Electronic Document Tracking via Unique ID and Parent ID Linking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current document protection systems are inadequate in preventing illegal use and tracking of illegal use of electronic documents, especially when legal copies are divulged, and there is a lack of measures against insider-conspired divulgence in the financial sector.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for tracking the path of an electronic document that includes a log information update unit generating unique IDs and parent IDs for electronic document data upon changes in storage location or name, and a path tracking unit that identifies the execution history from retrieved log information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic encryption is applied to all created documents under internal control, then data security is improved, but the ability to track distribution path and prevent illegal use deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the document tracking system into multiple independent modules: unique ID generation module, log information update module, and path tracking unit. Each module handles specific tracking functions separately, allowing the system to maintain security through encryption while enabling comprehensive tracking of document distribution paths through duplicated files and renamed documents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces log information as an intermediary mechanism that bridges encryption and tracking. The log information update module generates and updates log entries that record document operations (creation, renaming, copying) without requiring decryption of the actual document content. This intermediary layer enables tracking while maintaining encrypted storage.
2Device complexity
If independent log systems are used for each security program, then system simplicity is maintained, but coherent association analysis between security programs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent log systems into a unified tracking framework by introducing a common log information structure that is updated across all security programs. The log information update module operates consistently across different security contexts, creating a unified view of document distribution paths that enables coherent association analysis while maintaining the modular architecture of individual security programs.
3Reliability
If document protection systems are designed for copyright protection, then legal copy protection is improved, but measures against illegal use and insider-conspired divulgence deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the document protection system from single-purpose copyright protection to multi-functional tracking capable of detecting various types of document misuse. The path tracking unit and log information update module work together to provide universal tracking capabilities that cover legal copying, illegal distribution, and insider-conspired divulgence by monitoring all document operations and distribution paths regardless of intent.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for tracking the path of an electronic document are provided. The system includes: a log information update unit including: a unique ID generation module configured to, when first electronic document data being loaded in an operating system-based word processor unit is newly created as second electronic document data due to a change in the storage location or name thereof, newly generate a unique ID for the second electronic document data and modify the unique ID of the first electronic document data to a parent ID; and a log information update module configured to generate or update a storage path as log information, and to include the log information in the second electronic document data; and a path tracking unit configured to search for the log information and to identify an execution history from the found log information.