File processing device, file processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of saving a file by another name at a transfer destination without damaging association between files based on commonality in a predetermined portion of a file name.SOLUTION: A file processing device includes: determination means which determines a new file name of each of a plurality of files stored in a first storing region, where, for one or more file groups each identified on the basis of commonality in a predetermined portion of file names therein, the determination means determines the new file name of each of the files in each of the file groups so as to maintain the commonality in the predetermined portion in each of the file groups; and transfer means which transfers each of the plurality of files as a file having the determined new file name to a second storing region different from the first storing region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a file processing device, a file processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In a conventional system for transferring a large number of files from a client to a server, in order to prevent files from being overwritten at the transfer destination, there has been a method of checking whether a file with the same name as the file to be transferred exists in a folder designated as the transfer destination. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of checking whether a file with the same name as the file to be transferred exists in the transfer destination folder, and if a file with the same name exists, saving the file to be transferred with a different name. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-187273 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When multiple files are associated with each other based on the commonality of a specific portion of the file name (for example, the portion excluding the extension), if the files are saved under different names at the transfer destination using the method of Patent Document 1, the commonality of the specific portion of the file name may be lost, and as a result, the association between the files may be lost.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of this situation, and aims to provide a technology that makes it possible to save a file under a different name at the transfer destination without damaging the association between files based on the commonality of certain parts of the file name. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a file group identification unit that identifies two or more files with different file extensions from among a plurality of files stored in a first storage area based on a commonality of a predetermined portion of the file names; a determination means for automatically determining new file names for one or more files when an instruction to transfer one or more files from among the plurality of files stored in the first storage area is received from a user; a transfer means for transferring each file of the file group to a second storage area different from the first storage area as a file having the determined new file name. When the determination means receives an instruction to transfer two or more files identified by the identification means as a file group from among the plurality of files stored in the first storage area, the determination means maintains the commonality of the predetermined part for a first part of a new file name of each file included in the file group, and determines a second part of a new file name of each file so that the second part is unique with respect to files outside the file group and is common within the file group. The present invention provides a file processing device characterized by the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to save a file under a different name at the transfer destination without damaging the association between the files based on the commonality of a predetermined portion of the file name.

[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a file transfer system 100. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an information processing device 200. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a file server 300. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a thumbnail screen 401 displayed on the display device 201 of the information processing device 200. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining association of an image file with an audio file according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a view showing a file name management table used to manage the file names of files to be transferred according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 5 is a flowchart of a file transfer process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8]FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method for associating an image file with an audio file according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a schematic diagram of a timestamp management table generated in the RAM 206 of the information processing device 200 during file transfer, transferred to the file server 300, and held in the RAM 303 in the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart of a file transfer process according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a file group configuration according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a file management table used to associate files in order to maintain the configuration of a file group according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0011] [First embodiment] ●File Transfer System 100 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a file transfer system 100. The file transfer system 100 includes a network 150, an information processing device 200, and a file server 300. Both the information processing device 200 and the file server 300 function as file processing devices. The information processing device 200 is an information processing device with a file transfer function, such as a computer or a smart device. The file server 300 is a server system that provides services that enable file storage and sharing, such as file sharing sites on the Internet or cloud storage. Alternatively, the file server 300 may be a file server located in an independent network environment, such as a local area network (LAN). The network 150 connects the information processing device 200 and the file server 300. The network 150 may include the so-called Internet, an intranet, or a mobile line, and is configured to connect two or more devices via wired or wireless connections. Connection devices or communication devices, such as a network hub, a wireless router, or a mobile router, are also included in the network 150.

[0012] Information processing device 200 Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of information processing device 200. In Fig. 2, 201 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or EL (Electro Luminescent) display, which displays an operation screen or a status display screen of information processing device 200. Display device 201 also includes a pointing device that detects the position of a user's input by contact with a finger, a stylus pen, or the like. It is also possible to provide a software keyboard by identifying the positions of character keys using keyboard-like image information displayed on display device 201.

