Private Editing of Shared Files in Collaborative Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collaborative file editing systems either block other users from editing shared files when a user checks out a file or result in lost changes if a local copy is made manually, as they do not allow for private editing without immediate sharing or proper conflict resolution.
Innovation Solution
A server-based system generates a personal copy of a shared file in a user's private storage space upon request, updates metadata, and allows users to publish their edits back to the collaborative space while informing them of any changes made by others, enabling controlled sharing and conflict resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user checks out a shared file for editing, then the user can privately edit the file, but other users are blocked from editing the shared file
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the file into two versions: a shared file stored in the collaborative space and a personal copy stored in the user's personal space. This allows the user to edit the personal copy privately without blocking others from editing the shared file, thus resolving the contradiction between private editing capability and collaborative editing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a personal copy of the shared file when the user checks it out. This copy can be edited privately without affecting other users' ability to edit the original shared file. The copying mechanism enables private editing while maintaining collaborative productivity.
2Ease of operation
If a user makes a local copy of a shared file for private editing, then the user can edit privately, but changes may be lost if the shared file is updated by others
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback mechanisms to inform users of changes made to the shared file while they are editing their personal copy. When the user checks in their personal copy, the system compares it with the current shared file and notifies the user of any conflicts or lost updates, allowing them to resolve the situation appropriately.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating a personal copy with a clear relationship to the shared file. This copy mechanism, combined with check-in/check-out operations, allows users to work privately while the system tracks changes and prevents information loss through proper conflict resolution procedures.
3Productivity
If a user edits a shared file directly in the collaborative space, then changes are immediately shared, but the user cannot edit privately without others seeing intermediate changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the editing process into private and public phases. Users edit their personal copies privately, and only when they check in the edited file do changes become visible to others in the collaborative space. This segmentation enables both private editing capability and collaborative sharing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
By creating and editing personal copies rather than editing the shared file directly, users can work privately without immediate visibility to others. The copy mechanism allows intermediate changes to remain private until the user chooses to check in and share them, thus resolving the contradiction between private editing and immediate sharing.
4Ease of operation
If the system creates a personal copy of a shared file, then private editing is enabled, but additional storage space and system resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating personal copies only when users check out files for editing, rather than pre-creating copies for all users. This on-demand copying approach enables private editing capability while minimizing unnecessary storage consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
When users check in their personal copies after editing, the system can discard the personal copy and update the shared file, thereby recovering the storage space that was allocated for the personal copy. This mechanism enables private editing while managing storage resources efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, components, devices, and methods for privately editing shared files in a collaborative space are provided. A non-limiting example includes a server computing device for allowing a user to privately edited shared files in a collaborative space. The server computing device includes an interface engine configured to generate a user interface. The user interface includes a listing of a plurality of shared files accessible in the collaborative space and an edit privately control to privately edit an identified shared file of the plurality of shared files. When the edit privately control is actuated, the server computing device generates a personal copy of the identified shared file and updates metadata associated with the identified shared file to indicate that the personal copy has been generated.