SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION

• US 20070061889A1
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sand Technology Incorporated (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sand Technology Incorporated (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sainaney, Narayan
• Application Number:
  US11/531,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20070061889A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• 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: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3239 involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response

Abstract

A method for managing access to electronic documents, wherein the documents include code scripts executable by, the documents being viewable by recipients only when viewed in a the document viewer upon satisfaction of an access policy embedded in the document, the method comprising the steps of opening the document for viewing in the document viewer by the recipient; executing the code to obscure viewing of selected pages of a the document upon the document being opened; communicating with an authentication server, by the viewer, for authenticating the recipient upon the recipient attempting to read the document; and unobscuring the selected pages by the viewer upon receipt of the recipient authentication.

Claims

1. A document distribution system comprising:

a. one or more locked documents for distribution to one or more recipients, the documents being viewable by the recipients only when viewed in a document viewer and upon satisfaction of a security policy embedded in said locked document;

b. a network connected server for authenticating the recipient of the document upon the recipient attempting to read the document; and

c. a protocol for unlocking the document upon said server authenticating said recipient.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, said document being a PDF file.

2. A system as defined in claim 2, wherein said protocol includes input of a password by said user and wherein said user password is not transmitted over network during said authentication, nor shared with said server.

4. A method for managing access to electronic documents, wherein said documents include code scripts executable by, the documents being viewable by recipients only when viewed in a said document viewer upon satisfaction of an access policy embedded in said document, the method comprising the steps of:

a. opening said document for viewing in said document viewer by said recipient;

b. executing said code to obscure viewing of selected pages of a said document upon said document being opened;

c. communicating with an authentication server, by said viewer, for authenticating the recipient upon the recipient attempting to read the document; and

d. unobscuring said selected pages by said viewer upon receipt of said recipient authentication.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, including setting a cookie for said document on said recipient'"'"'s computer.

6. A method as defined in claim 4, including displaying cover page for input of recipient information upon said recipient opening said document in said viewer.

7. A method as defined in claim 4, including upon said recipient being verified, determining whether a new version of said document is available on said server.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, including prompting said recipient for download of said new version.

9. A customer relationship management system comprising:

a. a customer information database;

b. one or more locked documents distributed to one or more users;

c. a network connected server for receiving information relating to a user of the document upon the user attempting to read the document and for unlocking the document upon receipt of this information, said server forwarding said received information to said customer information database.

10. A method for creating a one or more locked documents for distribution to one or more recipients, the documents being viewable by the recipients only when viewed in a document viewer and upon satisfaction of an access policy embedded in said locked document, said method comprising:

a. preventing viewing of said selected pages, by inserting code in said document, said code for defining an access policy for selected pages of a said document; and

c. publishing said document.