Natural-Language File Location Retrieval Across Networked Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to accurately retrieve the storage location of files within a company's intranet, especially when files are stored on different devices such as file servers, PCs, or image forming apparatuses using SMB, as users often forget or cannot recall the exact location, limiting effective file retrieval.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus utilizing a large-scale language model that processes natural language queries to determine the storage location of files based on language vector similarity, enabling easy retrieval across various networked devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a user searches for a file using traditional methods (file management system, WEB search engine), then the search can be performed, but the user cannot easily retrieve the storage location information of the file
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image forming apparatus as an intermediary that automatically acquires storage location information of files and makes it accessible through natural language queries. The apparatus acts as a mediator between the file storage system and the user, capturing file location data when files are transmitted via SMB and making this information retrievable through conversational interfaces, thus solving the problem of losing storage location information.
Solution Approach 2:
The image forming apparatus performs self-service by automatically acquiring and storing file storage location information without requiring user intervention. When a file is transmitted to the apparatus, it autonomously captures the storage location data and maintains it in its storage unit, enabling the system to proactively gather and preserve information that would otherwise be lost or difficult to retrieve.
2Adaptability or versatility
If files are stored on multiple devices (file server, PC, image forming apparatus), then file accessibility is improved, but retrieving the storage location becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The image forming apparatus is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a file reception device (receiving files via SMB from various sources like PCs and file servers) and as a file location information management system. This universal approach allows the apparatus to handle files from multiple sources while centralizing the storage location information in one place, making it retrievable regardless of where the file was originally stored or transmitted from.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus acts as an intermediary node in the network that captures storage location information from various file transmission sources. By positioning itself as a mediator that receives files from multiple devices and protocols, it centralizes the knowledge of file locations, enabling users to retrieve storage location information through natural language queries regardless of the original storage destination.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional file management systems are used, then files can be managed, but the system cannot retrieve files stored via methods other than the file management system (e.g., SMB, browser upload)
Solution Approach 1:
The image forming apparatus implements a universal file acquisition capability that accepts files through multiple protocols and methods including SMB, browser uploads, and other transmission methods. By designing the apparatus to handle diverse file input methods while maintaining a unified internal storage system, it enables retrieval of files regardless of how they were originally stored, thus expanding retrieval coverage without compromising ease of file storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus serves as an intermediary that intercepts and captures file transmission information from various sources and protocols. By positioning itself in the file transmission path, it acquires storage location information from different file storage methods (SMB, browser uploads, etc.) and centralizes this information, making all such files retrievable through the natural language interface regardless of the original storage method.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism that makes it possible to easily retrieve information indicating a storage location of a file without being restricted by how the file has been stored on the network. In an information processing apparatus, a question message using a natural language for inquiring about a storage location of a file is transmitted to a large-scale language model in a large-scale language model server. The large-scale language model is a large-scale language model that retrieves information indicating a storage location of a file based on a degree of similarity of a language vector of a natural language. A response message for notifying the information indicating the storage location of the file, retrieved by the large-scale language model by using the language vector of the natural language of the question message, is received from the large-scale language model.