Automated Tag Suggestion System for Data Object Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tag-associated data-object storage systems face challenges such as tag proliferation, leading to a cumbersome user interface and decreased usability due to the exponential increase in tags over time, making it difficult for users to efficiently store and retrieve data objects.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an automated tag suggestion system that analyzes data objects to recommend pre-existing tags and groups most likely associated with new data objects, reducing the need for users to manually select or define new tags, thereby constraining tag explosion and improving data-object retrieval efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users manually assign tags to data objects in a tag-associated storage system, then the system provides flexibility and simplicity in data storage, but tag proliferation occurs leading to a cumbersome user interface and decreased usability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in data storageVSAvoidusability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically assigns tags to data objects without requiring manual user input. The automated tag assignment system analyzes data objects and assigns appropriate tags autonomously, eliminating the manual tagging process that leads to tag proliferation while maintaining the flexibility of tag-based storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of tag assignment from manual user action to automated system action. By transforming the tagging process from a user-driven operation to an automated process, the system reduces tag proliferation while preserving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system allows free creation of tags by users, then the system adapts to diverse data types and user needs, but the number of tags increases exponentially over time making retrieval difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to diverse data typesVSAvoidnumber of tags

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated tag assignment system performs self-service by analyzing data objects and assigning tags without requiring users to create new tags. This reduces the exponential growth of tags while maintaining adaptability to diverse data types through intelligent analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of data objects before tag assignment, identifying appropriate tags from existing sets. This preliminary action prevents the creation of redundant tags and controls tag proliferation while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If users are presented with a large list of existing tags for selection, then comprehensive tagging is possible, but the time required to select appropriate tags increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensiveness of taggingVSAvoidtime for tag selection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The automated system performs tag selection without user intervention, eliminating the time users would spend selecting from large tag lists while ensuring comprehensive and accurate tagging through systematic analysis of data objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the manual mechanical process of tag selection with an automated computational process. This substitution eliminates the time loss associated with manual tag selection while maintaining comprehensive tagging through algorithmic analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If the system provides a simplified tag-based interface, then usability is improved compared to traditional file systems, but tag proliferation eventually makes the interface cumbersome again

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveusabilityVSAvoidnumber of tags

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated tag assignment system maintains simplified usability by handling tag management autonomously. Users interact with a simple interface while the system automatically manages the tag set, preventing proliferation from making the interface cumbersome.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The automated tag assignment system acts as an intermediary between users and the tag system. It absorbs the complexity of tag management, allowing users to interact with a simplified interface while preventing tag proliferation from degrading usability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9443038B2Method and system for tag suggestion in a tag-associated data-object storage system

Publication Date: 2016.09.13 VULCAN TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to facilitating tag assignment to data objects as data objects are added to a tag-associated data-object storage system by users of the tag-associated data-object storage system and to facilitate subsequent display, access, and further characterization of data objects that already reside in the a tag-associated data-object storage system. Methods and systems of the present invention provide for automated tag suggestion to users in order to both increase usability of the interface provided to the tag-associated data-object storage systems as well as decrease the likelihood of unnecessary and unproductive tag proliferation within the tag-associated data-object storage system.