OS Folder-Based File System Collaboration Attributes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional collaboration systems require users to learn new interfaces and manually move files between operating system file systems and collaboration applications, leading to tedious and error-prone processes, excessive storage usage, and user confusion due to file duplication and synchronization issues.

Innovation Solution

Integrating collaboration attributes into a conventional operating system's folder-based file system, allowing folders to be treated as shared workspaces with awareness information, permission management, meta-data display, real-time communication, and check-in/check-out mechanisms, enabling seamless collaboration without file duplication and improving user interface familiarity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If collaboration systems are implemented as separate application programs, then collaboration functionality is provided, but users must learn new interfaces and manually move files between systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration functionalityVSAvoiduser interface familiarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the collaboration system with the operating system file system by integrating collaboration attributes directly into folder structures. Folders become shared workspaces that natively support collaboration features such as awareness information, permission management, and real-time communication, eliminating the need for separate collaboration applications and their distinct user interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The file system is enhanced to serve multiple functions: traditional file storage and management plus collaboration capabilities. Folders not only store files but also function as shared workspaces with built-in awareness information, permission control, and real-time communication features, allowing a single system to handle both file management and collaboration tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If files are manually moved between operating system file system and collaboration applications, then collaboration is enabled, but the process becomes tedious and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration capabilityVSAvoidfile management efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By combining file storage and collaboration into a single integrated system where folders serve as shared workspaces, the patent eliminates the manual file movement process. Files remain in their original locations while collaboration features are accessed through the same file system interface, making collaboration as straightforward as traditional file management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If files are duplicated between systems, then collaboration access is provided, but storage usage increases and synchronization issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration accessVSAvoidstorage consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The integration of collaboration attributes into the file system eliminates file duplication. A single copy of each file is maintained in the file system, while collaboration metadata and awareness information are stored as attributes associated with the file or containing folder, preventing redundant storage consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of copying file contents for collaboration, the system uses metadata copying and referencing. Collaboration attributes such as awareness information, permissions, and communication data are stored as lightweight metadata structures that reference the original files, allowing multiple users to access and collaborate on files without duplicating the actual file contents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Adaptability or versatility

If files are duplicated between systems, then collaboration access is provided, but user confusion occurs due to synchronization issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration accessVSAvoidfile synchronization consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By merging file storage and collaboration into a single system, the patent eliminates synchronization conflicts that arise from maintaining separate copies. The unified system ensures that all users access the same file versions through the file system, with collaboration changes automatically reflected without manual synchronization required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7734690B2Method and apparatus for providing attributes of a collaboration system in an operating system folder-based file system

Publication Date: 2010.06.08 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A conventional operating system folder or directory based file system is implemented with, or enhanced to provide, attributes of shared collaborative workspaces. In particular, the conventional file system is connected to either a server based or a distributed collaboration system and the user interface of the operating system file system is augmented to allow it to control aspects of the collaboration system. Each folder or directory can be synchronized and treated as a “workspace” that can be viewed and shared with other users or groups of users. Folder can also be provided with “awareness” information that indicates collaborators that are present and those that are sharing the workspace.