Distributed Client File Search Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing file search systems across multiple clients face challenges in accessing locally stored files, particularly in business environments where sensitive content is involved, as they require centralized access that may compromise user control and security.
Innovation Solution
A system where each client generates an index of locally stored files, uploads it to a server, and allows authorized clients to download and search across these indices, with encryption and access control ensuring secure and controlled access, while maintaining user control over shared files.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If centralized search engines crawl and index files from multiple clients, then file searchability across clients is improved, but user control and security over locally stored files deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the centralized indexing approach into distributed client-side indexing. Each client generates and maintains its own local index independently, then shares only the index data (not the actual files) with other clients. This segmentation allows each user to control their own data while enabling cross-client search capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where clients share encrypted index metadata rather than raw files. The index acts as an intermediary representation that enables search functionality without exposing the actual sensitive file contents to the server or other users, thus maintaining security while enabling searchability.
2Ease of operation
If clients share local files directly, then file accessibility is improved, but security and privacy control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of sharing actual files, the system creates and shares copies of index metadata that represent the files. This copying approach allows users to search for and locate files across clients without the files themselves being exposed or transferred, thereby maintaining security while improving accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The index serves as an intermediary layer between file storage and file access. Users interact with the index metadata to locate files, and actual file access is controlled through separate permission mechanisms. This intermediary approach decouples search functionality from file access, improving ease of operation while maintaining security controls.
3Reliability
If encryption is applied to indices on the server, then security is improved, but access control and search efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different security measures to different parts of the data. The actual file contents remain encrypted and private to each user, while the index metadata is made searchable and shareable. This local quality differentiation allows security to be applied where needed (on files) while maintaining search efficiency (on indices).
Data Source
AI summary
A system for searching files across clients includes a server coupled to multiple clients. A first client creates a first index of files that are stored on the first client and uploads the first index to the server. A second client creates a second index of files that are stored on the second client. The second client downloads the first index from the server and executes a search across the first index and the second index. A method for searching files across clients includes generating and storing on a first client an index of locally stored files; uploading the index from the first client to a server; storing the index on the server; downloading the index from the server to the second client; and performing a search for files stored on the first client by querying the index downloaded onto the second client.