File Conversion Preserving Object Composition Metadata

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Solution Overview

Problem

During the conversion of files from one format to a page description language (PDL) format, essential information such as object types and formatting details are lost, making it difficult to maintain searchable metadata and accurate representation of the original file's composition.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that render objects from an original file into a PDL format and extract tags to generate object composition metadata, which is added to the PDL file, allowing for searchable metadata that describes the composition of the objects in the original file.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If files are converted to PDL format, then the files can be shared and archived, but object composition metadata is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile sharing capabilityVSAvoidobject composition metadata

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts tags and generates object composition metadata before the actual conversion process. By performing this preliminary action, the metadata is captured and preserved in advance, then embedded into the PDL file during conversion, preventing information loss while maintaining compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary metadata layer between the original file format and the PDL format. This intermediary layer (object composition metadata) acts as a bridge that carries composition information through the conversion process, allowing the PDL file to retain meaningful metadata about the original file's structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If only text content is maintained during conversion, then string searches are enabled, but other information like object types and formatting is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch capabilityVSAvoidobject type and formatting information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the file content into distinct objects with associated tags, then generates metadata for each object separately. This segmentation allows text content to be maintained for searching while object type and formatting information are preserved as separate metadata attributes, preventing information loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds another dimension to the data structure by introducing object composition metadata that describes tags, object types, and formatting attributes. This dimensional expansion allows the PDL file to contain both searchable text content and descriptive metadata about the original file's composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9535913B2Method and system for file conversion

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 KONICA MINOLTA SYSTEMS LABORATORY INC

AI summary

A method for file conversion includes obtaining an original file including content, that includes objects. The method further includes rendering each object of the multiple objects into a page description language (PDL) format to obtain rendered objects, and extracting, from the original file, a tag for an object of the multiple objects. The method further includes generating object composition metadata based on a composition rule corresponding to the tag. The object composition metadata includes a description of a composition of the object in the original file, and is added with the rendered objects to a PDL file.