Hierarchical Smart Folders for Unified Metadata Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data processing systems lack the ability to efficiently search for metadata across various applications using a single search request, as they primarily focus on searching file data without incorporating metadata from different software applications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a hierarchical system of 'smart' folders that utilize user metadata to organize and search files, along with a method to index and store metadata from multiple file types, allowing for concurrent searching across different applications and file types, and providing a user interface for inputting search queries and displaying results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional file management system is used to search for files, then the search is limited to basic file attributes (name, type, date, size), but the system cannot search metadata from multiple different applications concurrently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal search interface that can search metadata from multiple different applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) concurrently through a single search request. The system aggregates metadata from various application types and provides a unified search capability, allowing users to search across diverse file types and applications without needing separate search functions for each application.
2Productivity
If users manually search through files using existing file management systems, then basic file attributes can be searched, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient for large numbers of files
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary indexing of metadata from multiple applications when files are created or modified. This pre-processing action stores metadata in an accessible format that enables rapid concurrent searches across all indexed files, eliminating the need to scan through each file individually during search operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy or representation of metadata from multiple applications in a centralized searchable format. Instead of accessing and parsing actual application files during search, the system searches copied metadata structures that replicate the essential searchability of the original files, significantly reducing search time.
3Ease of operation
If separate search functions are used for different applications, then each application's specific metadata can be searched, but the system complexity increases and users cannot perform a single comprehensive search
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple application-specific search functions into a single unified search interface. The system combines metadata from Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other applications into a unified searchable structure, allowing users to perform one comprehensive search instead of multiple separate searches across different applications.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for processing data, including metadata and an index database. In one exemplary method, a first folder, representing a first search query, is stored, and a second folder, representing a second search query wherein the second folder has a predetermined hierarchical relationship to the first folder, is stored, and the search queries are used to search one or both of an index database and a metadata database. In the metadata database, the type of metadata for one file type differs from the type of metadata for another file type.