[0013] Reference numeral 202 denotes a video RAM (VRAM). The VRAM 202 stores images to be displayed on the display screen of the display device 201. The images stored in the VRAM 202 are transferred to the display device 201 in accordance with a predetermined standard, and the images are thereby displayed on the display device 201.

[0014] Reference numeral 203 denotes a camera (optical image information input device) built into the information processing device 200. The camera 203 is used to capture still images, moving images, and the like.

[0015] A central processing unit (CPU) 204 controls each component of the information processing device 200 connected to the CPU 204 via a bus 210 based on various control programs stored in a read only memory (ROM) 205 or a storage 207.

[0016] 205 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various control programs and data.

[0017] Reference numeral 206 denotes a random access memory (RAM), which has a work area for the CPU 204, a data saving area for error processing, a load area for control programs, and the like.

[0018] Storage 207 is a storage for storing electronic information. Storage 207 includes a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD) including flash memory, or a hybrid drive that combines a hard disk and flash memory. Storage 207 may also include a memory card and a memory card reader. Storage 207 may also be in the form of a large-capacity external hard disk drive (HDD) connected via a USB interface 208 (described later).

[0019] Reference numeral 208 denotes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. External devices such as a USB memory, a Compact Disc (CD) drive, and a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) drive can be connected to the USB interface 208. By connecting such external devices, the functionality of the information processing device 200 can be expanded.

[0020] Reference numeral 209 denotes a communication interface. The communication interface 209 connects to the network 150 via wired or wireless communication, and communicates with other information processing devices, printers, server systems on the Internet, and the like. The communication interface 209 may also include an interface conforming to a low-power consumption communication standard such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLT) or Near Field Communication (NFC). The communication interface 209 may also include an interface module for mobile phone communication according to a mobile phone standard such as 5G or 4G / LTE, an antenna device required for radio wave input and output, and the like.

[0021] A bus 210 serves as a communication path through which data and communication signals pass between components of the information processing device 200.

[0022] In the information processing device 200, the control program executed by the CPU 204 can be provided from the ROM 205, the RAM 206, or the storage 207. In addition, it is also possible to provide the control program to the information processing device 200 from another information processing device or the like via the USB interface 208 or the communication interface 209. Various functions of the information processing device 200, such as a clock function, a time determination function, a file transfer function, and a file management function, can be realized by the control program executed by the CPU 204.

[0023] ●File Server 300 Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the file server 300. In Fig. 3, 301 is a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU 301 controls each component of the file server 300 connected to the CPU 301 via a bus 307 based on various control programs stored in a read only memory (ROM) 302 or a storage 304.

[0024] 302 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various control programs and data.

[0025] Reference numeral 303 denotes a random access memory (RAM), which includes a work area for the CPU 301, a data save area for error processing, a load area for control programs, and the like.

[0026] 304 is a storage for storing electronic information. The storage 304 may include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD) including flash memory, or a hybrid drive that combines a hard disk and flash memory. The storage 304 may also include a memory card and a memory card reader. The storage 304 may also be in the form of a large-capacity external hard disk drive (HDD) connected via a USB interface 305 (described later). The storage 304 may also be configured with multiple HDDs or SSDs that have large capacities and ensure redundancy.

[0027] A Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface 305 can be connected to external devices such as a USB memory, a Compact Disc (CD) drive, and a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) drive. By connecting such external devices, the functionality of the file server 300 can be expanded.

[0028] Reference numeral 306 denotes a communication interface. The communication interface 306 connects to the network 150 via wired or wireless communication, and communicates with other information processing devices, printers, server systems on the Internet, and the like. The communication interface 306 may also include an interface conforming to a low-power consumption communication standard such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLT) or Near Field Communication (NFC). The communication interface 306 may also include an interface module for mobile phone communication according to a mobile phone standard such as 5G or 4G / LTE, an antenna device required for radio wave input and output, and the like.

[0029] A bus 307 serves as a communication path for transmitting data and communication signals between components of the file server 300 .

