Patent ID: 8996593
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A file management apparatus which classifies and manages a plurality of physical files, comprising: a processor which executes a program which creates virtual folders for classifying the plurality of physical files; and a storage apparatus which stores therein metadata management information for managing metadata of the plurality of physical files, wherein: the virtual folders are for managing link information of the plurality of physical files and a plurality of physical folders, irrespective of locations at which ones of the plurality of physical files and the plurality of physical folders exist, the plurality of physical folders storing therein the physical files; and the processor is configured to: extract a plurality of keywords from character strings constituting the metadata of the plurality of physical files of the metadata management information, and acquire information on an appearance frequency of each of the extracted keywords; employ one or more keywords having the appearance frequency which is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, to thereby create a prescribed number of virtual higher-level folders; employ one or more other keywords, which each include one of the keywords employed for creating the virtual higher-level folders, to thereby create virtual lower-level folders which are associated with the virtual higher-level folders, wherein each of the virtual lower-level folders created have a hierarchical relationship with each corresponding virtual higher-level folder, and each of the virtual lower-level folders has a name including the keyword of the corresponding virtual higher-level folder; and output virtual classification display which displays a relation between the created virtual higher-level folders and the created virtual lower-level folders and contents of the virtual higher-level folders and the virtual lower-level folders.