Controlled access to objects or areas in an electronic document

• US 7,882,565 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Collins, Nathalie Sophia, Villaron, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Pyzocha; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LUU T
• Application Number:
  US11/218,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20070056045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 713/182, 726/2, 726/27, 715/741
• 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 editing access to a region in electronic slides, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a selected area of a first electronic slide of a first slide presentation for designation as a controlled access region;

providing, in response to receiving the selected area of the first electronic slide for designation as the controlled access region, a user interface for setting at access control properties for the selected area of the first electronic slide, wherein the user interface comprises;

a first portion for setting access privileges for the selected area of the first electronic slide,

a second portion for limiting application functionalities that are operative with the selected area of the first electronic slide,

a third portion for setting identification properties of the selected area of the first electronic slide, wherein setting the identification properties comprises setting a visual presentation of the controlled access region, the visual presentation comprising a color-coding of the controlled access region;

designating, by the computing device, the selected area as the controlled access region;

controlling, by the computing device, editing access to the controlled access region;

receiving a request to copy the controlled access region to a second electronic slide of a second slide presentation;

when at least one access control property associated with the controlled access region permits copying and pasting of the controlled access region of the first electronic slide;

copying the controlled access region of the first electronic slide, wherein copying the controlled access region of the first electronic slide comprises copying all access control properties associated with the controlled access region in the first electronic slide, and

pasting the controlled access region to the second electronic slide, wherein pasting the controlled access region to the second electronic slide comprises pasting all of the access control properties associated with the copied controlled access region in the first electronic slide to the pasted controlled access region in the second electronic slide; and

in response to copying and pasting the controlled access region of the first electronic slide to the second electronic slide, controlling editing access to the controlled access region in the second electronic slide based on the associated control properties of the controlled access region copied from the first electronic slide.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the controlled access region; and

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

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the controlled access region; and

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

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the controlled access region; and

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

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a software application functionality to at least one content item contained in the controlled access region; and

limiting the application of the selected software application functionality to the at least one content item contained in the controlled access region.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the controlled access region; and

automatically providing at least one software functionality designated for use in association with the selected controlled access region.

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

8. The method of claim 1, wherein designating the selected area as the controlled access region includes receiving an application of the at least one access control property to the controlled access region.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein controlling editing access to the controlled access region includes controlling editing access to the controlled access region according to the at least one access control property applied to the controlled access region.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the application of the at least one access control property to the controlled access region includes receiving the at least one access control property for specifying a type of access to the controlled access region that is allowed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the at least one access control property for specifying the type of access to the controlled access region that is allowed includes receiving the at least one access control property for specifying that no access to the controlled access region is allowed.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the at least one access control property for specifying the type of access to the controlled access region that is allowed includes receiving the at least one access control property for specifying that access to the controlled access region is allowed to at least one prescribed user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein specifying that access to the controlled access region is allowed to the at least one prescribed user includes specifying that access to the controlled access region is allowed to the at least one prescribed user in response to receipt of a valid identification credential from the at least one prescribed user.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising in response to receiving the at least one access control property for specifying the type of access to the controlled access region, limiting the application of at least one software application functionality to a content item contained in the controlled access region.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the at least one access control property for specifying the type of access to the controlled access region includes receiving an application of at least one identification property to the controlled access region for distinguishing the controlled access region from a non-controlled access region.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the application of the at least one identification property 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 the non-controlled access region.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the application of the at least one identification property to the controlled access region includes overlaying the controlled access region with an opaque covering for distinguishing the controlled access region from the non-controlled access region.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the application of the at least one identification property 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 storage device comprising a set of instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method of controlling editing access to a region in electronic slides, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a selected area of a first electronic slide of a first slide presentation for designation as a controlled access region, wherein receiving the selected area comprises receiving the selection from a pointing device drawing a box around the area to be designated as the controlled access region;

providing, in response to receiving the selected area of the first electronic slide for designation as the controlled access region, a user interface for setting access control properties for the selected area of the first electronic slide, wherein the user interface comprises;

a first portion for setting access privileges for the selected area of the first electronic slide,

a second portion for limiting application functionalities that are operative with the selected area of the first electronic slide,

a third portion for setting identification properties of the selected area of the first electronic slide, wherein setting the identification properties comprises setting a visual presentation of the controlled access region, the visual presentation comprising a color-coding of the controlled access region;

designating the selected area as the controlled access region, wherein designating the selected area as the controlled access region includes receiving an application of at least one control property to the controlled access region;

receiving a request to copy the controlled access region to a second electronic slide of a second slide presentation;

when copying the controlled access region is permissible based on the at least one access control property of the controlled access region,

copying the controlled access region to the second electronic slide, wherein copying the controlled access region to the second electronic slide comprises copying all access control properties associated with the controlled access region in the first electronic slide, the control properties being associated with at least one of the following;

formatting the controlled access region,

copying the controlled access region,

coloring the controlled access region,

appending to the controlled access region, and

deleting from the controlled access region;

pasting the controlled access region to the second electronic slide, wherein pasting the controlled access region to the second electronic slide comprises pasting all of the access control properties associated with the copied controlled access region in the first electronic slide to the pasted controlled access region in the second electronic slide; and

in response to copying and pasting the controlled access region of the first electronic slide to the second electronic slide, controlling editing access to the controlled access region in the second electronic slide, wherein controlling editing access to the controlled access region in the second electronic slide comprises controlling editing access to the controlled access region based on the associated control properties of the controlled access region copied from the first electronic slide.