[0030] In the file server 300, the control program executed by the CPU 301 can be provided from the ROM 302, the RAM 303, or the storage 304. It is also possible to provide the control program to the file server 300 from another information processing device or the like via the USB interface 305 or the communication interface 306. The various functions of the file server 300, such as the file reception function and the file management function, can be realized by the control program executed by the CPU 301.

[0031] ●Files and file groups Next, with reference to Figures 4 and 5, files stored in the storage 207 of the information processing device 200 and a group of files identified based on the commonality of a predetermined portion of the file name will be described. A plurality of files are stored in the storage 207. In the following description, each file is assumed to be an image file or an audio file acquired from an imaging device (not shown). Alternatively, the information processing device 200 may have the functionality of an imaging device.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a thumbnail screen 401 displayed on the display device 201 of the information processing device 200. The thumbnail screen 401 displays thumbnail images of image files stored in the storage 207. In the example of FIG. 4, five thumbnail images 402 to 406 are displayed. Voice memo icons 407 and 408 are added to the thumbnail images 403 and 406, respectively. The voice memo icon indicates that there is a voice file associated with the image file (in other words, the image included in the image file is a so-called voice memo-attached image). The user can select an image file to be transferred to the file server 300 by selecting a thumbnail image on the thumbnail screen 401. If a voice file is associated with the selected image file, the voice file is also automatically selected to be transferred to the file server 300. In the following description, it is assumed that all five thumbnail images 402 to 406 have been selected.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the association between image files and audio files. In FIG. 5, files 501 to 505 are image files corresponding to thumbnail images 402 to 406 in FIG. 4. Files 506 and 507 are audio files corresponding to audio memo icons 407 and 408 in FIG. 4, respectively, and contain audio memos associated with the images of files 502 and 505. The file names of files 502 and 506 are "2222.JPG" and "2222.WAV," respectively, and the portions of the file names excluding the extensions (hereinafter referred to as "main body portions") are the same. Similarly, the file names of files 505 and 507 are "5555.JPG" and "5555.WAV," respectively, and the main body portions of the file names are the same. When there are two or more files with the same main body portion of the file names, the information processing device 200 determines that these two or more files are associated with each other and identifies these two or more files as a file group. In the example of FIG. 5, two file groups are identified: a file group including files 502 and 506, and a file group including files 505 and 507.

[0034] How to determine the new file name When transferring a file to the file server 300 (the storage 304 thereof), the information processing device 200 determines a new file name and transfers the file to be transferred as a file having the determined new file name.

[0035] A method for determining a new file name will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a file name management table used for managing the file names of files to be transferred. When a user selects a file to be transferred and issues a command to start transfer, the information processing device 200 generates a file name management table in RAM 206. At this time, the information processing device 200 registers the body part of the original file name of the file to be transferred in each cell (cells 603 to 607) of column 601 labeled "Transfer Source File Name (Body Part)." Here, for files included in a file group, the body part of the file name is the same, so they are registered in one cell regardless of the number of files (see cells 604 and 607).

[0036] Next, when transferring a file, the information processing device 200 determines a new file name (a file name for storage in the storage 304 of the file server 300) and registers the body part of the new file name in the corresponding cell (cells 608 to 612) in the column 602 labeled "Destination File Name (Body Part)." In the example of FIG. 6, the transfer of file 501 having a body part of "1111" has already been performed, and the body part of the new file name of file 501 has been registered in cell 608. Also, the transfer of file having a body part of "2222" has already been performed, and the body part of the new file name of this file has been registered in cell 609. Here, there are two files (files 502 and 506) that are treated as a file group, with the body part "2222." In this case, when one of files 502 and 506 is transferred, it is registered in cell 609, and when the other is transferred, the body part of the file name registered in cell 609 is used (details will be described later with reference to FIG. 7). For cells 610 to 612, the transfer of the corresponding files has not yet been carried out, so the main body of the new file name has not yet been registered.

