Central Server Visualization for Peer-to-Peer Data Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for managing user data in storage appliances lack effective visualization and management of data sharing arrangements across a wide area network, particularly in peer-to-peer folder sharing systems, making it difficult to track and control access rights and geographical locations of connected devices.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented where a central server graphically displays data sharing arrangements on a client computer, showing storage units, connected devices, and their geographical locations, using distinct colors to differentiate internal and external devices, and allowing users to access and manage sharing privileges through a web-based interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a peer-to-peer folder sharing system is implemented across a wide area network, then data sharing capability and network accessibility are improved, but tracking and controlling access rights becomes difficult and management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central server as an intermediary component that mediates between multiple storage appliances in a peer-to-peer network. This central server maintains a database of sharing arrangements and provides web-based interfaces for visualizing and managing access rights, thereby reducing management complexity while preserving the distributed data sharing capability of the peer-to-peer system.
Solution Approach 2:
The central server performs multiple functions: it visualizes sharing arrangements through web pages, tracks geographical locations of connected devices, monitors access rights, and provides a unified interface for managing permissions across the entire network. This multi-functional approach consolidates management tasks that would otherwise be scattered across multiple devices.
2Reliability
If geographical locations of connected devices are tracked, then organizational oversight and security control are improved, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The central server acts as an intermediary that collects and processes geographical location information from connected devices. By centralizing this function, the system gains improved organizational oversight and security control without requiring each storage appliance or client device to independently track and manage location data, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the central server continuously monitors and updates the geographical locations of connected devices, and this information is reflected in real-time on web-based visualizations. This feedback loop enables dynamic organizational oversight while keeping the implementation relatively simple through centralized data collection and display.
3Ease of operation
If a web-based interface is provided for managing sharing privileges, then ease of operation and user accessibility are improved, but server load and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses web-based copies and visual representations of sharing arrangements displayed on web pages. Instead of requiring users to directly interact with complex backend systems or storage appliances, the central server generates simplified visual copies of the sharing state that can be easily viewed and managed through standard web browsers, reducing server load compared to more interactive management approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of graphically displaying, by a central server of a peer-to-peer folder sharing system, on a client computer of a user, data sharing arrangements made for internal and external purposes with respect to an organization. The user has rights to access such data sharing arrangements.