Digital File Tagging for Searchable Sharing and Privacy Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital file management systems lack effective organization, dynamic viewing, and efficient export capabilities, with concerns over privacy and lack of interactive interfaces for managing and sharing digital files.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented system and method for managing digital files using digital tags, allowing users to organize, view, and share files with interactive interfaces, including a digital tagging system, search filters, and export functionality with embedded tags.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If digital files are stored in large amounts in modern containers, then storage capacity is improved, but organization and management capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidorganization capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments digital files into organized collections or albums with hierarchical structures, dividing the large mass of files into manageable groups. Each collection can be further segmented into sub-collections, creating a tree-like organization system that makes navigation and management of large file quantities efficient and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces digital tags and metadata as intermediary elements between users and digital files. These tags act as mediators that enable sophisticated filtering, searching, and organization of files without requiring direct manual sorting of each individual file, thus maintaining ease of operation while handling large quantities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If digital files are shared on social media platforms, then sharing capability is improved, but privacy control and organization capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesharing capabilityVSAvoidprivacy control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables preliminary organization and tagging of digital files before sharing. Users can pre-configure privacy settings, select specific collections or individual files for sharing, and define access permissions in advance. This preliminary action allows users to maintain privacy control while utilizing the sharing capabilities of social media platforms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different privacy and sharing settings to different collections or individual files based on their specific characteristics. Each collection can have its own privacy level and sharing configuration, allowing users to selectively share certain files while keeping others private, thus maintaining granular privacy control alongside versatile sharing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If digital files are posted to external sites, then sharing frequency is improved, but data security and organizational integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesharing frequencyVSAvoiddata security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables users to create and share copies or links to their organized digital file collections rather than transferring actual file ownership to external platforms. This copying approach allows frequent sharing through generateable links while the original files remain securely stored and organized in the user's controlled environment, maintaining both sharing frequency and data security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Device complexity

If traditional photo organization methods are used, then simplicity is improved, but search efficiency and dynamic viewing capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidsearch efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system automatically analyzes digital files and suggests relevant tags, collections, or organizational structures based on file metadata, content analysis, or user behavior patterns. This automated feedback reduces the manual effort required for organization while enabling efficient searching and dynamic viewing through the organized structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates dynamic organizational structures where collections and tags can be easily modified, reorganized, or updated based on changing user needs. The system supports dynamic filtering and searching that adapts to user queries in real-time, providing efficient access to files without requiring complex manual reorganization, thus maintaining simplicity while improving search efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12517957B2Method and apparatus for managing digital files
Publication Date: 2026.01.06 MEMORYWEB LLC
  • US12517957B2 patent drawing
  • US12517957B2 patent drawing
  • US12517957B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer-implemented method of associating digital tags with digital files comprises storing a plurality of digital files having embedded therein content data and metadata including tags; receiving, via a user interface device of a client device, a first tag label containing alphanumeric text created and inputted by a user of the client device; modifying, using a controller device, a selected first one of the tags of the metadata in a first of the digital files to include the first tag label; receiving, via the user interface device or another user interface device, an instruction to search for all of the digital files having at least the first tag label; responsive to receiving the instruction, automatically searching for all of the digital files having at least the first tag label; and displaying, on a video display device associated with the client device, a first indication of the first tag label.