File format conversion method, and file system, information processing system, electronic commerce system using the method
First Claim
1. A file format conversion method of converting a first file having a predetermined format into a second file having a format different from the predetermined format, by using a conversion program, the method comprising the steps of:
- (1) designating one of second files by using an application of a user;
(2) determining a correspondence between the first file and the conversion program for converting the first file into the designated second file; and
(3) converting the predetermined format of the first file into a format of at least one desired second file by using the conversion program.
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Abstract
In order to perform format conversion between the formats of a plurality of files without any work by a user, a file system stores a relation between a conversion originating file and a conversion destination file, and synchronously with an issue of a file operation API, the format conversion processes are executed. A user performs only the tasks essential for an application, without taking into consideration various necessary format conversions (either one-step or multi-step). During the user task, it is not necessary to designate a conversion originating file and a timing of format conversion. A user can use always a latest conversion destination file.
36 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A file format conversion method of converting a first file having a predetermined format into a second file having a format different from the predetermined format, by using a conversion program, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) designating one of second files by using an application of a user;
(2) determining a correspondence between the first file and the conversion program for converting the first file into the designated second file; and
(3) converting the predetermined format of the first file into a format of at least one desired second file by using the conversion program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 14, 15, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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3. A file format conversion method of converting a first file having a first format into second files F1, F2, . . . Fm (m:
- an integer of 1 or larger) having second formats different from the first format by using conversion programs P1, P2, . . . Pm, the method comprising the steps of;
(1) determining a correspondence between the first file, the conversion program, and the second file to be converted by the conversion program;
(2) designating the first or second file by an application of a user; and
(3) converting the first format of the first file into the second format of the second file by using the corresponded conversion program, by using as a trigger at least one timing among a timing of a file operation of the first or second file issued by the application of the user, a predetermined timing, and a timing when predetermined conditions are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
- an integer of 1 or larger) having second formats different from the first format by using conversion programs P1, P2, . . . Pm, the method comprising the steps of;
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4. A file format conversion method of converting a first file having a first format into second files F1, F2, . . . Fm (m:
- an integer of 1 or larger) having second formats different from the first format by using conversion programs P1, P2, . . . , Pm, the method comprising the steps of;
(1) determining a correspondence between the first file, the conversion program, and the second file to be converted by the conversion program;
(2) preparing as the conversion program a first intermediate program for obtaining a third file from the first file and a second intermediate program for obtaining the second file from the third file;
(3) designating the first or second file by an application of a user; and
(4) obtaining the third file from the first file by using the first intermediate conversion program of the corresponded conversion program, by using as a first trigger a file operation for the first file issued by the application, and obtaining the first file from the third file by using the second intermediate conversion program, by using as a second trigger a file operation for the third file. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
- an integer of 1 or larger) having second formats different from the first format by using conversion programs P1, P2, . . . , Pm, the method comprising the steps of;
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7. A file format conversion method of converting a first file having a first format into second files F1, F2, . . . Fm (m:
- an integer of 1 or larger) having second formats different from the first format by using conversion programs P1, P2, . . . , Pm, the method comprising the steps of;
(1) determining a correspondence between the first file, the conversion program, and the second file to be converted by the conversion program;
(2) generating a file name of the second file from a file name of the first file;
(3) supplying a user with the generated file name for the second file;
(4) designating the first or second file by using the supplied file name and an application supplied to a user; and
(5) converting a format of the first file into a format of the second file by using the corresponded conversion program, by using as a trigger a file operation for the first or second file issued by the application. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
- an integer of 1 or larger) having second formats different from the first format by using conversion programs P1, P2, . . . , Pm, the method comprising the steps of;
- 16. A file format conversion method for providing a user with a first file and one or more second files obtained through format conversion of the first file, wherein the number of operations to be executed at the same time is only one of a first file operation for the first file and a second file operation for a third file which is one of the second file.
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20. A file system for a computer system provided with a secondary storage unit for storing a plurality of files, the file system comprising:
- a conversion originating file;
a conversion destination file after format conversion;
a correspondence designating unit for determining a correspondence between the conversion originating file, a conversion program, and the conversion destination file;
an application program interface (API) for defining a file operation executable by an application program; and
a format conversion control unit for executing a desired format conversion in response to an activation of API. - View Dependent Claims (22)
- a conversion originating file;
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21. A file system for each of a plurality of computer systems of a distributed system interconnected via a network, each computer system being provided with a secondary storage unit for storing a plurality of files, the file system comprising:
- a file including at least one of a conversion originating file and a conversion destination file after format conversion;
a correspondence designating unit for determining a correspondence between the conversion originating file, a conversion program, and the conversion destination file;
an application program interface (API) for defining a file operation executable by an application program; and
a format conversion control unit for executing a desired format conversion in response to an activation of API during communications with another file system over the network.
- a file including at least one of a conversion originating file and a conversion destination file after format conversion;
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23. An information processing system including a first personal computer (PC) having a file editing function and being capable of turning a power on/off, a world wide web (WWW) server computer with a power maintained on, and a second personal computer (PC) without a file conversion function, wherein:
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PC includes a conversion originating file of a predetermined format and a control unit having an internal conversion program for controlling format conversion by the internal conversion program in accordance with an instruction form a user issued via an application program interface (API) for defining a file operation executable by an application program;
the WWW server computer includes an intermediate file obtained through the format conversion by PC, at least one conversion destination file obtained through the format conversion of the intermediate file by using at least one conversion program, and a format conversion control unit for controlling the format conversion in accordance with the instruction of the user issued via API; and
PC has a function of designating via a WWW browser at last one conversion destination file in the WWW server computer and instructing the WWW server computer to read contends of the conversion destination file.
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Specification