Editing Non-Native Files Without Format Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

When editing files created with a different software application, existing technologies often result in data loss due to unsupported features, as they convert the file to a native format, losing non-supported features in the process.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows editing files in their native format using a non-native application by selecting an appropriate engine configured to edit the file format, rendering and processing edits without converting the file, and saving the edited file in its original format, while preventing modifications to unsupported features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the application converts the file to its native format, then the file can be edited using the application's native format features, but data loss occurs because unsupported features are not saved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile editing capabilityVSAvoidunsupported features

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary conversion process that translates the source format's feature set into the native format's feature set, allowing the application to edit files in their original format without losing unsupported features. The intermediary acts as a bridge between incompatible formats, preserving data integrity while enabling editing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the application loads only supported features, then the application can process the file without errors, but data loss occurs because unsupported features are excluded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile processing stabilityVSAvoidunsupported features

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of feature support by dynamically adjusting which features are loaded and processed based on the application's capabilities. Instead of rigidly loading only supported features, the system transforms the feature parameter set to maintain compatibility while preserving information through format translation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If the application saves only loaded features, then the file can be stored in the native format, but data loss occurs because features not loaded are not saved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile saving capabilityVSAvoidunsupported features

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediary conversion process ensures that when saving files, the system translates the native format's feature set back into the source format's feature set, preserving all original features including those previously marked as unsupported. This bidirectional translation eliminates information loss during the save operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9639511B2Systems and methods for editing a file in a non-native application using an application engine

Publication Date: 2017.05.02 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for editing documents with non-native applications using an application engine. A request to open a document file using a non-native application is received from a user. An engine of the non-native application is selected, the engine being configured to edit the format of the file. Modifications to the document are received by the non-native application engine, and the document is saved to the file using the format of the file, without converting the document to a different format.