Metalabel-Based Hierarchical File Organization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional file systems are inefficient for searching and organizing electronic data due to their hierarchical structure, which requires users to navigate through multiple directories and subdirectories to find relevant files, and do not allow easy description or annotation of files.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method that assigns user-defined metalabels to electronic files and websites, allowing them to be organized into additional hierarchical file structures beyond the traditional directory tree structure, enabling more efficient searching and organization through abstract directories and trie structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional hierarchical file structures are used, then file organization is simple and compatible with existing systems, but searching efficiency deteriorates as users must navigate through multiple directories
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second hierarchical file structure organized by user-defined metalabels, creating an additional dimension for file organization alongside the traditional directory structure. This allows files to be accessed through metalabel-based hierarchies rather than navigating deep directory trees, significantly improving search efficiency without eliminating the original structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces metalabels as intermediary elements that bridge files and organizational categories. These metalabels serve as mediators between the traditional file system and user-defined classification schemes, enabling efficient searching and organization without directly modifying the underlying file structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional file systems are used, then system compatibility is maintained, but the ability to describe and annotate files deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments file organization into two independent components: the traditional file structure and the metalabel-based structure. This segmentation allows the system to maintain compatibility with existing file systems while adding enhanced description and annotation capabilities through metalabels, without increasing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If multiple hierarchical structures are created, then searching efficiency improves, but storage space deteriorates due to potential file replication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a logical copy of the file organization system through metalabels rather than physical file duplication. The second hierarchical structure references the same files as the first structure but organizes them differently based on user-defined metalabels, improving search efficiency without consuming additional storage space for file content.
Data Source
AI summary
A method in a data processing system and apparatus for organizing files, data items, web site members, or web pages, structured or unstructured, of multiple users stored across one or more server computers into hierarchical file structures on a recordable medium of a data processing system. A user-defined metalabel is assigned to each of the electronic files, data items, web site members, or web pages. The electronic files, data items, web site members, or web pages are organized as a function of the metalabels into the hierarchical file structures. The method includes automatically forming personalized hierarchies, such as a shadow copy for a second user, from the user-defined metalabels of a first user according to a user profile. The method includes automatically forming keywords of strings of at least two user-defined metalabels or a portion thereof, and automatically forming search structures of the keywords existing simultaneously with the plurality of hierarchical structures.