[0037] The new file name of the file to be transferred includes a character string that the CPU 204 generates for each file (or for each file group if the file to be transferred is included in a file group) using a predetermined generation method when the file is transferred. The predetermined generation method, for example, is a method of generating a character string based on the time at which the character string is generated in units of 1 / 100 seconds. In the example of FIG. 6, the time at which the character string for file 501, whose body portion is "1111," was generated is October 16, 2021, 1:21:15:01 PM. Therefore, the character string that is "1111" followed by "_" and the time "2021101613211501" is registered in cell 608 as the body portion of the new file name. By generating the character string to be included in the new file name based on the time in units of 1 / 100 seconds in this way, it is possible to reduce the possibility of file name duplication occurring in the file transfer destination storage 304.

[0038] The character string generated by a predetermined generation method for a new file name is not limited to a character string representing the time of generation of the character string, and may include, for example, a character string that is generated randomly.

[0039] ●File transfer processing 7 is a flowchart of file transfer processing according to the first embodiment. Unless otherwise specified, the processing of each step in this flowchart is realized by the CPU 204 of the information processing device 200 expanding a control program stored in the ROM 205 into the RAM 206 and executing it. When the user has selected the files to be transferred and has issued an instruction to start the transfer, the processing of this flowchart begins.

[0040] In S700, CPU 204 generates a file name management table in RAM 206. As described with reference to Fig. 6, the main body portion of the original file name of each of the multiple files to be transferred is registered in each cell of column 601 of the file name management table. At this point, the new file names have not been decided, so each cell of column 602 is blank.

[0041] S701 to S706 are a processing loop for each of a plurality of files to be transferred. In S701, CPU 204 refers to the cell in column 602 corresponding to the body part of the file name of the file to be transferred in the file name management table in RAM 206. For example, if the body part of the file name of the file to be transferred is "1111", cell 608 is referred to.

[0042] In S702, CPU 204 determines whether the destination file name of the file to be transferred (the main body of the new file name) has already been registered, based on the reference result in S701. If CPU 204 determines that the destination file name of the file to be transferred has already been registered (i.e., a character string associated with the character string in the main body of the original file name has been stored in RAM 206), the processing proceeds to S705. If CPU 204 determines that the destination file name of the file to be transferred has not already been registered (i.e., a character string associated with the character string in the main body of the original file name has not been stored in RAM 206), the processing proceeds to S703.

[0043] In S703, the CPU 204 determines a new file name including a character string generated by the predetermined generation method described with reference to FIG. 6 as the new file name of the file to be transferred.

[0044] In S704, the CPU 204 registers the main part of the new file name of the file to be transferred in column 602 of the file name management table.

[0045] If the CPU 204 determines in S702 that the destination file name of the file to be transferred has already been registered, the process of S705 is performed instead of S703 and S704. In S705, the CPU 204 determines a new file name for the file to be transferred, the new file name having the registered destination file name as its body.

[0046] Following the processing of S704 or S705, in S706, the CPU 204 transfers the file to be transferred to the storage 304 of the file server 300 as a file with the new file name determined in S703 or S705. For example, the CPU 204 transfers the file with the new file name to the file server 300 together with an instruction to store it in the storage 304, thereby achieving file transfer to the storage 304. Note that the CPU 204 may retain the source file in the storage 207 as is after the file transfer, or may delete it from the storage 207. That is, the file transfer in this embodiment may be a so-called file copy or a file move. This also applies to the second and third embodiments described below.

[0047] As an example, consider a case where file 502 of files 502 and 506 shown in FIG. 5 is processed first as a file to be transferred, and then file 506 is processed. In this case, for file 502, it is determined in S702 that the destination file name of the file to be transferred has not been registered. Therefore, in S703, a new file name for file 502 is determined, for example, to be "2222_2021101614152681.JPG." Furthermore, in S704, "2222_2021101614152681" is registered in cell 609 of column 602 of the file name management table. On the other hand, for file 506, it is determined in S702 that the destination file name of the file to be transferred has been registered. Therefore, in S705, the new file name of file 506 is determined to have the same body as the new file name of file 502, for example, "2222_2021101614152681.WAV." Therefore, the configuration of the file group is maintained for the multiple files each having a new file name stored in storage 304 of file server 300, similar to the multiple files to be transferred stored in storage 207 of information processing device 200.

