Information Lifecycle Management via Unique ID Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current information life-cycle management systems fail to uniformly manage the lifecycle of information across various media types, such as electronic data, paper, and storage media, leading to difficulties in tracking and controlling the use, collection, and deletion of information, especially when information is converted into multiple formats.

Innovation Solution

An information life-cycle management system that assigns a unique management ID to each information medium, incorporating a header with date, user, medium type, and use limitation policy, allowing for cross-media tracking and control through an information management server, which ensures proper handling and deletion processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If information is converted into various information media (electronic data, paper, CD-ROM), then information can be distributed and stored in multiple formats, but uniform management of the information life cycle across all media types becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation media formatVSAvoidmanagement system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a management ID that functions across all information media types (electronic data, paper, CD-ROM). The management ID serves as a universal identifier that enables the same management system to handle diverse media formats uniformly, allowing one system to perform multiple media types management functions without requiring separate management mechanisms for each format.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a management ID is given to information to track its life cycle, then tracking and control capability is improved, but the system requires complex mechanisms to manage multiple media types and their conversion states

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation trackingVSAvoidmanagement mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the information management system into distinct functional modules: the management ID assignment module, the media type identification module, and the life cycle management module. This segmentation allows each module to handle specific tasks independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable tracking across multiple media types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the system tracks the state of deletion of electronic material and collection/discarding of paper materials, then information security is improved, but it becomes difficult to uniformly recognize and manage the states across different media types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation securityVSAvoiduniform recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the management ID as an intermediary that mediates between different media types and the management system. This intermediary enables uniform recognition of information states across electronic data, paper, and storage media by providing a common reference point that the management system can use to track and control the life cycle regardless of the underlying media format.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2254078B1Information life cycle management system, information management server, electronic medium control device, and program
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP2254078B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2254078B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2254078B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one embodiment of the present invention, the information management server apparatus includes an information management relation DB which stores the issued management ID and forming time and date information, user information, a medium type, a use limitation policy, and information management server information in a header portion of the copied management file in association with each other with respect to a management ID of a management file in management file copying request information. The electronic medium control apparatus requests an electronic copying of the management file. The management file is managed in the information management relation DB.