Methods and systems for managing data and files

Abstract

A method and system for data management are presented. A plurality of data objects is generated in a graphical user interface. Each data object includes a lift handle, which may be selected by a user click clicking a mouse, for instance. A cargo is generated and placed in a carrier when the user selects the lift handle using a pointer. While the lift and drop action is pending, each additional selection of a data object by the user via its lift handle is added to the cargo. A graphical representation of the carrier showing the cargo manifest is attached to the pointer. When the user maneuvers the pointer to or over a drop zone, a list of available actions for the cargo in the carrier is presented to the user. A drop action can then be performed on the cargo when the user selects the drop zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for manipulating data objects in a user interface comprising:
 presenting a plurality of data objects in a graphical user interface;   presenting a lift handle for each one of said plurality of data objects;   obtaining a cargo comprising one or more elements, each one of said one or more elements comprising an input selection from a user when said user selects said lift handle using a pointer;   presenting a graphical representation of a carrier, said carrier configured to show a cargo manifest comprising information on said one or more cargo elements selected by said user;   presenting a list of one or more available actions for said cargo when said user moves said pointer to a drop zone; and   performing a drop action on said cargo when said user selects said drop zone, wherein said drop action is based on said one or more available actions.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said drop action comprises one of cancelling, moving, copying, attaching, detaching, merging, appending, prepending, ordering, linking, assigning, associating, inviting, and deleting. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of data objects is a file object. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of data objects is a highlighted portion in a data file. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said lift handle is an icon attached to a data object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said lift handle is highlighted when selected by said user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising presenting said user a second list of one or more available actions when said pointer is placed over said lift handle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said drop zone is highlighted when said pointer is placed over said drop zone. 
     
     
         9 . A method for manipulating data objects on a user interface comprising:
 presenting a plurality of data objects in a graphical user interface;   presenting a lift handle for each one of said plurality of data objects;   obtaining a cargo comprising a first input selection from a user when said user selects said lift handle of one of said plurality of data objects using a pointer;   presenting a graphical representation of a carrier, wherein said carrier is attached to said pointer, wherein said carrier is configured to show a cargo manifest comprising information on said cargo;   obtaining additional selections and updating said cargo, wherein said additional selections comprises additional input selections from said user when said user selects said lift handle of additional ones of said plurality of data objects using said pointer;   updating said graphical representation of said carrier to show said cargo manifest further comprises information on said updated cargo;   presenting a list of one or more available actions for said updated cargo when said user moves said pointer to a drop zone; and   performing a drop action on said updated cargo when said user selects said drop zone, wherein said drop action is based on said one or more available actions.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said drop action comprises one of cancelling, moving, copying, attaching, detaching, merging, appending, prepending, ordering, linking, assigning, associating, inviting, and deleting. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said plurality of data objects is a file object. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said plurality of data objects is a highlighted portion in a data file. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said lift handle is a selection in a graphical representation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said lift handle is highlighted when selected by said user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising presenting said user a second list of one or more available actions when said pointer is placed over said lift handle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said drop zone is highlighted when said pointer is placed over said drop zone. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for manipulating data objects on a user interface, wherein execution of said computer-readable instructions by one or more processors causes said one or more processors to:
 present a plurality of data objects in a graphical user interface;   present a lift handle for each one of said plurality of data objects;   obtain a cargo comprising one or more elements, each one of said one or more elements comprising an input selection from a user when said user selects said lift handle using a pointer;   present a graphical representation of a carrier, wherein said carrier is attached to said pointer, wherein said carrier is configured to show a cargo manifest comprising information on said cargo;   present a list of one or more available actions for said cargo when said user moves said pointer to a drop zone; and   perform a drop action on said cargo when said user selects said drop zone, wherein said drop action is based on said one or more available actions.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein said drop action comprises one of cancelling, moving, copying, attaching, detaching, merging, appending, prepending, ordering, linking, assigning, associating, inviting, and deleting. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said plurality of data objects is a highlighted portion in a data file. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein said lift handle is highlighted when selected by said user.