Collaborative Editing System for Secure Remote Document Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collaborative document editing systems face challenges in securely allowing remote access and editing of documents without compromising corporate data security, as direct access to remote devices can breach network security protocols.
Innovation Solution
A collaborative editing system (CES) is introduced that acts as a trusted intermediary between remote user devices and the Entity Content Management (ECM) system, enabling secure access and editing by maintaining a local copy of documents, managing permissions, and synchronizing changes while keeping the ECM behind the corporate network security wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If direct access to ECM is permitted from remote mobile devices, then collaborative editing capability is improved, but data security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A collaborative editing server is introduced as an intermediary component between remote user devices and the ECM system. This server receives collaboration requests from remote devices, processes them locally, and then interacts with the ECM only through controlled interfaces. The intermediary architecture enables remote collaborative editing functionality while maintaining the ECM behind corporate network security walls, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and security.
2Reliability
If ECM remains behind network security wall, then data security is improved, but remote access capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the ECM system remains isolated behind the corporate network security wall for secure document storage, while a separate collaborative editing server handles all remote access requests. This segmentation allows the ECM to maintain its secure position while the editing server provides remote access capabilities to authorized users through the internet, thus resolving the contradiction between security isolation and remote accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The collaborative editing server acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the isolated ECM system and remote user devices. It receives collaboration requests from remote users, translates them into appropriate ECM operations, and manages document check-out/check-in processes. This intermediary enables remote users to access and edit documents without needing direct connectivity to the ECM, maintaining both security and accessibility.
3Productivity
If multiple users edit document simultaneously, then collaborative productivity is improved, but version conflicts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The collaborative editing server implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors document check-out and check-in status across all connected users. When a user checks out a document for editing, the server provides feedback to other users about the document's locked status, preventing simultaneous edits that would cause version conflicts. The server also tracks all edits made during the check-out period and manages the check-in process to ensure version consistency, thus enabling collaborative productivity while maintaining document integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention discloses a novel system and method for displaying electronic documents on remote devices and enabling collaborative editing in conjunction with an Entity Content Management system.