Pattern-Based Physical File to Digital Storage Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

In large archives, manual assignment of physical files to digital storage locations is prone to errors, leading to incorrect or lost file associations, resulting in information loss and inefficiencies in data management.

Innovation Solution

A method where a unique identifier is assigned to a digital storage location, and a corresponding pattern is manually applied to a physical information carrier, allowing a portable computing unit to detect and recognize the pattern, thereby accessing the storage location using a communication interface, ensuring accurate and automatic assignment of physical files to digital storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual assignment of physical files to digital storage locations is used, then flexibility in file management is maintained, but errors in file assignment occur leading to information loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefile assignment accuracyVSAvoidmanual operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical assignment process with an automated optical recognition system. Portable computing units with sensors automatically detect patterns on physical files and retrieve corresponding digital storage locations, eliminating manual identifier assignment and preventing human errors in file-digital storage association.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing physical files to carry their own identification patterns that automatically link them to digital storage locations. When a pattern is detected by a portable computing unit, the system autonomously retrieves and displays the associated digital content without requiring manual intervention or knowledge of storage location identifiers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If centralized server management of storage locations is implemented, then file assignment accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentralized management accuracyVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces portable computing units as intermediaries between physical files and the centralized server. These units equipped with sensors and applications facilitate pattern detection and communicate with the server to retrieve digital content, simplifying the interaction model while maintaining centralized management benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses pattern copies displayed on portable computing units that represent the unique identifiers stored on the server. Instead of requiring direct access to complex server infrastructure, users interact with simplified pattern representations that automatically resolve to the correct digital storage locations through server communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If manual identifier assignment is used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but time consumption for file management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefile management efficiencyVSAvoidtime for file assignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-assigning unique identifiers and patterns to physical files before they are stored. These patterns are displayed on portable computing units in advance, enabling immediate retrieval and association with digital storage locations without requiring time-consuming manual identifier assignment or lookup during file management operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3358477B1Data management system
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 THEPEOPLE DE GMBH
  • EP3358477B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3358477B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3358477B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for assigning at least one digital storage location to a physical information carrier, in which, using at least one application executed on a portable computing unit, the at least one storage location is requested on a server connected to the at least one portable computing unit via a communication interface, and in which the server assigns a unique identifier to the at least one storage location, and in which the unique identifier is assigned at least one pattern (23) which is to be manually applied to a surface of the physical information carrier, and in which the at least one pattern (23) is manually applied to the surface of the physical information carrier by a user, thereby connecting the at least one storage location on the server to the physical information carrier, and in which,when the at least one pattern (23) is detected using at least one sensor of the at least one portable computing unit, the mapping of the at least one storage location to the unique identifier is downloaded from the server, and the at least one storage location is accessed using the downloaded mapping by means of the at least one portable computing unit.