Redaction Manager Process for Selective Document Content Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional document processing software lacks an efficient method for interactively searching and redacting related content within documents, requiring users to manually redact each instance and lacking guidance for selective redaction, especially in large volumes of data.

Innovation Solution

A redaction manager process that searches for related content and provides a graphical user interface for users to select and view instances, allowing for interactive redaction with options to include surrounding context, enabling selective redaction of specific content while excluding other instances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional redaction software is used to redact content in documents, then redaction can be performed, but the process becomes cumbersome and tedious when large volumes of data are contained in one or more documents

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveredaction efficiencyVSAvoidtime required for manual redaction

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically searching for and identifying all instances of related content in the document before the redaction process begins. The redaction manager process scans the document, locates all occurrences of the target content, and presents them in a redaction view for user selection, eliminating the need for users to manually search and locate each instance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy or representation of the document content in a redaction view that lists all instances of the target content. This copy allows users to review and select which instances to redact without directly manipulating the original document, enabling efficient batch selection and redaction of multiple instances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If conventional redaction software is used, then redaction can be performed, but users cannot interactively select particular instances of content to redact from a list of retrieved instances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteractive selection capabilityVSAvoidredaction process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the redaction process into distinct stages: (1) searching for content instances, (2) displaying instances in a redaction view for selection, (3) user selection of specific instances to redact, and (4) application of redaction. This segmentation allows users to interactively control which instances are redacted while maintaining a manageable workflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The redaction manager process acts as an intermediary between the user and the document content. It retrieves instances of content, presents them in an organized redaction view, receives user selections, and applies redactions based on user input. This intermediary layer simplifies the interaction by providing a structured interface for selective redaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If manual redaction of each discrete portion of related content is performed, then complete redaction can be achieved, but the process is cumbersome and tedious

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of redactionVSAvoidredaction throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple redaction operations into a single integrated process. Instead of requiring separate manual redaction actions for each instance, the redaction manager process identifies all instances, allows batch selection through the redaction view, and applies redactions to multiple instances in one coordinated operation, maintaining reliability while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables continuous redaction action by automatically progressing through instances of related content once the user initiates the redaction process. The redaction manager process continuously identifies and processes instances according to user selections, eliminating interruptions and manual navigation between instances, thereby maintaining complete redaction coverage while significantly improving throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS9805010B2Methods and apparatus for redacting related content in a document

Publication Date: 2017.10.31 ADOBE INC

AI summary

A method for redacting related content in a document by executing a redaction manager process that searches for related content in at least one document and then provides a means for selecting instances of the content for redaction. The related content may include properties such as, for example, identical instances of a text string, instances of related graphics, instances of numeric values and/or numeric patterns, proper names, phone numbers, addresses and similar searchable data properties. Upon searching and retrieving the desired data, the redaction manager process displays a listing of the instances of content which affords a user the ability to select which particular instances of content to redact within the document.