Client Compute Document Processing Label Compliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing document management systems face high computational burdens and increased costs when ensuring documents comply with labeling requirements, particularly when handling large volumes of diverse documents, leading to latency issues due to the need for encryption and other modifications.

Innovation Solution

A distributed system where client devices and a network service collaborate to assign and enforce document labels, with client devices performing modifications they can handle and the network service completing remaining tasks, using adaptive message formats to dynamically allocate processing resources based on device capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a centralized system handles all document processing tasks, then document compliance with labeling requirements is ensured, but computational burden and costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument complianceVSAvoidcomputational burden
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides document processing tasks between client devices and centralized servers. Client devices perform local processing tasks they can handle independently, while servers handle more complex tasks. This segmentation reduces the computational burden on the centralized system while maintaining compliance through coordinated processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Client devices are enabled to perform document processing tasks autonomously based on their capabilities and the document requirements. The system allows devices to serve themselves by handling appropriate processing tasks locally, reducing the need for centralized processing and thereby reducing overall computational burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If encryption and document modifications are performed to meet labeling requirements, then document security and compliance are improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument securityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments processing tasks by complexity and assigns them to appropriate devices. Simple tasks like encryption are performed locally on client devices, while more complex modifications are handled by servers. This reduces processing time by avoiding centralized processing of all tasks while maintaining security through distributed processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Document processing tasks are performed in advance or in parallel where possible. Client devices can prepare documents locally before transmission, and the system can pipeline processing operations to reduce overall processing time while ensuring security requirements are met.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If a distributed system processes documents across multiple devices, then computational load is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational loadVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic task allocation system where the distribution of processing tasks between clients and servers is adjusted based on document requirements, device capabilities, and current system load. This dynamic approach manages complexity by adapting the system behavior rather than requiring complex static configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms to monitor processing status, device capabilities, and task completion. This feedback enables intelligent task distribution and helps manage system complexity by providing visibility and control over the distributed processing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3959855B1Use of client compute for document processing
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3959855B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3959855B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3959855B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are embodiments to manage modifications to a document such that the document conforms to requirements of a label. In some aspects, input assigning a label to a document is received. The label indicates requirements for the document. For example, the label marks the document as confidential, and requires the document to be encrypted when leaving a secure environment. The label may include additional requirements, such as particular watermarking or other content modifications to the document based on the confidential label. A device may be capable of modifying the document such that it satisfies only a subset of the labels requirements. The device then generates a message indicating a gap between the labels requirements and the state of the document, and sends the message to a network service. The network service is configured to augment the document as specified by the additional requirements indicated in the message.