Format management for a content repository

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018225294-A1
Application number	US-201715428412-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 9, 2017
Priority date	Feb 9, 2017
Publication date	Aug 9, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A computing system performs file conversion upon format expiration. A computing system evaluates a risk of expiration of a first format associated with a first format object. The computing system determines if the risk of expiration is above a threshold. The computing system identifies in response to determining the risk of expiration is above the threshold, one or more files stored in the first format for conversion. The computing system converts one or more files stored in the first format to a second format. The computing system saves the one or more files in the second format.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method for file conversion upon format expiration, the method comprising:
evaluating, by a computing system, a risk of expiration of a first format associated with a first format object; determining, by the computing system, if the risk of expiration is above a threshold; identifying, by the computing system and in response to determining the risk of expiration is above the threshold, one or more files stored in the first format for conversion; converting, by the computing system, one or more files stored in the first format to a second format; and saving, by the computing system, the one or more files in the second format.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating a risk of expiration includes evaluating a market share of one or more applications that support the first format.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating a risk of expiration includes evaluating a release frequency of one or more applications that support the first format.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating a risk of expiration includes evaluating a number of applications that support the first format.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the risk of expiration comprises a user inputted value.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein converting the one or more files stored in the first format to the second format occurs on a schedule automatically selected by the computing system based upon system usage.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the one or more files stored in the first format for conversion comprises selecting a subset of the files stored in the first format based on respective dates associated with the respective files stored in the first format.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the one or more files stored in the first format for conversion comprises selecting a subset of the files stored in the first format based on one or more importance values associated with the files.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the one or more files stored in the first format for conversion comprises selecting all of the files stored in the first format that are not designated expired.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
outputting, to a user interface, an indication that the one or more files were successfully converted and saved in the second format.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the indication that the one or more files were successfully converted and saved in the second format comprises, for respective successfully converted and saved files, a respective file name, the first format, and the second format.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first format object contains information which allows the computing system to analyze respective content of respective files in the first format.

13 . The method of claim 12 , the method further comprising:
identifying, by the computing system, a second format based on information stored in the first format object and information stored in a second format object associated with the second format.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying one or more files stored in the first format for conversion comprises querying a record of associations between files and formats using format objects.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the record of associations comprises key-value pairs.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the record of associations is a table comprising a first column of identifiers of formats and a second column of identifiers of files.

17 . A system for file conversion upon format expiration, the system comprising:
one or more processors; and a memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
evaluate a risk of expiration of a first format associated with a first format object;
determine if the risk of expiration is above a threshold;
identify, in response to determining the risk of expiration is above the threshold, one or more files on a user device, said user device comprising a user interface and a plurality of files, stored in the first format for conversion;
transmit, to the user device, a request to convert the one or more files;
receive, in response to a confirmation received from the user device, the one or more files from the user device to the memory;
convert, in response to receiving the one or more files, the one or more files stored in the first format to a second format;
transmit, to the user device, the one or more files in the second format; and
transmit, to the user device, an indication, to be displayed on the user interface of the user device, that the one or more files were successfully converted.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein identifying the one or more files stored in the first format for conversion comprises querying a record of associations between files and formats using format objects.

19 . A computer program product for file conversion upon format expiration, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a computer to perform a method comprising:
evaluating a risk of expiration of a first format associated with a first format object; determining if the risk of expiration is above a threshold; identifying, in response to determining the risk of expiration is above the threshold, one or more files stored in the first format for conversion; converting one or more files stored in the first format to a second format; and saving the one or more files in the second format.

20 . The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein evaluating a risk of expiration comprises evaluating a market share of one or more applications that support the first format multiplied by a first coefficient, a release frequency of the one or more applications multiplied by a second coefficient, and a number of applications that support the first format multiplied by a third coefficient.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Chang Yu Fen
• Jiang peng hui
• Li dong rui
• Sun Lin
• Xiang Li
• Xie Ting
• Yang yuan lin

Classifications

• G06F16/13

  File access structures, e.g. distributed indices (arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06) · CPC title

• G06F16/252

  between a Database Management System and a front-end application · CPC title

• G06F16/122

  using management policies (point-in-time backing up or restoration of persistent data G06F11/1446; file migration policies for HSM systems G06F16/185) · CPC title

• G06F16/116 Primary

  Details of conversion of file system types or formats · CPC title

• G06F21/57

  Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities · CPC title