Difference Data Files for Edit-Restricted Log Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for managing server log data subject to legal holds or proactive holds require excessive storage due to the need for separate physical copies, which increases costs and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for modifying files under edit restrictions, such as legal holds, by creating difference data files to store unmodified content, allowing for modifications while preserving the original form, and releasing restrictions by deleting difference data files when restrictions are lifted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate physical copy of server log data is created for legal hold/proactive hold, then data integrity and edit restrictions are maintained, but storage requirements and maintenance costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the log data into original data and difference data. The original data is stored once, and only the changes (difference data) are stored separately. This segmentation allows the system to maintain data integrity for legal hold while reducing storage requirements compared to creating complete physical copies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system nests the difference data within the context of the original data structure. The difference data files are associated with and organized alongside the original log data, creating a nested storage architecture where modifications are contained within the existing data framework rather than requiring separate parallel storage systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate physical copies are created for edit-restricted data, then modifications can be made to anonymized data, but device complexity and maintenance overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the original data storage and difference data storage into a unified management system. The same system that manages the original log data also manages the difference data, combining operations and reducing system complexity compared to having separate physical copy systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating complete physical copies, the system creates and manages difference data copies that represent only the changes. This selective copying approach maintains the ability to modify and anonymize data while reducing the complexity of managing complete data replicates.
3Reliability
If complete physical copies of log data are maintained for legal hold, then original data can be preserved, but storage costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary change information from complete data copies and stores only that difference data. By taking out and storing only the modifications rather than complete data replicates, the system maintains data preservation for legal hold while significantly reducing storage volume requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for applying edit restrictions, modifying a file subject to edit restrictions, and obtaining a modified file that is subject to edit restriction in the file's original form are disclosed. Restriction metadata files may be used to identify restrictions to which a particular file is subject and the content of the file that is subject to each restriction. Difference data files may contain the unmodified data that is subject to the edit restriction before any modification of the file is done so that the file may be re-created after modification.