ENSURING ACCESS TO LONG-TERM STORED ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS

• US 20140317050A1
• Filed: 08/14/2013
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory J., Moore, John E. Jr., Belfoure, Vincent A., Veser, Harald
• Granted Patent: US 9,483,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/608
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/62 Uninstallation

Abstract

Mechanisms are provided for ensuring access to long-term stored electronic documents. In one example, one or more methods may provide for automatically ensuring access to long-term stored electronic documents. In another example, one or more algorithms may provide for automatically ensuring access to long-term stored electronic documents.

Claims

1. A method for ensuring access to long-term stored electronic documents, the method comprising:

tracking by a processor, for each of a plurality of file types, a count of a number of installed software programs that are capable of accessing each of the file types;

storing, by the processor, data indicative of the tracked number of installed software programs;

determining, by the processor, when a user attempts to uninstall one of the tracked installed software programs; and

informing the user by the processor, based at least in part upon the stored data and the determination of the attempt to uninstall, of at least one consequence of the attempted uninstall.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking is carried out over a user population comprising one of:

(a) all of a plurality of users associated with a given organization; and

(b) a subset of a plurality of users associated with a given organization.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing each of the file types comprises at least one of:

(a) reading a document of a given file type;

(b) writing a document of a given file type; and

(c) creating a document of a given file type.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is made via use of at least one software agent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the informing the user of the at least one consequence of the attempted uninstall comprises indicating to the user that the user will no longer have the capability to access a given file type.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising prohibiting, by the processor, the user from completing the attempted uninstall.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing to the user, by the processor, an indication of a source of assistance in accessing a given file type.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising recording, by the processor, historical data regarding assistance provided.