Document Validity Indication for Memory Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic document folders, particularly on central e-mail servers, face memory occupancy issues due to large memory requirements of e-mails with attachments or embedded objects, necessitating a method to reduce storage space.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a validity indication with an expiration time is stored for documents and partial documents, triggering a deletion or archiving routine once the time is reached, allowing for individual control over document retention or deletion, with options for querying the owner and storing changed validity indications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If e-mails with attachments or embedded objects are stored in document folders on central e-mail servers, then document accessibility and storage are improved, but memory occupancy increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic validity indications with expiration times that can be automatically enforced. The system transitions from static permanent storage to dynamic time-limited storage, where documents are automatically deleted or archived after their validity period expires. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by enabling automatic memory management while maintaining flexible retention control through configurable validity periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service memory management through automated validity expiration programs. Instead of requiring manual intervention to delete old documents, the system automatically identifies and removes documents whose validity indications have expired. This self-service mechanism reduces memory occupancy without requiring user action, while still allowing users to extend validity periods when needed.
2Quantity of substance
If automatic deletion of documents is implemented to reduce memory occupancy, then storage space is improved, but document accessibility and user control are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-setting validity indications with expiration times when documents are initially stored. This advance configuration allows the system to automatically manage document retention without requiring user intervention at the time of deletion. Users can still access documents before expiration, and the system prepares for automatic deletion in advance, maintaining both accessibility and automated memory management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where users can query about document validity status and receive information about expiration times. Users can also provide feedback by requesting extension of validity periods, which then updates the validity indication accordingly. This feedback loop maintains user control and awareness while enabling automated deletion for documents that have expired, balancing memory management with user accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a method for managing documents or partial documents in an electronic document folder is provided. A validity indication, which is individual to the document or partial document and specifies a validity expiry time is assigned to a respective document, e.g. an e-mail, or a partial document, e.g. an e-mail attachment and is stored, the indication being assigned to an executable validity program. Once the validity expiry time has been reached, the executable validity program, assigned to the validity indication, is executed for the document or partial document with an assigned validity indication. The executable validity program comprises a deletion routine for deleting the document or partial document with the assigned validity indication in the electronic document folder.