Access-Based Folder and File Name Masking for Content Privacy

Solution Overview

Problem

Users without access rights can guess the contents of folders or files by their displayed names, which are not modified in existing systems.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device modifies the names of folders or files to which users do not have access rights into different character strings, preventing the contents from being guessed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the name of a folder or file is displayed without modification, then the user can easily identify the contents, but users without access rights can guess the contents from the displayed name

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidinformation visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display treatment based on user access rights. Files and folders are categorized into two groups: those the user has access rights to (displayed with original names) and those the user does not have access rights to (displayed with modified names). This localized differentiation maintains information visibility for authorized users while enhancing security for unauthorized users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of the file/folder name from its original state to a modified state based on access rights. The name modification involves replacing the original name with a generated character string that does not reveal content information. This parameter change dynamically adjusts the information disclosure level according to the user's authorization status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the name of a folder or file is modified to prevent guessing, then security is enhanced, but the user cannot easily identify the contents

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcontent identification

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display treatment based on user access rights. Files and folders are categorized into two groups: those the user has access rights to (displayed with original names) and those the user does not have access rights to (displayed with modified names). This localized differentiation maintains information visibility for authorized users while enhancing security for unauthorized users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of modifying all file names to prevent guessing (which would hurt usability), the patent inverts the approach by only modifying names for files/folders where security is needed (those without access rights). The original names are preserved for authorized files, effectively using the absence of modification as the security indicator rather than the presence of modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If all folder or file names are modified, then security is maximized, but information accessibility is reduced for authorized users

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidinformation accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display treatment based on user access rights. Files and folders are categorized into two groups: those the user has access rights to (displayed with original names) and those the user does not have access rights to (displayed with modified names). This localized differentiation maintains information visibility for authorized users while enhancing security for unauthorized users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying name modification to all files and folders (excessive action), the patent applies it only to the subset of files/folders where the user lacks access rights (partial action). This selective approach provides sufficient security for sensitive content while maintaining full accessibility for authorized content, avoiding the unnecessary loss of information visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12462044B2Information processing device, information processing method, and non- transitory computer readable medium for modifying name of folder or file

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An information processing device includes a hardware processor. The hardware processor modifies a name of a folder or a file into a different character string with respect to the original character string describing the folder or file and output the modified character string to the terminal device when a request for displaying the name of the folder or the file stored in a memory is received from a user of the terminal device who is not granted with an access right for accessing the folder or the file stored in the memory.