Mobile File Exchange with Automatic Local-or-Server Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional file exchange systems require users to perform additional operations when exchanging files stored on an online storage, as they need to download the files to their mobile device before transmitting them to another device, increasing the number of steps compared to direct mobile device-to-mobile device transfers.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device and system that acquires file information from a network server, determines if the file is stored internally, and either transmits it directly if present or downloads it from the server if not, allowing a unified exchange operation regardless of the file's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the file exchange system requires downloading files from online storage to mobile device before transmission, then files can be transmitted from online storage, but the number of operations increases and user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the online storage server and another mobile device. It automatically detects whether a file exists locally or on the server, and seamlessly handles the transfer process without requiring user awareness of the file's location. This mediator approach unifies the file exchange operation regardless of whether the source is local storage or online storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs self-service by automatically determining the file location and executing the appropriate transfer method without user intervention. The device autonomously checks if the file exists in internal storage, and if not, automatically downloads it from the server before transmission, eliminating the need for manual download and transfer operations by the user.
2Ease of operation
If the system provides unified file exchange operation regardless of file location, then user convenience is improved, but system complexity increases due to automatic detection and conditional processing
Solution Approach 1:
The file exchange system dynamically adapts its behavior based on the file's location. The control logic automatically adjusts the transfer method - using direct local transmission when the file is in internal storage, or server-mediated transmission when the file is on the online storage. This dynamic approach maintains a unified user interface while handling different scenarios appropriately.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs preliminary actions by automatically checking file availability and downloading files from the server before the actual transmission is needed. This preliminary detection and preparation eliminates the need for complex user decision-making during the file exchange process, simplifying the user interface while managing system complexity through automated preprocessing.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device includes a file information acquiring unit, a file information display unit that displays the file information acquired on a display unit, a file presence identifying unit that determines whether or not a file specified by file information designated by a user from among the file information displayed on the display unit is stored in a storage unit, a first file transmitting unit that transmits the stored file to another mobile device when the file presence identifying unit determines that the file is stored in the internal storage unit, a file acquiring unit that downloads the file specified by the designated file information from the server when the file presence identifying unit determines that the file is not stored in the internal storage unit, and a second file transmitting unit that transmits the file acquired by the file acquiring unit to the other mobile device.