Method of managing attributes and system of managing same

Abstract

A method of associating attributes with an information element adapted to be individually or collectively retrievable on a basis of at least one of the attributes is presented. Attributes adapted to have a direct attribute configuration, when associated with the information element for characterizing the information element, and a bridge attribute configuration, when associated with the information element for providing a link between the information element and another information element without characterizing the information element it is associated therewith; and associating an attribute from the plurality of attributes with an information element, the associated attribute being in one of the direct attribute configuration and the bridge attribute configuration is also hereby provided.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of associating attributes with an information element, the method comprising:
 providing a first attribute;   associating a second attribute to the first attribute; and   associating the first attribute with an information element, wherein the second attribute is automatically associated with the information element, the information element being retrievable on a basis of the second attribute.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first attribute belongs to a first user and the second attribute belongs to a second user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising performing a search on a basis of the first attribute and wherein the search on a basis of the first attribute automatically performs the search on a basis of the second attribute. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising associating a third attribute with the first attribute, wherein the third attribute is adapted to be automatically associated to the information element when the first attribute is associated with the information element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one information element is a document. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a master attribute associated to a group of attributes including the first attribute and the second attribute, the master attribute being adapted to be user selectable and being adapted to associate the first and the second attribute with the information element when the master attribute is selected by a user to be associated with the information element. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first attribute and the second attribute are adapted to be defined as the master attribute. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein associating the master attribute with the information element is adapted to associate the first attribute and the second attribute with the information element via a dialogue proposed to a user, the user being adapted to manage the attributes association with the information element on a basis of actions performed through the dialogue. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein attribute access rights associated with the attributes are adapted to be managed via the master attribute. 
     
     
         23 . A method of managing information elements comprising:
 providing a plurality of attributes adapted to be associated with information elements, at least some of the attributes being adapted to have a direct attribute configuration, when associated with the information element for characterizing the information element, and a bridge attribute configuration, when associated with the information element for providing a link between the information element and another information element without characterizing the information element associated therewith; and   associating an attribute, from the plurality of attributes, with an information element, the associated attribute being in one of the direct attribute configuration and the bridge attribute configuration.   
     
     
         24 . The method of managing information elements of  claim 23 , wherein, when the associated attribute is in the bridge attribute configuration, the associated attribute is adapted to be in the direct attribute configuration when associated with another information element, whereby an attribute associated with an information element in the bridge attribute configuration can also be associated with another information element in the direct attribute configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The method of managing information elements of  claim 23 , wherein a selection of an attribute associated with an information element in the bridge attribute configuration is adapted to be used as a basis of a search query adapted to provide results including information element associated with the selected attribute in the direct attribute configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The method of managing information elements of  claim 23 , wherein an attribute in the bridge attribute configuration is adapted to be selectable and further adapted to lead to another information element. 
     
     
         27 . The method of managing information elements of  claim 23 , wherein the information element is a document. 
     
     
         28 . The method of managing information elements of  claim 23 , wherein attributes in the bridge attribute configuration and attributes in the direct attribute configuration are adapted to be displayed simultaneously in graphical association with the information element they are associated with. 
     
     
         29 . A system for managing a plurality of attributes adapted to have a direct attribute configuration, when associated with an information element for characterizing the information element, and a bridge attribute configuration, when associated with the information element for providing a link between the information element and another information element, the system comprising:
 a computing module operatively connected to a storage having information elements stored thereon;   a display module adapted to display a user interface, the user interface module being adapted to provide user interaction with information elements and attributes;   a direct attribute module adapted to manage attributes in a direct attribute configuration; and   a bridge attribute module adapted to manage attributes in the bridge attribute configuration.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein a selection of an attribute associated with an information element in the bridge attribute configuration is adapted to be used as a basis of a search query adapted to provide results including information element associated with the selected attribute in the direct attribute configuration. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein an attribute in the bridge attribute configuration is adapted to be selectable and further adapted to lead to another information element. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the information element is a document. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein attributes in the bridge attribute configuration and attributes in the direct attribute configuration are adapted to be displayed simultaneously in graphical association with the information element associated therewith.