File Picker Module for Unified Multi-Host Storage Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in tracking and accessing various types of files stored across different storage devices, as existing systems require manual access and management through multiple applications, leading to cumbersome file retrieval and saving processes.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a file management module with a broker and picker module, which receives file access requests, identifies suitable file hosts, and displays a user interface with a hosted area where users can select files for retrieval or saving, allowing seamless interaction with multiple file hosts without knowledge of their specific data models or namespaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users manually access and manage files through multiple storage devices and applications, then files can be stored on various devices, but the process becomes cumbersome and difficult to track
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a file picker module as an intermediary component that sits between applications and multiple file hosts (storage devices). This module receives file access requests from applications, automatically identifies suitable file hosts based on file types, and presents a unified interface for users to select files. This mediator eliminates the need for users to manually navigate through multiple storage devices and applications, resolving the contradiction between versatile file access and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The file picker module serves multiple functions: it acts as a universal access point for retrieving files from any connected storage device, handles file type identification and matching, manages the user interface for file selection, and coordinates with different file hosts. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace multiple separate access methods, making file management easier while maintaining versatility across different storage devices.
2Productivity
If applications directly access files from storage devices, then file access is straightforward, but applications must know about different storage devices and their data models
Solution Approach 1:
The file picker module serves as an intermediary layer between applications and the complex underlying file host architecture. Applications simply request files through the picker module without needing to understand or directly interact with multiple storage devices, their different data models, namespaces, or access protocols. The picker module handles all the complexity of locating files across different hosts, translating application requests into appropriate file host operations, and returning results to applications in a unified manner.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an abstracted view or copy of the file access interface that applications interact with, rather than requiring them to deal with the actual complexity of multiple storage devices. The file picker module presents a simplified, standardized interface that mimics direct file access while internally managing the complex interactions with various file hosts, allowing applications to work with file representations without knowing their physical storage locations or host-specific details.
Data Source
AI summary
A file access request is received from an application. One or more file types for the file access request are identified, and one or more file hosts supporting files of the identified one or more file types are also identified. A user interface is displayed, the user interface including a hosted area. Within the hosted area, at least one of the one or more file hosts displays a portion of the user interface identifying one or more files of at least one file host that can be selected for retrieval, or one or more locations that can be selected to which the one or more files are saved.