System, method and computer program product for managing tabulated metadata

• US 8,959,113 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Open TEXT SA (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Scott, Michael, Trainer, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US13/431,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20140258336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 707/783
• US Class Current: 707/783
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for managing metadata, including scalar, text, drop-down, type ahead, and tabular metadata related to digital assets. Restrictions may be set at the metadata field level to allow users of different user groups to view fields based on restriction classes. A metadata management tool may allow an administrator to restrict one or more metadata fields associated with a digital asset in a network with a restriction class. The restricted fields may be associated with one or more user groups in the network. Only users in the user groups associated with the restriction class can view the restricted fields, in addition to the digital asset and any unrestricted fields associated therewith. When searching tabular metadata, a ‘row oriented’ search function may retrieve only assets where the search criteria are matched by a single row.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a metadata editor, embodied on non-transitory computer memory including instructions executable by a computer processor to cause the metadata editor to;

display on a user interface a metadata record of properties associated with a digital asset in a network, the metadata record having one or more metadata fields, a first metadata field of the one or more metadata fields having a plurality of configuration parameters, a first configuration parameter of the plurality of configuration parameters selectable for applying a restriction to the first metadata field of the one or more metadata fields in the metadata record of the digital asset, the restriction specifying one or more user groups in the network; and

in response to a first user applying the restriction via the user interface, setting the first metadata field of the one or more metadata fields in the metadata record of the digital asset as a restricted field viewable only by one or more user groups in the network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the metadata editor further comprises a lookup domain function configured to enable the first user to define a period of time during which the digital asset is accessible.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the metadata editor further comprises a metadata field editing function configured to enable the first user to specify whether a metadata field is displayable, searchable, keyword searchable, editable, sortable, or a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the media management functions further comprise a search function configured to enable end users in the network to search one or more types of metadata.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the search function comprises a keyword search function configured to identify metadata fields specified as being keyword searchable.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the search function comprises a field search function configured to examine a restriction class associated with the restriction and search metadata fields associated with the restriction class.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the metadata editor further comprises a tabular field editing function configured to enable the first user to edit tabular fields for one or more database columns.

8. A method of applying field level security to digital assets, the method comprising:

providing a metadata editor embodied on a computer having a processor and a memory;

displaying, by the metadata editor on a user interface, a metadata record of properties associated with a digital asset in a network, the metadata record having one or more metadata fields, a first metadata field of the one or more metadata fields having a plurality of configuration parameters, a first configuration parameter of the plurality of configuration parameters selectable for applying a restriction to the first metadata field of the one or more metadata fields in the metadata record of the digital asset, the restriction specifying one or more user groups in the network;

in response to a first user apply the restriction via the user interface, the metadata editor setting the first metadata field of the one or more metadata fields in the metadata record of the digital asset as a restricted field viewable only by the one or more user groups in the network.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

providing the first user with a lookup domain function via the user interface, the lookup domain function being configured to enable the first user to define a period of time during which the digital asset is accessible.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

providing a metadata field editing function via the user interface, the metadata field editing function being configured to enable the first user to specify whether a metadata field is displayable, searchable, keyword searchable, editable, sortable, or a combination thereof.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

providing a search function via the user interface, the search function being configured to enable end users in the network to search one or more types of metadata.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the search function comprises a keyword search function configured to identify metadata fields specified as being keyword searchable.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the search function comprises a field search function configured to examine a restriction class associated with the restriction and search metadata fields associated with the restriction class.

14. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

providing a tabular field editing function configured to enable the first user to edit tabular fields for one or more database columns.

15. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by one or more computing devices to provide a metadata editor, the instructions when translated by the one or more computing devices cause the metadata editor to:

display on a user interface a metadata record of properties associated with a digital asset in a network, the metadata record having one or more metadata fields, a first metadata field of the one or more metadata fields having a plurality of configuration parameters, a first configuration parameter of the plurality of configuration parameters selectable for applying a restriction to the first metadata field of the one or more metadata fields in the metadata record of the digital asset, the restriction specifying one or more user groups in the network; and

in response to a first user applying the restriction via the user interface, setting the first metadata field of the one or more metadata fields in the metadata record of the digital asset as a restricted field viewable only by one or more user groups in the network.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the one or more computing devices to provide the first user with a lookup domain function via the user interface, the lookup domain function being configured to enable the first user to define a period of time during which the digital asset is accessible.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the one or more computing devices to provide a metadata field editing function via the user interface, the metadata field editing function being configured to enable the first user to specify whether a metadata field is displayable, searchable, keyword searchable, editable, sortable, or a combination thereof.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the one or more computing devices to provide a search function via the user interface, the search function being configured to enable end users in the network to search one or more types of metadata.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the search function comprises a field search function configured to examine a restriction class associated with the restriction and search metadata fields associated with the restriction class.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the one or more computing devices to provide a tabular field editing function configured to enable the first user to edit tabular fields for one or more database columns.

21. A system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a metadata editor embodied on non-transitory computer memory including instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the metadata editor to;

display on a user interface a plurality of tabular metadata fields associated with a digital asset in a network, a first tabular metadata field of the plurality of tabular metadata fields having a plurality of configuration parameters, a first configuration parameter of the plurality of configuration parameters selectable for applying a restriction to the first tabular metadata field of the plurality of tabular metadata fields, the restriction specifying one or more user groups in the network;

in response to a first user applying the restriction via the user interface, setting the first tabular metadata field of the plurality of tabular metadata fields as a restricted field viewable only by one or more user groups in the network; and

provide a tabular field editing function to enable the first user to edit the plurality of tabular metadata fields containing tabular metadata about the digital asset.