Storage System Policy Engine for Disfavored Content Cleanup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods lack an effective way to remove outdated or disfavored content from the internet, which can harm individuals, and existing services have limited success in preventing search engines from accessing private information, while also requiring archiving for regulatory purposes.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for automatic cleanup of disfavored content using a storage system with a policy engine and hierarchical storage management to identify, remove, and archive outdated content, replacing it with stubs to control access and prevent search engine indexing, allowing for later retrieval under user authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If vendors remove private information from the web, then privacy is improved, but the ability to control archived data and prevent search engine access is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage system with policy engine as an intermediary between the removed content and search engines. The policy engine intercepts search engine requests, evaluates them against defined policies, and selectively blocks access to disfavored content while allowing legitimate access. This mediator provides fine-grained control over archived data that vendor removal services lack.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system segments content into different categories (favored, disfavored, archived) with different access policies. Disfavored content is separated from general accessible content, allowing the system to apply specific access control rules to prevent search engine indexing while maintaining the ability to serve authenticated users. This segmentation enables precise control over what search engines can access.
2Reliability
If all content is retained for archiving, then regulatory compliance is improved, but data accuracy and privacy are worsened due to outdated information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality characteristics to different portions of archived content through content attributes. Each content item is tagged with attributes indicating its favorability status, allowing the system to apply different access policies locally. Disfavored content receives restricted access policies that block search engines, while favored content remains accessible. This local quality differentiation resolves the conflict between comprehensive archiving and preventing harm from outdated content.
3Loss of information
If search engines access all web content, then information completeness is improved, but data accuracy is worsened due to outdated and unverified information
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system implements feedback mechanisms where content owners can update content attributes and access policies over time. As content ages or becomes outdated, owners can mark it as disfavored, triggering automatic policy updates that restrict search engine access. This feedback loop ensures search engines receive accurate, up-to-date information while maintaining completeness of the archived record.
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and an apparatus for automatic cleanup of disfavored content. The method includes scanning a storage infrastructure for content having an attribute, identifying a disfavored instance of the content having the attribute, and removing the disfavored instance of the content from circulation.