of related files with the album icon;
analyzing the metadata associated with the group of related files to generate a date description corresponding to the group of related files;
providing, for display within the graphical user interface on the computer device, a single instance of the date description along with the album icon that represents the group of related files;
providing, for display within the graphical user interface, the group of related files in response to receiving an indication of a user selection of the album icon within the graphical user interface; and
based on receiving an indication of a selection of a file from the group of related files, and based on content within the file, providing, within the graphical user interface, one or more content-specific operation options for modifying the content within the file.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the album icon comprises:
selecting a representative file from the group of related files; and
creating the album icon based on content within the representative file.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the content within the representative file comprises a digital photo.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files to identify the group of related files comprises:
identifying a file creation date within the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files; and
creating the group of related files based on the file creation date corresponding to each file in the group of related files.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files to identify the group of related files comprises:
identifying an event associated with multiple files of the plurality of files based on analyzing the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files; and
creating the group of related files based on the identified event.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
analyzing the metadata associated with the group of related files to generate a title corresponding to the group of related files; and
providing, for display within the graphical user interface on the computer device, the title along with the album icon.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the file comprises an image; and
the one or more content-specific operation options comprises an option to crop the image.
8. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer device to:
provide a graphical user interface that enables a user to interact with a plurality of files;
analyze metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files to identify a group of related files;
generate an album icon that represents the group of related files;
associate each file of the group of related files with the album icon;
analyze the metadata associated with the group of related files to generate a date description corresponding to the group of related files;
provide, for display within the graphical user interface, a single instance of the date description along with the album icon that represents the group of related files;
provide, for display within the graphical user interface, the group of related files in response to receiving an indication of a user selection of the album icon within the graphical user interface; and
based on receiving an indication of a selection of a file from the group of related files, and based on content within the file, provide, within the graphical user interface, one or more content-specific operation options for modifying the content within the file.
9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein generating the album icon comprises:
selecting a representative file from the group of related files; and
creating the album icon based on content within the representative file.
10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the content within the representative file comprises a digital photo.
11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein analyzing the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files to identify the group of related files comprises:
identifying a date within the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files; and
creating the group of related files based on the date corresponding to each file in the group of related files.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein analyzing the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files to identify the group of related files comprises:
identifying an event associated with multiple files of the plurality of files based on analyzing the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files; and
creating the group of related files based on the identified event.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to associate a title with the album icon, wherein the title is based on the identified event.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to
edit the content of the file based on receiving an indication of a selection of a content-specific operation option.
15. A system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
provide a graphical user interface that enables a user to interact with a plurality of files;
analyze metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files to identify a group of related files;
generate an album icon that represents the group of related files;
associate each file of the group of related files with the album icon;
analyze the metadata associated with the group of related files to generate a date description corresponding to the group of related files;
provide, for display within the graphical user interface, a single instance of the date description along with the album icon that represents the group of related files;
provide, for display within the graphical user interface, the group of related files in response to receiving an indication of a user selection of the album icon within the graphical user interface; and
based on receiving an indication of a selection of a file from the group of related files, and based on content within the file, provide, within the graphical user interface, one or more content-specific operation options for modifying the content within the file.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein generating the album icon comprises:
selecting a representative file from the group of related files; and
creating the album icon based on content within the representative file.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the content within the representative file comprises a digital photo.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein analyzing the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files to identify the group of related files comprises:
identifying a file creation date within the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files; and
creating the group of related files based on the file creation date corresponding to each file in the group of related files.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein analyzing the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files to identify the group of related files comprises:
identifying an event associated with multiple files of the plurality of files based on analyzing the metadata associated with each file of the plurality of files; and
creating the group of related files based on the identified event.
20. The system of claim 15 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to
edit the content of the file based on receiving an indication of a selection of a content-specific operation option.