File Suggestion Module for Multi-Source Querying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in accessing and managing files across multiple storage locations and applications, as existing methods are limited in multi-dimensional file storage environments, requiring manual searches and lacking efficient file suggestion mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for automatically suggesting relevant files by detecting user actions and generating queries across local and remote data stores, prioritizing and grouping files based on relevance criteria, and presenting them through a user interface, utilizing a file suggestion module integrated within the operating system or applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual file search methods are used, then users can access files across multiple storage locations, but user efficiency decreases and time is lost due to manual searching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser efficiencyVSAvoidtime for manual search
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs file search and suggestion without requiring user intervention. The file suggestion module autonomously monitors user actions, generates search queries, and presents relevant files, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user searching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively suggests files before users need them by monitoring current user actions and pre-computing relevant file suggestions. This preliminary action of anticipating user needs and preparing file suggestions in advance eliminates the need for manual searching when users actually need files.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing file suggestion approaches are used, then some file recommendations are provided, but they are limited to one-dimensional storage and lack multi-dimensional file context

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-dimensional file contextVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from one-dimensional file storage suggestions to multi-dimensional file context by incorporating file attributes, user actions, storage locations, and temporal relationships. This dimensional expansion allows the system to suggest files based on multiple criteria simultaneously, providing comprehensive multi-dimensional file context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If automated file suggestion is implemented, then user efficiency improves, but processor load and network bandwidth usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser efficiencyVSAvoidprocessor load and network bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial automated file suggestion by generating suggestions based on specific user actions and contexts rather than continuously searching all files. This partial action approach provides sufficient file suggestions to improve user efficiency while avoiding the excessive processor load and network bandwidth consumption that would result from comprehensive continuous searching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3221803B1Relevant file identification using automated queries to disparate data storage locations
Publication Date: 2020.05.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3221803B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3221803B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3221803B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Relevant files are determined for a user upon detecting a user action such as save, load, open, view, share, or comparable ones associated with a file. The relevancy may be determined through one or more queries based on a number of criteria, where the queries are executed on local or remote data stores related to the user. For example, files on the local computing device of the user, files in an enterprise network associated with the user, files on a social network subscribed by the user may be evaluated for various relevancy criteria. Files determined to be relevant may be prioritized, ordered, and/or grouped for suggestion to the user and presented through a user interface of an application performing the detected action.