Remote Preview Generation via Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content management systems face challenges in efficiently presenting previews of remotely stored content objects in a local content object viewer, as they require downloading and processing large files, which consumes bandwidth and storage resources, and often need specialized applications, making it costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The system intercepts preview requests to deliver URLs that refer to preformatted previews of shared content objects in an embedded browser element, allowing for the presentation of previews without the need for local copies, using a remote repository with powerful resources to generate richer previews.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If files are downloaded from network location to local machine for preview generation, then preview quality is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases and storage resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the preview generation process from the local machine and relocates it to a remote server. Instead of downloading entire files to generate previews locally, the system extracts only the necessary preview data and transmits it to the client, significantly reducing network bandwidth consumption while maintaining preview quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the file processing workflow into distinct components: file storage remains on the network server, preview generation is performed remotely by specialized applications on the server, and only the resulting preview data is transmitted to the local machine. This segmentation eliminates the need to transfer large file data while still providing high-quality previews.
2Manufacturing precision
If files are downloaded from network location to local machine for preview generation, then preview quality is improved, but local storage resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the preview generation function from the local environment and performs it remotely. Only the small preview result data is stored locally, not the entire source file, thereby minimizing local storage resource consumption while maintaining the ability to generate high-quality previews.
3Adaptability or versatility
If specialized applications are executed locally to generate previews, then preview capability is improved, but computational cost increases and economic cost of hosting applications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote server as an intermediary between the file storage system and the client application. This intermediary server hosts the specialized preview generation applications, providing the necessary computational capabilities without requiring them to run on resource-constrained client machines. The server acts as a mediator that handles the computationally intensive tasks centrally.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of copying specialized applications to each local machine, the system maintains a single centralized copy of the preview generation applications on the remote server. Multiple clients can simultaneously access and utilize these applications through network connections, eliminating the need for redundant local installations and reducing overall computational resource requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and computer program products for content management and collaboration systems. Embodiments address handling remotely-stored preformatted previews of remotely stored content objects for display on a user device without having to store a local copy of the remotely stored content objects to the user device. A user operates a content object viewer that is provided as part of the operating system running on the user device. As provided, the content object viewer includes a graphical user interface for accessing files of the operating system. Using the graphical user interface capabilities of the content object viewer, the user selects a particular one of the remotely stored content objects. Upon such selection, the content object viewer displays a preview of the particular one of the remotely stored content objects without having to have a local copy of the particular one of the remotely stored content objects at the user device.