Document Server Format Conversion for Cross-Device Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Document sharing between devices is hindered when a device lacks the necessary application to open a specific document type, as it cannot display or edit files with unsupported formats, leading to limitations in collaborative viewing and editing.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize a document server to convert unsupported document types into standard compliant formats, allowing communication devices to share and edit documents even if they cannot natively open the original format, by processing the document into multiple pages of supported types and providing access information for retrieval and display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a device uses native application to open document, then document can be opened and edited, but device must have specific application installed for each document type

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument format compatibilityVSAvoidnumber of applications required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a document server as an intermediary between the communication device and the document. The server receives the document, converts it to a supported format, and provides it back to the device. This mediator resolves the format incompatibility without requiring the device to have native applications for all document types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of installing multiple native applications on the device with a server-based conversion system. Instead of having the device mechanically support multiple formats through multiple applications, the system uses a centralized server to handle format conversion, simplifying the device's requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If a device converts unsupported document type to supported format, then document can be displayed and edited, but processing time and resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument accessibilityVSAvoidconversion processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs document conversion in advance by converting the document to a supported format before the user needs to access it. The converted document is then stored and can be quickly retrieved and displayed without requiring conversion at the moment of access, thus reducing the perceived processing time for the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the document in a supported format while preserving the original. The conversion process generates a new version of the document that is compatible with the device's applications, allowing the original unsupported format to remain unchanged while providing immediate access to the converted version.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10771556B2System and method for sharing unsupported document types between communication devices

Publication Date: 2020.09.08 DAMAKA INC

AI summary

An improved system and method are disclosed for sharing a document between two communication devices that do not have an application that can display the document. In one example, the document is sent by the communication device that is sharing the document to a document server for processing into pages of one or more different document types, and both communication devices retrieve the stored pages as needed for display. The sharing communication device updates the other communication device when a new page is to be retrieved from the document server.