File Download Suspension for Duplicate Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Users often download the same files multiple times due to lack of knowledge about existing files on their system, leading to unnecessary disk space and network bandwidth consumption, as existing duplicate file detectors require complete downloads before identification.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a link hash server to determine if a file's hash exists in a database before completion of download, allowing for suspension and resumption of downloads based on file existence, using a client computing device and database to identify duplicates before they are fully downloaded.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If duplicate file detectors are used to identify duplicate files, then file duplication can be detected, but files must be completely downloaded onto the system first, which consumes unnecessary disk space and network bandwidth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduplicate file detection accuracyVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary duplicate file detection by comparing file hashes before the complete download is executed. The download process is suspended temporarily to allow the hash comparison with previously downloaded files, preventing unnecessary network bandwidth consumption while maintaining accurate duplicate detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The download process is divided into segments: initiation phase, suspension phase for hash comparison, and resumption phase. This segmentation allows the system to interrupt the download temporarily to perform duplicate detection without completing the full download, thereby conserving network resources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If duplicate file detectors are used to identify duplicate files, then file duplication can be detected, but files must be completely downloaded onto the system first, which consumes unnecessary disk space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduplicate file detection accuracyVSAvoiddisk space consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary duplicate file detection by comparing file hashes before the complete download is executed. The download process is suspended temporarily to allow the hash comparison with previously downloaded files, preventing unnecessary disk space consumption while maintaining accurate duplicate detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of copying the entire file to detect duplicates, the system uses a hash value (a simplified representation) of the file for comparison. This allows accurate duplicate detection without requiring the complete file to be present on the system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If the download is not suspended for duplicate detection, then network bandwidth and disk space are consumed continuously, but duplicate files cannot be identified before completion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownload speedVSAvoidduplicate file information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary duplicate file detection by comparing file hashes before the complete download is executed. The download process is suspended temporarily to allow the hash comparison with previously downloaded files, preventing unnecessary network bandwidth consumption while maintaining accurate duplicate detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the download process is monitored and temporarily suspended based on the need to check for duplicates. The suspension allows the system to receive feedback from the duplicate detection process and make an informed decision about whether to continue or cancel the download

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11070609B1System and method for downloading a file

Publication Date: 2021.07.20 ARCTERA US LLC

AI summary

A method and system that performs file download at a client computing device after a determination that the file does not already exist on the client computing device is provided. The file download is initiated but suspended until a determination has been made that the file does not exist on the client computing device. If the file already exists (i.e., the file is a duplicate file), the user is prompted to either cancel the file download or continue the file download. However, if the file does not exist, the file download is resumed.