Storage Organization System with Tree Structure for Utilization Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing and tracking data storage space across multiple devices and cloud storage environments is inefficient, leading to disorganization and risk of running out of storage space due to the complexity of calculating storage consumption and limited device capacity.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses a tree data structure to track and display storage organization and utilization of content items, allowing users to visualize and manage storage space on both local and cloud-based systems, with synchronization capabilities to adjust storage calculations dynamically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If data is stored across multiple devices and cloud storage systems, then data availability and access ubiquity are improved, but storage organization and management complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata availabilityVSAvoidstorage management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments storage management by creating separate data structures for local content items and online content items, with distinct tracking mechanisms for each. Local content items are tracked with file system paths and local storage locations, while online content items are tracked with cloud storage identifiers and synchronization status, simplifying the management of distributed storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary storage management system that acts as a mediator between local devices and cloud storage. This system maintains a unified view of storage across multiple locations through synchronized data structures, allowing users to manage distributed storage without directly handling the complexity of multiple storage locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If local copies of data are retained on personal devices, then data portability and access speed are improved, but device storage capacity is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access speedVSAvoiddevice storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different content items to have different storage locations based on their access patterns and user preferences. Frequently accessed or important content items are stored locally on devices for fast access, while less frequently accessed items are stored in the cloud, optimizing both access speed and storage capacity utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic storage management where content items can be moved between local and cloud storage based on changing conditions. The system dynamically adjusts storage allocation based on device availability, network connectivity, user behavior patterns, and storage capacity constraints, allowing flexible optimization of access speed versus storage capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If storage space is not actively managed, then ease of operation is maintained, but risk of device failure and data loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage management easeVSAvoiddata safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service storage management through automated monitoring and alert systems. The storage management system automatically tracks storage utilization across local and cloud locations, monitors for potential capacity issues, and can trigger automated actions such as notifying users of upcoming storage limits or initiating data migration, maintaining both ease of operation and data safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor storage status and provide information to users and the system. The system provides real-time feedback on storage utilization, identifies trends in data growth, and can automatically adjust storage allocation or trigger preventive actions based on monitored conditions, ensuring data safety without requiring active user management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10817472B2Storage organization system with associated storage utilization values

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 DROPBOX INC

AI summary

In some embodiments, a method can involve storing a database containing information about content items associated with a user account on a content management system, the information identifying a storage organization of the content items and respective data sizes of the content items. The method can involve generating, based on the information, a tree structure including a plurality of nodes representing the content items and depicting the storage organization of the content items, the plurality of nodes identifying storage utilization values of the content items being based on their respective data sizes. The method can involve storing the tree structure on memory and, in response to an input, determining, from the tree structure, the storage organization of the content items and storage utilization values. The method can further involve displaying the content items and storage utilization values on a user interface according to the storage organization of the content items.