[0048] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the information processing device 200 determines a new file name for each of the multiple files stored in the storage 207 in accordance with the determination method described with reference to FIG. 6. According to this determination method, for one or more file groups each identified based on the commonality of the main body portions of the file names, a new file name is determined for each file in each file group so that the commonality of the main body portions is maintained within each file group. The information processing device 200 then transfers each of the multiple files to the storage 304 of the file server 300 as a file with the determined new file name. This makes it possible to save the files under a different name at the transfer destination without damaging the association between the files based on the commonality of the main body portions of the file names.

[0049] In the above description, it is assumed that the storage 207 of the information processing device 200 is the storage area for the transfer source file, and the storage 304 of the file server 300 is the storage area for the transfer destination file. However, this embodiment is not limited to this configuration. For example, the storage area for the transfer source and the storage area for the transfer destination may be separate storages (storage 207 and a storage not shown) provided in the information processing device 200. Alternatively, the storage area for the transfer source and the storage area for the transfer destination may be separate folders in the storage 207 of the information processing device 200.

[0050] In the above description, the predetermined portion of the file name used to identify the file group is the main portion of the file name (excluding the extension). In this embodiment, the predetermined portion of the file name is not limited to the main portion, and may be, for example, a part of the main portion (for example, the portion excluding the first three characters of the main portion).

[0051] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment, a case where a group of files is identified based on the commonality of the main body portion of the file name is described, but in the second embodiment, a case where a group of files is identified based on the commonality of the file timestamps is described. In the second embodiment, the basic configurations of the file transfer system 100 (FIG. 1), the information processing device 200 (FIG. 2), and the file server 300 (FIG. 3) are the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, the existence of an association between image files and audio files, as described with reference to FIG. 4, is also the same as in the first embodiment. Below, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0052] FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method for associating image files and audio files according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 8, 801 is a file name, and 802 is a timestamp recorded in the corresponding file. The timestamp is automatically set based on the date and time when the file was created or updated in the system, but it is also possible to generate and record a timestamp of any date under the control of the system program. FIG. 8 shows that five image files (JPG files) and two audio files (WAV files) exist on the information processing device 200 on which this system program runs. 802 to 809 indicate the file names of the files, which do not share a common body. 810 to 816 are timestamps recorded in the corresponding files. Timestamps 811 and 812 match, and timestamps 815 and 816 also match. As a result, files 804 and 805, which share a common timestamp, are identified as a file group, and similarly, files 808 and 809 are identified as a file group.

[0053] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a timestamp management table that is generated in the RAM 206 of the information processing device 200 during file transfer, transferred to the file server 300, and held in the RAM 303 in the second embodiment.

[0054] 9, 901 indicates a timestamp recorded in each file present in the storage 207 on the information processing device 200, which is the transfer source. Timestamps 903, 904, 905, 906, and 907 are registered. 902 is a timestamp newly recorded in each file saved in the storage 304 on the file server 300 by transfer, and the time when the transfer starts is registered, rather than the actual time. Timestamps 908 and 909 are timestamps for a file or group of files whose transfer has already been completed, and the date and time set at the time of transfer is registered. Timestamps 910, 911, and 912 are blank because files have not yet been transferred.

[0055] 10 is a flowchart of file transfer processing according to the second embodiment. Unless otherwise specified, the processing of each step in this flowchart is realized by the CPU 204 of the information processing device 200 expanding a control program stored in the ROM 205 into the RAM 206 and executing it. When the user has selected the files to be transferred and has issued an instruction to start the transfer, the processing of this flowchart begins.

[0056] In S1000, the CPU 204 generates a timestamp management table in the RAM 206. As described with reference to Fig. 9, the timestamp management table registers the timestamp (transfer source timestamp) of each of the multiple files to be transferred. At this point, the transfer destination timestamp is blank.

[0057] S1001 to S1004 are a processing loop for each of a plurality of files to be transferred. In S1001, CPU 204 references the timestamp management table. In S1002, CPU 204 determines, based on the reference result in S1001, whether a destination timestamp corresponding to the source timestamp of the file to be transferred has already been registered. If CPU 204 determines that the corresponding destination timestamp has already been registered, the processing proceeds to S1006. If CPU 204 determines that the corresponding destination timestamp has not already been registered, the processing proceeds to S1003.

