Method of enabling access to data structure

• US 8,892,644 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SecureSheet Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: SecureSheet Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Holland, Joseph H., Byrd, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swearingen, Jeffrey R
• Application Number:
  US10/762,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20050198325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,953 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/197 Version control for software G06F8/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method of enabling access to a data structure is provided. The method includes designating e-mail addresses of users with respective sections of the data structure. The method also includes enabling access to the respective sections to users corresponding to the designated e-mail addresses.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including software that is adapted to control a computer to implement a processing method of controlling access to a spreadsheet, said processing method comprising the steps of:

giving a user access to a single layer of a spreadsheet stored on a server, said single layer having continuous rows and columns and including, a first continuous portion of said single layer and a second continuous portion of said single layer; and

granting network access to said first portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet to a first sub-user at a first remote location from said server and a second sub-user while denying access to said second portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet to said first sub-user and said second sub-user, and

granting access to said second portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet to a third sub-user while denying access to said first portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet to said third sub-user,

permitting said user to visually scroll between said first portion of said single layer and said second portion of single layer along said continuous rows or columns,

accepting modification of a first cell in said first portion stored on said server by said first sub-user transmitting said modification over said network to said server, and

accepting further modification of a second cell in said first portion stored on said server by said second sub-user transmitting said further modification over said network to said server,

reassigning said network access of the third sub-user granted to said second portion of the spreadsheet to another user.

2. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein said step of granting network access to said first portion of said single layer includes associating address of said first sub-user and said second sub-user to said first portion of said single layer.

3. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sending e-mails to the first sub-user and the second sub-user alerting them that they have been granted network access to the first portion of the single layer.

4. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, further comprising the step of creating, by the first sub-user, a password, to limit access to the first portion of the single layer.

5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein a respective user name is associated with said first sub-user and said second sub-user and access is granted to said first portion and said second portion by identifying said first user name and said second user name, respectively.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein as said first sub-user modifies said first cell and said second sub-user modifies said second cell, said first sub-user and said second sub-user views said first portion within said server over said network.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein:

said first subuser is granted network access to said first portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet at said first remote location from said server; and

said second subuser is granted network access,

without transmitting said second portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet from said server and to said first subuser and said second subuser.

8. A method of controlling access to a spreadsheet, said method comprising the steps of:

giving a user access to a single layer of a spreadsheet stored on a server, said single layer having continuous rows and columns and including a first continuous portion of said single layer and a second continuous portion of said single layer; and

granting network access to said first portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet to a first sub-user at a first remote location from said server and a second sub-user while denying access to said second portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet to said first sub-user and said second sub-user,

granting network access to said second portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet to a third sub-user while denying access to said first portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet to said third sub-user,

permitting said user to visually scroll between said first portion of said single layer and said second portion of said single layer along said continuous rows or columns,

accepting modification of a first cell in said first portion stored on said server by said first sub-user transmitting said modification over said network to said server, and

accepting further modification of a second cell in said first portion stored on said server by said second sub-user transmitting said further modification over said network to said server,

reassigning said network access of the third sub-user granted to said second portion of the spreadsheet to another user.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of granting network access to said first portion of said single layer includes associating address of said first sub-user and said second sub-user to said first portion of said single layer.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

sending e-mails to the first sub-user and the second sub-user alerting them that they have been granted network access to the first portion of the single layer.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

creating, by the first sub-user, a password, to limit access to the first portion of the single layer.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein a respective user name is associated with said first sub-user and said second sub-user and access is granted to said first portion and said second portion by identifying said first user name and said second user name, respectively.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein:

said first subuser is granted network access to said first portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet at said first remote location from said server; and

said second subuser is granted network access,

without transmitting said second portion of said single layer of said spreadsheet from said server and to said first subuser and said second subuser.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein as said first sub-user modifies said first cell and said second sub-user modifies said second cell, said first sub-user and said second sub-user views said first portion within said server over said network.