Document stream operating system

Abstract

A document stream operating system and method is disclosed in which: ( 1 ) documents are stored in one or more chronologically ordered streams; ( 2 ) the location and nature of file storage is transparent to the user; ( 3 ) information is organized as needed instead of at the time the document is created; ( 4 ) sophisticated logic is provided for summarizing a large group of related documents at the time a user wants a concise overview; and ( 5 ) archiving is automatic. The documents can include text, pictures, animations, software programs or any other type of data.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A method for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats comprising the steps of:
 receiving documents from diverse applications in formats that are specific to the respective applications and differ as between at least some of said applications;   automatically associating time-based indicators with the documents received in the receiving step from the diverse applications;   automatically storing the received documents;   automatically creating glance views that are abbreviated versions of respective ones of said documents;   displaying a cursor or pointer; and   displaying one or more of said glance views corresponding to one or more of said documents that are selected by a user wherein said one or more documents are selected by sliding said cursor or pointer.   
   
   
       14 . A method for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats as in  claim 13  including storing one or more of said documents as a main steam and selectively generating a substream of documents that are a subset of the documents in the main stream matching selected criteria. 
   
   
       15 . A method for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats as in  claim 14  wherein said substream persists unless selectively destroyed by a user. 
   
   
       16 . A method for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse forms as in  claim 15  in which said generating a substream comprises generating a live substream that collects new documents that are added to said main stream and meet said criteria. 
   
   
       17 . A method for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats as in  claim 14  further comprising the step of creating one or more documents summarizing said substream. 
   
   
       18 . A method for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats as in  claim 17  further comprising the step of updating said one or more summary documents after one or more newly received documents are added to said substream. 
   
   
       19 . Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats, the code comprising:
 code to receive documents from diverse applications in formats that are specific to the respective applications and differ as between at least some of said applications;   code to automatically associate time-based indicators with the documents received in the receiving step from the diverse applications;   code to automatically store the received documents;   code to automatically create glance views that are abbreviated versions of respective ones of said documents;   code to display a cursor or pointer; and   code to display one or more of said glance views corresponding to one or more of said documents that are selected by a user wherein said one or more documents are selected by sliding said cursor or pointer.   
   
   
       20 . Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats as in  claim 19 , the code further comprising:
 code to store one or more of said documents as a main stream, and   code to selectively generate a substream of documents that are a subset of the documents in the main stream matching selected criteria.   
   
   
       21 . Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium the code for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats as in  claim 20  wherein said substream persists unless selectively destroyed by a user. 
   
   
       22 . Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats as in  claim 21  in which said code to selectively generate a substream of documents comprises code to generate a live substream that collects new documents that are added to said main steam and meet said criteria. 
   
   
       23 . Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats as in  claim 20 , the code further comprising:
 code to create one or more documents summarizing said substream.   
   
   
       24 . Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats as in  claim 23 , the code further comprising:
 code to update said one or more summary documents after one or more newly received documents are added to said substream.   
   
   
       25 . A programmed computer system for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats, die computer system comprising a memory having at least one region storing computer executable program code and a processor for executing the program code stored in said memory, where the program code comprises:
 code to receive documents from diverse applications in formats that are specific to the respective applications and differ as between at least some of said applications;   code to automatically associate time-based indicators with the documents received in the receiving step from the diverse applications;   code to automatically store the received documents;   code to automatically create glance views that are abbreviated versions of respective ones of said documents;   code to display a cursor or pointer, and   code to display one or more of said glance views corresponding to one or more of said documents that are selected by a user wherein said one or more documents are selected by sliding said cursor or pointer.   
   
   
       26 . A programmed computer system for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats, the computer system comprising a memory having at least one region storing computer executable program code and a processor for executing the program code stored in said memory as in  claim 25 , the code filer comprising:
 code to store one or more of said documents as a main stream, and   code to selectively generate a substream of documents that are a subset of the documents in the main stream matching selected criteria.   
   
   
       27 . A programmed computer system for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats, the computer system comprising a memory having at least one region storing computer executable program code and a processor for executing the program code stored in said memory as in  claim 26  wherein said substream persists unless selectively destroyed by a user. 
   
   
       28 . A programmed computer system for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats, the computer system comprising a memory having at least one region storing computer executable program code and a processor for executing the program code stored in said memory as in chum  26  in which said code to selectively generate a substream of documents comprises code to generate a live substream that collects new documents that are added to said main stream and meet said criteria. 
   
   
       29 . A programmed computer system for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats, the computer system comprising a memory having at least one region storing computer executable program code and a processor for executing the program code stored in said memory as in  claim 26 , the code further comprising:
 code to create one or more documents summarizing said substream.   
   
   
       30 . A programmed computer system for managing a plurality of documents from a plurality of different applications in a plurality of diverse formats, the computer system comprising a memory having at least one region storing computer executable program code and a processor for executing the program code stored in said memory as in  claim 29 , the code further comprising:
 code to update said one or more summary documents after one or more newly received documents are added to said substream.