[0058] 9, if the transfer destination timestamp has not been registered, the process of S1003 is executed. At S1003, the CPU 204 generates a timestamp through program processing and registers the generated timestamp in the transfer destination timestamp column (reference numeral 902) of the timestamp management table. At S1004, the CPU 204 transfers the file body data and the transfer destination timestamp to the transfer destination file server 300. At S1005, the CPU 204 instructs the file server 300 to save the file body in the storage 304 of the file server 300 with the timestamp generated at S1003.

[0059] 9, if the transfer destination timestamp has already been registered in the timestamp management table, the process of S1006 is executed. At S1006, the CPU 204 acquires the registered transfer destination timestamp. At S1004, the CPU 204 transfers the file body data and the transfer destination timestamp to the transfer destination file server 300. At S1005, the CPU 204 instructs the file server 300 to save the file body in the storage 304 of the file server 300 with the timestamp generated at S1003.

[0060] As described above, according to the second embodiment, the information processing device 200 stores the files 804 and 805, which constituted a file group based on the commonality of timestamps, in the file server 300 through the file transfer process of Fig. 10 so that the files have a common timestamp even after transfer. This makes it possible to maintain the configuration of the file group. The same applies to the files 808 and 809.

[0061] In the above explanation, timestamps are considered to have commonality if they are identical, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which timestamps are considered to be common if the time difference between the timestamps is within a certain interval.

[0062] [Third embodiment] In the first embodiment, a case where a group of files is identified based on the commonality of the main body portion of the file name is described, but in the third embodiment, a case where an independent file or information for managing file associations is used is described. In the third embodiment, the basic configurations of the file transfer system 100 (FIG. 1), the information processing device 200 (FIG. 2), and the file server 300 (FIG. 3) are the same as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the existence of associations between image files and audio files, as described with reference to FIG. 4, is also the same as in the first embodiment. Below, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0063] Fig. 11 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the file group configuration according to the third embodiment. In Fig. 11, files 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, and 1105 are image files that are stored in the storage 207 of the information processing device 200, expanded in the RAM 206, and are in a standby state for selection and transfer. The image files 1102 and 1105 have different file attributes, such as file names and file stamps, from the audio files 1106 and 1107, respectively, but are associated with each other by different information.

[0064] 12 is a schematic diagram of a file management table used to associate files in order to maintain the configuration of a file group according to the third embodiment. In Fig. 12, reference numeral 1200 denotes a file management table, which is read from the storage 207 of the information processing device 200 into the RAM 206, transferred to the file server 300, expanded in the RAM 303, and saved in the storage 304.

[0065] Reference numeral 1201 denotes the file name of each image file present in the storage 207 on the information processing device 200 of the transfer source, and file names 1203, 1204, 1205, 1206, and 1207 are registered.

[0066] Reference numeral 1202 denotes the file names of the audio files associated with each image file to form a file group. Audio files with file names 1209 and 1212 are associated with image files with file names 1204 and 1207, respectively. Blank file names 1208, 1210, and 1211 indicate that there are no audio files associated with image files with file names 1203, 1205, and 1206.

[0067] To avoid duplication of files in the storage 304 on the destination file server 300, the information processing device 200 randomly generates a file name for each file when the file transfer starts, and records the generated file name in the file management table 1200. After all image files and audio files have been transferred from the information processing device 200 to the file server 300, the information processing device 200 also transfers the file management table 1200 to the file server 300. This makes it possible to maintain the file group configuration of all transferred files.

[0068] As described above, according to the third embodiment, the information processing device 200 manages a group of files (associations between files) based on a file management table such as that shown in Fig. 12. This makes it possible to save a file with a different name at the transfer destination without damaging the associations between the files.

