Electronic File Management via Nodal Data Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional file management systems require users to store all files in a central electronic data repository, leading to high costs and inefficiencies, and burden users with the task of manually identifying related files, which is undesirable and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An electronic file management system that automatically identifies related files by generating unique identifiers and creating a computer model with metadata, allowing for real-time monitoring and retrieval of related files without the need for central storage or user designation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If all files are stored on a central electronic data repository, then file management and tracking is simplified, but storage costs and processing requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that coordinates between distributed file storage locations and users. The server generates unique identifiers, scans multiple repositories, and manages file relationships without requiring all files to physically reside in one central location, thus reducing storage costs while maintaining management capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments file storage across multiple electronic data repositories rather than consolidating everything in one central repository. Each repository can be managed independently, allowing organizations to use existing storage infrastructure from different providers, thereby reducing overall storage costs and processing requirements
2Loss of information
If users manually designate related files through tagging or naming, then file relationships are identified, but user burden and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic file relationship identification through server-side scanning and analysis of file contents, metadata, and patterns. This self-service approach eliminates the need for users to manually tag or name files, reducing user burden and time consumption while maintaining accurate file relationship identification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of user tagging and naming with an automated electronic scanning and analysis system. The server uses algorithms to automatically detect file relationships by examining file contents, metadata, and access patterns, substituting human effort with automated computational processes
3Loss of time
If conventional file management systems monitor files in real-time across multiple repositories, then file relationships are captured timely, but processing power requirements become prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic scanning instead of continuous real-time monitoring. The server scans files at scheduled intervals to detect changes and identify relationships, which significantly reduces processing power requirements while still capturing file relationships in a timely manner for collaborative work environments
Solution Approach 2:
The server generates unique identifiers and creates preliminary file profiles in advance, organizing data structures before actual file relationship analysis is needed. This preliminary organization reduces the computational complexity of subsequent monitoring and relationship detection tasks
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are methods and system for electronic file management having a central server that periodically scans files accessible to multiple computers to identify every file stored onto multiple electronic data repositories. The central server then executes a predetermined protocol to generate a unique identifier for each identified file. The central server then generates an interconnected nodal data structure computer model where each node represents an identified file and where the nodes are linked based on their respective files having similar unique identifiers. The central server periodically scans the electronic data repositories to identify related data. When a related file is identified, the central server modifies the nodal data structure accordingly. When a user requests access to a file, the central server displays all related data to the requested file.