Collection Content References for Granular File Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing online content storage systems face inflexibilities in permission and sharing settings, leading to inefficient storage use and inaccurate access control, and lack an intuitive graphical user interface for accessing and presenting multiple files.
Innovation Solution
A content management system that generates and manages collection content items, allowing flexible permission and sharing settings at the file level, includes references to content items across various storage locations, and provides a streamlined graphical user interface for easy access and viewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If folder level permission settings are applied in existing storage systems, then permission management is simplified, but permission accuracy deteriorates causing users to either gain unauthorized access or lose intended access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments permission control from the folder level to the individual content item level. Each content item can have its own permission settings, allowing precise control over who can access which specific files or folders. This segmentation enables users to grant access to specific content items without necessarily granting access to entire folders, thereby resolving the contradiction between simplified management and accurate permission control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different permission settings for different content items within the same folder. Instead of applying a uniform permission setting across an entire folder, each content item can have customized permissions tailored to its specific access requirements. This enables granular control where each content item's access rights are optimized independently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users manually create duplicative folders and copies of files for individual sharing combinations, then sharing flexibility is achieved, but storage efficiency deteriorates due to multiple copies of the same files
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtual copying through references rather than physical duplication. Instead of creating actual duplicate copies of files in different folders, the system creates reference links to the original content items. These references allow the same content item to be accessed from multiple locations and shared with multiple users without consuming additional storage space, thereby maintaining storage efficiency while achieving sharing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces references as an intermediary between users and content items. Rather than directly sharing content items through manual folder copying, the reference acts as a mediator that enables flexible sharing arrangements. Users can share references to content items with specific permission settings, and the reference system manages the actual access control, eliminating the need for manual duplicative folder structures.
3Ease of operation
If users manually navigate through folders and open each file separately in existing systems, then file access is achieved, but user efficiency deteriorates due to multiple separate steps and haphazard display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple file access operations into a single unified action. Instead of requiring users to navigate through folders and open each file separately, the system allows users to select multiple content items and open them simultaneously through a single interface action. This merging of operations maintains ease of operation by providing a simple selection mechanism while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating repetitive manual steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal interface that can handle multiple content items of different types and locations uniformly. The same interface mechanism works for selecting and opening single files, multiple files, files from different folders, and content items with different permission levels. This multi-functionality maintains simplicity for basic operations while enabling efficient batch operations that improve user productivity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing storage systems require specific applications to be installed for viewing files, then file viewing capability is achieved, but system complexity and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reference-based access system as an intermediary between the user's device and the content items. Instead of requiring the user's device to have specific applications installed to view files, the reference system acts as a mediator that handles the actual file access and rendering. The reference contains sufficient information to enable viewing through the content management system's infrastructure, eliminating the need for users to install and manage multiple applications while maintaining versatile file viewing capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods that efficiently and effectively generate and utilize collections of content items. For example, systems and methods described herein generate a collection content item including one or more content item references. In one or more embodiments, the collection content item can include content item references for content items located internally or externally, with granular levels of permissions settings and version controls. Additionally, in response to a detected selection of a content item reference, systems and methods described herein generate a rendering of the associated content item that can be viewed regardless of any third party software installed on the viewing client computing device.