[0069] [Other embodiments] In the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which a group of files is identified using a file name or a timestamp. However, similar effects can be achieved by using file attributes or metadata that are uniquely added to a file, or by using network information or hardware information that is uniquely added to a device as part of the file name, other than the file name or timestamp.

[0070] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a file group consisting of two files (an image file and an audio file) has been described, but a file group may consist of three or more files.

[0071] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0072] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 100... file transfer system, 150... network, 200... information processing device, 204... CPU, 207... storage, 209... communication interface, 300... file server, 304... storage

Claims

1. an identification means for identifying, as a file group, two or more files having different file extensions from each other, among the plurality of files stored in the first storage area, based on a commonality of a predetermined portion of the file names; a determination means for automatically determining new file names for one or more files when an instruction to transfer one or more files from among the plurality of files stored in the first storage area is received from a user; a transfer means for transferring each file of the file group to a second storage area different from the first storage area as a file having the determined new file name; Equipped with When the determination means receives an instruction to transfer two or more files identified by the identification means as a file group from among the plurality of files stored in the first storage area, the determination means determines a first part of a new file name of each file included in the file group to maintain the commonality of the predetermined part, and a second part of the new file name of each file to be unique with respect to files outside the file group and common within the file group. A file processing device characterized by:

2. The transfer means transfers the file having the determined new file name to the second storage area via an external file processing device.

2. The file processing device according to claim 1.

3. the determining means determines a new file name for each of the plurality of files that is not included in the file group so that the predetermined portion of the new file name for each of the plurality of files that is not included in the file group includes a character string that is generated for each file by a predetermined generation method; The transfer means transfers each of the plurality of files to the second storage area as a file having the determined new file name.

3. The file processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The determining means includes a character string generated for the file group by the predetermined generation method in the predetermined portion of a new file name for each file in the file group.

4. The file processing device according to claim 3.

5. The character string generated by the predetermined generation method includes a character string representing the time when the character string was generated, or a character string generated randomly.

5. The file processing device according to claim 3 or 4.

6. the determining means generates a new file name for each of the plurality of files; generating a new file name for each of the plurality of files, When determining a first new file name for a first file having a first file name among the plurality of files, determining whether or not a character string associated with the character string of the predetermined portion of the first file name is stored in a storage means; If a character string associated with the character string of the predetermined portion of the first file name is stored in the storage means, the character string associated with the character string of the predetermined portion of the first file name is used as the predetermined portion of the first new file name; If a character string associated with the character string in the predetermined portion of the first file name is not stored in the storage means, a character string generated independently for each file is included in the predetermined portion of the first new file name, and the character string in the predetermined portion of the first new file name is stored in the storage means in association with the character string in the predetermined portion of the first file name. This includes: The transfer means transfers each of the plurality of files to the second storage area as a file having the determined new file name.

6. The file processing device according to claim 1, wherein the file processing device is a file processing device.

7. The predetermined portion is the portion excluding the file name extension.

7. The file processing device according to claim 1, wherein the file processing device is a file processing device.

8. The two or more files with different extensions include an image file and an audio file.

8. The file processing device according to claim 1, wherein the file processing device is a file processing device.

9. further comprising a communication means for communicating with the imaging device; The image file is received from the imaging device via the communication means.

9. The file processing device according to claim 8.

10. The audio file is received from the imaging device via the communication means.

10. The file processing device according to claim 9.

11. A file processing method executed by a file processing device, comprising: an identifying step of identifying, as a file group, two or more files having different extensions from each other, among the plurality of files stored in the first storage area, based on a commonality of a predetermined portion of the file names; a determination step of automatically determining new file names for one or more files when an instruction to transfer one or more files from the plurality of files stored in the first storage area is received from a user; a transfer step of transferring each file of the file group to a second storage area different from the first storage area as a file having the determined new file name; Equipped with When an instruction to transfer two or more files identified as a file group in the identification step among the plurality of files stored in the first storage area is received, the determination step determines a first part of a new file name of each file included in the file group to maintain the commonality of the predetermined part, and a second part of the new file name of each file to be unique with respect to files outside the file group and common within the file group. A file processing method comprising:

12. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the file processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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