Content File Deduplication with Hash-Based Storage References

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing size of content files due to high visual detail requirements leads to storage and access time challenges, while data compression and optimization are inefficient or time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for identifying redundant content using unique file identifiers, generating hash keys, and managing pointers to existing files, reducing storage redundancy and optimizing installation and uninstallation processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If data compression is applied to reduce file sizes, then storage requirements are reduced, but processing burden increases during decompression

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage requirementsVSAvoidprocessing burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of redundant content using hash keys before actual content transfer or storage. By generating hash keys from content identifiers and comparing them in advance, the system determines which content is redundant before initiating download or storage operations, thereby avoiding unnecessary processing of compressed data later

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If manual data optimization is performed to reduce redundant data, then file sizes are reduced, but time investment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveredundant dataVSAvoidtime investment
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically identifies and manages redundant content through automated hash key generation and comparison processes. The content management system performs self-service by autonomously determining redundancy without requiring manual intervention from content creators or users, thereby eliminating time investment while achieving data optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If high-capacity storage devices are purchased to accommodate large content files, then storage capacity increases, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system discards redundant content by identifying it through hash key comparison and replacing it with references to existing content. Instead of storing duplicate copies of content, the system recovers storage space by maintaining only single copies and using pointer references, thereby reducing the storage capacity needed without incurring additional costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP4610840A1File management system and method
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP4610840A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4610840A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4610840A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A content obtaining system for obtaining content comprising a plurality of files, the system comprising, a database obtaining unit configured to obtain a database of unique identifiers corresponding to respective files stored by the content obtaining system, an identifier receiving unit configured to receive unique identifiers for one or more of the plurality of files in the content to be obtained, an identifier comparison unit configured to compare the received unique identifiers with the database, and to identify whether any of the identifiers match, and a content management unit configured to, in the case that there is no match for a given identifier, obtain and store the corresponding file for that identifier, and, in the case that there is a match for a given identifier, generate and store a reference to the location of the file stored by the content obtaining system for which the match was identified.