File Group Renaming for Association-Preserving Transfers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods of transferring files risk losing inter-file association due to renaming files in a transfer destination, which can disrupt the commonality among predetermined portions of file names.

Innovation Solution

A file processing apparatus and method that identifies files with different extensions as a group based on commonality in file names, decides on new file names to maintain this commonality, and transfers them to a different storage region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a file is stored under a different name in a transfer destination to avoid overwriting, then file overwriting is prevented, but the commonality among predetermined portions of file names is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile overwriting preventionVSAvoidinter-file association

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The file name is segmented into a common portion (predetermined portion) and a distinctive portion (extension or suffix). The common portion is preserved across all files in the group to maintain association, while the distinctive portion is modified to prevent overwriting. This allows files to have different full names while retaining their commonality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the file name are treated differently: the common portion is kept identical for all files to maintain association, while the distinctive portion (extension or suffix) is modified locally for each file to prevent overwriting. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between maintaining commonality and preventing overwriting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If files are renamed during transfer to avoid overwriting, then file transfer reliability is improved, but file group configuration is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile transfer reliabilityVSAvoidfile group configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Before the transfer process, files are identified and grouped based on their common portions. This preliminary classification allows the system to plan the renaming strategy in advance, ensuring that files within the same group will maintain their commonality while receiving appropriate distinctive suffixes to prevent overwriting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A naming convention acts as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the conflict between preventing overwriting and maintaining file group configuration. The convention uses a standardized pattern (common portion + distinctive suffix) that preserves the commonality while enabling safe renaming, thus maintaining file group configuration during transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12353356B2File processing apparatus, file processing method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 CANON KK

AI summary

There is provided a file processing apparatus. An identification unit identifies, among a plurality of files stored in a first storage region, two or more files that have different extensions from one another as a file group based on a commonality among predetermined portions of file names. A decision unit decides on new file names of respective files in the file group so that the commonality among the predetermined portions is maintained in the file group. A transfer unit transfers, to a second storage region different from the first storage region, the respective files in the file group as files with the new file names that have been decided on.