GUID Management via Asynchronous Interface for Content Items
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-user network-based content management environments, managing and sharing content items becomes complex due to the reliance on content item paths and names in hierarchical directory structures, which limits sharing and storage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Assigning Globally Unique Identifiers (GUIDs) to each content item allows for unique identification and management, enabling richer functionality, sharing, and organizational structures independent of the content item system, with GUIDs being maintained across user-level edits and moves, and new GUIDs assigned for copies or other operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If content items are managed using hierarchical directory structures with paths and names, then content items can be organized and accessed in a structured manner, but sharing between user accounts and storage efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the content item identification system into two independent parts: GUIDs for unique identification and paths for organizational context. This allows GUIDs to be used for sharing and reference while paths maintain the hierarchical structure for organization, resolving the contradiction between structured access and sharing versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces GUIDs as an intermediary identifier that mediates between the hierarchical directory structure and the sharing requirements. GUIDs serve as a universal reference mechanism that works independently of the directory structure, enabling sharing across user accounts without being constrained by path-based access limitations
2Ease of operation
If content items are managed using hierarchical directory structures with paths and names, then content items can be organized in a structured manner, but storage efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses GUIDs as lightweight copies or references to content items rather than duplicating full path information. Each content item has a unique GUID that can be referenced multiple times without consuming additional storage for the actual content, improving storage efficiency while maintaining organizational capabilities
3Adaptability or versatility
If GUIDs are assigned to content items for unique identification, then content items can be referenced without knowledge of their location, but maintaining GUID consistency across asynchronous operations becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system monitors and tracks GUID assignments and changes across distributed operations. This feedback loop ensures that GUID consistency is maintained by detecting and resolving conflicts that arise from asynchronous operations, allowing location-independent referencing without sacrificing GUID integrity
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for maintaining consistent globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) for content items accessible via an asynchronous interface in a multi-user network-based content management environment (storage environment). The example content management system can make a content item within a data storage available to an authorized user via the asynchronous interface, and receive, from a client device, content item change information derived from data generated by an operating system function at the client device. Then the content management system can analyze the content item change information to determine a corresponding action at the content management system, and implement the corresponding action on the server side. The content management system can optionally provide a confirmation of the corresponding action to the client device.