Document Management Server Folder Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional document management systems require users to manually rename or specify folders for documents with the same name when downloading multiple files, leading to cumbersome operations and lack of path information for identically named files.

Innovation Solution

The system automatically generates multiple folders and creates an information file with path and property details for each document, allowing collective downloading without renaming, and storing the path information for easy retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a user collectively downloads multiple documents with the same name from different storage locations, then the user can obtain all documents in a single operation, but the user must manually rename or specify folders for each document because standard client PCs cannot store documents with the same name in the same folder

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownload efficiencyVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the document management server's download processing unit) that acts between the user's download request and the local file system. This intermediary automatically generates unique folder structures and resolves name conflicts before files reach the user's client PC, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining efficient collective downloading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating unique folder names and paths before the actual file download completes. The download processing unit creates the complete destination path structure in advance, including subfolders for different storage locations, so that when files arrive, they are automatically placed in the correct locations without requiring user renaming or folder specification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the system stores path information for downloaded documents, then the user can easily find and retrieve documents from their original locations, but the system complexity increases due to additional information storage and management requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument retrieval easeVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The path information storage mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it records the original storage location for easy retrieval, maintains the folder structure for accurate file placement, and provides metadata for document identification. By making this single data structure multi-functional, the system achieves easy document retrieval without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual copy of the path information structure within the downloaded archive itself, separate from the actual file storage. This copied path information is embedded in the archive metadata, allowing the user to access and navigate the original folder structure without requiring the physical files to be stored in those exact locations on the server, thus simplifying the physical storage requirements while maintaining easy retrieval capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2624148B1Document management server and document management method
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 CANON KK
  • EP2624148B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2624148B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2624148B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A document management server (10) according to the present invention acquires entity data of a plurality of content documents specified to be downloaded by the client (20), and stores the acquired entity data of each of the plurality of content documents in a different folder generated in an archive file when there are content documents having a same name among the specified plurality of content documents. Further, the document management server (10) generates an information file in which path information in the document management server (10) and path information in the archive file with respect to each of the plurality of content documents specified to be downloaded are described in association with the corresponding content document, and stores the generated information file in the archive file. Further, the document management server (10) transmits the archive file storing the entity data of each of the plurality of content documents and the information file to the client (20).