File Timestamping Management via Data Integration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional time stamping services incur high costs due to a pay-as-you-go model, leading to increased expenses as the usage of time stamping services grows, necessitating a solution to reduce the number of time stamp additions required.

Innovation Solution

A file management apparatus that selects multiple files, integrates their data into a single file, calculates a hash value, and obtains a time stamp from a Time-Stamping Authority to add it to the integrated file, thereby reducing the number of time stamp additions needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If time stamp addition is performed on each file individually, then evidence of existence and integrity is provided for each file, but the cost increases proportionally with the number of files

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevidence of existenceVSAvoidnumber of time stamp additions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple files into a single integrated file before adding the time stamp. The integrating part combines data from multiple selected files into one file, and then the time stamping part adds a single time stamp to this integrated file, thereby providing collective evidence of existence for all merged files while reducing the total number of time stamp operations required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated file serves multiple functions: it contains the actual data from multiple source files and simultaneously acts as a single entity for time stamping purposes. This multi-functionality allows one time stamp to validate multiple original files, reducing the overall cost while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If time stamp adding services are used frequently to meet increasing demand for electronic document evidence, then stronger evidence is provided for more documents, but the cost increases due to the pay-as-you-go model

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusage of time stampingVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple files that require time stamping into a single integrated file, the system allows frequent and versatile use of time stamping services for electronic document evidence without incurring proportional costs. Each integrated file can be timestamped once to cover multiple source files, enabling adaptable response to increasing demand while controlling expenses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8108351B2File time stamping management apparatus, method, and program

Publication Date: 2012.01.31 KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECH INC

AI summary

A file management apparatus for managing registered files selects multiple files from the registered files, and integrates date stored in the selected files and stores the integrated date in a single file. Then, the file management apparatus calculates a hash value of the file, obtains a time stamp generated based on the hash value, and adds the time stamp to the file.