Cloud File Metadata Access History List for Directory Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud computing environments, efficiently maintaining and sharing metadata for electronic files across a shared storage system becomes increasingly difficult as directory sizes grow, making it hard to locate and access pertinent file information.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for detecting file openings in a cloud-based shared storage environment, updating metadata to reflect access history, and providing this metadata as a list of recently accessed files, identifying users and access times, and storing it for access via applications across multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If files are stored in a shared storage device with growing directory size, then storage capacity and accessibility are improved, but metadata management complexity and file location efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts access history information from the full metadata set and maintains it separately as a list of recently accessed files. This separates the frequently accessed access history data from the complete file metadata, allowing efficient retrieval of recent files without processing the entire metadata set, thus reducing metadata management complexity while maintaining shared storage accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically detecting file openings and updating the access history list in advance before users need to search for files. The metadata is updated and stored proactively, so when users access the shared storage, the recently accessed files are already organized and ready for quick retrieval, improving accessibility without increasing real-time management complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If directory size grows to accommodate more files, then storage capacity is improved, but file location efficiency and metadata retrieval speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the metadata into different components: complete file metadata stored with the files, and access history metadata maintained separately in a list of recently accessed files. This segmentation allows the system to handle large quantities of files while maintaining efficient file location by quickly retrieving from the access history list for recently accessed files, improving productivity without sacrificing storage capacity.
3Measurement precision
If metadata is updated for every file access, then access information accuracy is improved, but system response time and processing overhead deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by having the metadata update process automatically triggered and executed as part of the normal file access operation. When a file is opened, the system automatically detects this event, updates the access history list, and stores the updated metadata without requiring separate manual intervention or additional user actions, thus maintaining accuracy while minimizing processing time overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for sharing electronic file metadata in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). In a typical embodiment, metadata related to electronic files stored in a shared storage device is maintained and updated. Such metadata may be viewable via a user interface of one or more applications used to access the files (e.g., from a plurality of computerized/electronic devices). Among other things, the metadata may identify previous accesses of the files (e.g., by user, date/time, etc.), and may be provided in a list or the like.