User Interface For Nonuniform Access Control System And Methods

• US 20060253771A1
• Filed: 04/15/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Niresip LLC
• Original Assignee: Niresip LLC
• Inventors: Baschy, Leo
• Granted Patent: US 9,176,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking

Abstract

The term “discontinuous hyperlink” is used to describe a hyperlink which at least one user (an authorized user who could be reading its containing document) isn'"'"'t authorized to follow. Discontinuous hyperlinks are automatically detected at various times, including at the end of document editing. If any are found, the operator is notified and given options to reduce the number of discontinuous hyperlinks and to reduce the number of affected users. Several alternative views of relevant information are provided, integrated with common document editing user interface elements. Sorted views enable the operator to identify and to remedy problems more efficiently and with greater confidence. Access dependency settings for selected text can be inserted with a single command. The operator can preview what various sets of users would see. Users are graphically represented by displays comprising photographic likenesses. Groups can be graphically represented by displays comprising photographic likenesses of selected members.

Claims

1. A method for enabling continuity of access control in a body of digital documents in common formats including and not limited to XML, comprising the steps of:

(a) allowing the operator to edit a document;

(b) automatically beginning to determine any access-control-discontinuous hyperlinks resulting from editing;

(c) automatically determining any access-control-discontinuous hyperlinks resulting from editing;

(d) if any discontinuous hyperlinks then notifying the operator; and

(e) if any discontinuous hyperlinks then allowing the operator to make changes that reduce discontinuity of access control.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) includes allowing the operator to add access dependency settings and allowing the operator to make changes to access dependency settings.

3. A graphical user interface for enabling continuity of access control in a body of digital documents in common formats including and not limited to XML, comprising a display region for editing document contents, wherein a discontinuous hyperlink is graphically represented by a visual element which comprises a commonly visually recognizable representation of a hyperlink distinctly modified by at least one step selected from a set comprising:

highlighting;

font modification;

region outlining; and

insertion of a graphic.

4. The graphical user interface of claim 3, further comprising a display region which is visually associated with a hyperlink in the display region for document contents and shows an explanation of the access control discontinuity situation of the hyperlink.

5. The graphical user interface of claim 3, further comprising a display region which is interactively associated with an operator designated hyperlink in the display region for document contents and shows an explanation of the access control discontinuity situation of the hyperlink.

6. The graphical user interface of claim 3, further comprising a display region which contains a graphical representation of a set comprising one or more users, and wherein a user is graphically represented by a visual element which comprises:

the identity of the user; and

one or more of the following visual elements;

indication of the quantity of hyperlinks which would effect discontinuity for the user; and

a commonly visually recognizable representation of at least one hyperlink which would effect discontinuity for the user, if possible then with context.

7. The graphical user interface of claim 3, further comprising a display region which contains a graphical representation of a set comprising one or more hyperlinks, and wherein a hyperlink is graphically represented by a visual element which comprises:

a commonly visually recognizable representation of the hyperlink, if possible then with context; and

one or more of the following visual elements;

indication of the quantity of users for whom the hyperlink would effect discontinuity;

who effectively is not allowed to access the referenced document; and

if possible to determine and to explain concisely then which one or more entities in access control settings cause the hyperlink to be discontinuous.

8. The graphical user interface of claim 3, further comprising a display region for editing access control settings for the currently edited document, wherein a user is graphically represented by a display element comprising, at least in part, a likeness of the user, and wherein access control settings can be modified by dragging and dropping indicia for users.

9. The graphical user interface of claim 8, wherein the display region for editing document contents and the display region for editing access control settings comprise essentially the same display space, with only one of them significantly visible at one time.

10. The graphical user interface of claim 3, wherein a plurality of functions are implemented which insert, change, and remove access dependency settings for elements of the currently edited document;

a context dependent subset of the functions is available for selection by the operator for use; and

access dependent contents is graphically represented by visual elements which comprise commonly visually recognizable representation of contents distinctly modified by at least one step selected from a set comprising;

highlighting;

font modification;

region outlining; and

insertion of a graphic.

11. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein one of the functions inserts access dependency settings to effect for the currently selected elements of the document to be shown only if the accessing user is authorized to follow hyperlinks contained in the currently selected elements.

12. The graphical user interface of claim 10, for previewing what another user would see when accessing the document further comprising:

a display region for previewing what that other user would see if access dependent contents had been processed for that other user; and

a display region for indicating that other user.

13. The graphical user interface of claim 10, for previewing what different users would see when accessing the document further comprising:

a display region for previewing what a specific user would see if access dependent contents had been processed for that specific user; and

a display region for conveying users who would see the same.

14. The graphical user interface of claim 13, further in a display region conveying users who would not see the same, wherein the operator can designate a user who would not see the same to switch previewing to be for such newly designated user.

15. The graphical user interface of claim 13, further conveying the quantity of different results of processing that different users could see.

16. A method for creating an icon for a group of users in an access control system, comprising the steps of:

(a) designating a user in the group; and

(b) automatically composing a likeness of the user with indication of more people,

wherein the likeness comprises, at least in part, a digital photograph of the user.

17. A method for displaying a set of users in a user interface for access control, comprising the automated steps of:

(a) comparing respective intended representations of pairs of users, wherein representations comprise, at least in part, a photographic likeness of the user;

(b) identifying insufficiently distinguishable subsets of representations;

(c) adjusting the intended representation of at least one user by performing at least one step selected from a set comprising;

adding more information about the user; and

(d) displaying users.

18. A method for automatically discriminating acceptable from unacceptable photographic likenesses of users for use in representation in user interface displays of access control settings, comprising the steps of:

(a) calculating an image property;

(b) testing whether said image property is in an acceptable range; and

(c) if for an image a property is out of range then performing at least one step selected from a set comprising;

notifying a human operator; and

making a note for later corrective action.