Controlled access to objects or areas in an electronic document

• US 20070056045A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Villaron, Shawn, Collins, Nathalie
• Granted Patent: US 7,882,565 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer products provide for designating areas or objects in an electronic document as controlled access regions for prohibiting or limiting access to the regions and/or for limiting application functionalities that may be utilized in the regions.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to a region in an electronic document;

comprising;

receiving a selection of an area of an electronic document for designation as a controlled access region;

receiving a designation of the selected area as a controlled access region; and

controlling access to the controlled access region by users of the electronic document.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the controlled access region by a user of the electronic document; and

preventing access to any content contained in the controlled access region.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the controlled access region; and

limiting access to any content contained in the controlled access region.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the controlled access region; and

providing an alert that access to the selected controlled access region is limited.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the application of a software application functionality to one or more content items contained in the controlled access region; and

limiting the application of the selected software application functionality to the one or more content items contained in the controlled access region.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

receiving a selection of the controlled access region; and

automatically providing one or more software functionalities designated for use in association with the selected controlled access region.

7. The method of claim 1, whereby receiving a selection of an area of the electronic document for designation as a controlled access region includes receiving a selection of an object contained in the electronic document for designation as a controlled access region.

8. The method of claim 1, whereby receiving a designation of the selected area as a controlled access region includes receiving an application of one or more access control properties to the controlled access region.

9. The method of claim 8, whereby controlling access to the controlled access region by users of the electronic document includes controlling access to the controlled access region according to the one or more access control properties applied to the controlled access region.

10. The method of claim 8, whereby receiving an application of one or more access control properties to the controlled access region includes receiving an access control property for specifying a type of access to the controlled access region that is allowed by users of the electronic document.

11. The method of claim 10, whereby receiving an access control property for specifying a type of access to the controlled access region that is allowed by users of the electronic document includes receiving an access control property for specifying that no access to the controlled access region is allowed by any users of the electronic document.

12. The method of claim 10, whereby receiving an access control property for specifying a type of access to the controlled access region that is allowed by users of the electronic document includes receiving an access control property for specifying that access to the controlled access region is allowed to one or more prescribed users.

13. The method of claim 12, whereby specifying that access to the controlled access region is allowed to one or more prescribed users includes specifying that access to the controlled access region is allowed to the one or more prescribed users in response to receipt of a valid identification credential from the one or more prescribed users.

14. The method of claim 8, whereby in response to receiving an application of one or more access control properties to the controlled access region, limiting the application of one or more software application functionalities to a content item contained in the controlled access region.

15. The method of claim 8, whereby receiving an application of one or more access control properties to the controlled access region includes receiving an application of one or more identification properties to the controlled access region for distinguishing the controlled access region from a non-controlled access region.

16. The method of claim 15, whereby receiving an application of one or more identification properties to the controlled access region includes receiving an application of a color-coding of the controlled access region for distinguishing the controlled access region from a non-controlled access region.

17. The method of claim 15, whereby receiving an application of one or more identification properties to the controlled access region includes overlaying the controlled access region with an opaque covering for distinguishing the controlled access region from a non-controlled access region.

18. The method of claim 15, whereby receiving an application of one or more identification properties to the controlled access region includes displaying an alert for distinguishing the controlled access region from the non-controlled access region.

19. A computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method of controlling access to a region in an electronic document;

comprising;

receiving a selection of an area of an electronic document for designation as a controlled access region;

receiving a designation of the selected area as a controlled access region including receiving an application of one or more access control properties to the controlled access region;

receiving a selection of the controlled access region; and

limiting access to any content contained in the controlled access region according to the one or more access control properties applied to the controlled access region.

20. A computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method of controlling access to a region in an electronic document;

comprising;

receiving a selection of an area of an electronic document for designation as a controlled access region;

receiving a designation of the selected area as a controlled access region including receiving an application of one or more access control properties to the controlled access region;

receiving a selection of the controlled access region;

providing an identification that access to the selected controlled access region is limited; and

limiting access to any content contained in the controlled access region according to the one or more access control properties applied to the controlled access region, including limiting the application of one or more software application functionalities to any content contained in the controlled access region.