Adaptive Folder Information Retrieval Across External Cloud Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cloud storage technologies often impair user experience due to the lack of Web APIs that allow collective acquisition of folder information across multiple hierarchies, requiring users to wait for individual folder information to be acquired, especially when external storage services do not provide comprehensive folder information retrieval methods.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that includes a storage unit for identifying external services and their respective folder acquisition methods, a receiving unit to process requests for folder information, an identification unit to determine the appropriate acquisition method, and an acquisition unit to retrieve folder information based on the identified method, enabling the system to acquire folder information in a manner compatible with the external service's capabilities, whether across multiple hierarchies or in units of one hierarchy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If folder information is acquired in units of one hierarchy from external storage services without comprehensive Web APIs, then the system can work with limited external services, but the user experiences increased waiting time and reduced operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the folder information acquisition process into multiple hierarchical levels. When a comprehensive Web API is unavailable, the system divides the acquisition into unit hierarchy requests, processing each level separately and aggregating results progressively, which enables compatibility with limited external services while managing the time trade-off through structured segmentation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic acquisition strategy that adapts based on external service capabilities. The system dynamically selects between comprehensive multi-hierarchy acquisition when available and unit hierarchy acquisition when necessary, adjusting the approach in real-time based on the external storage service's Web API provisions
2Device complexity
If the system uses a unified folder information acquisition method, then the system logic is simplified, but it cannot adapt to external services with different Web API capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring the acquisition method to each external service's specific capabilities. Instead of a single uniform approach, the system selects different acquisition strategies (comprehensive vs. unit hierarchy) based on the local characteristics of each external storage service's Web API, enabling adaptation while maintaining clear localized logic for each service type
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the acquisition parameter (hierarchy scope) based on external service capabilities. The system adjusts the acquisition depth parameter dynamically - using full hierarchy scope when comprehensive APIs are available and unit hierarchy scope when they are not, thereby adapting to different services without requiring fundamentally different system logic
3Loss of information
If comprehensive folder information across all hierarchies is acquired, then complete folder structure is obtained, but the waiting time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by acquiring folder information in controlled portions based on hierarchy depth. When comprehensive APIs are unavailable, the system performs partial acquisitions at unit hierarchy levels, progressively building complete information through staged partial actions rather than requiring a single excessive-time comprehensive request
4Reliability
If the system waits for all folder information to be acquired before responding, then complete information is provided, but user operational efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary acquisition of folder information using available Web API capabilities before the user needs to operate with the data. By proactively acquiring information in the background using appropriate methods (comprehensive or unit hierarchy based on service capability), the system prepares complete information in advance, reducing wait time during actual user operations while maintaining information completeness
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing method includes storing information identifying an external service and information of an acquisition method for acquiring folder information from the external service; receiving, from a device, a request to acquire the folder information from the external service; identifying the acquisition method for acquiring the folder information from the external service, based on the stored information; acquiring the folder information from the external service, based on the identified acquisition method; and sending the acquired folder information to the device. When the identified acquisition method is a first acquisition method, folder information of a hierarchy of a specified folder and in a predetermined number of lower hierarchies is acquired from the external service. When the identified acquisition method is a second acquisition method, folder information of a hierarchy of a specified folder and in all lower hierarchies is acquired from the external service.