Document File Access Control via Interleaf Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic media lacks the ability to dynamically control content access and presentation, allowing unauthorized dissemination and searchability of sensitive documents, and fails to restrict access to intended audiences.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for creating a variable computer-readable document file that presents content in discrete units, allowing authors to control access by hiding or revealing content based on user actions, with features like encryption and delimiter-based charging, ensuring that only authorized users can view and copy sensitive materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If content is made accessible to users on electronic media, then information dissemination is improved, but unauthorized copying and dissemination cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The document is divided into multiple pages with interleaf pages inserted between original pages. These interleaf pages contain additional content, annotations, or advertisements that are only visible when the document is opened with the specific software application, creating segmented access control throughout the document structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A software application acts as an intermediary between the user and the document content. This intermediary software controls what content is visible by rendering or hiding interleaf pages based on whether the document is opened through the authorized application, thereby mediating access without requiring physical barriers.
2Ease of operation
If document content is made searchable and accessible, then user convenience is improved, but confidential documents can be surreptitiously copied
Solution Approach 1:
The document structure dynamically changes based on how it is opened. When opened with the authorized software, interleaf pages are rendered and become part of the visible document flow. When opened with other applications, these interleaf pages are hidden, creating a dynamic display state that adapts to the opening method rather than a static visible/non-visible structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The visibility state of interleaf pages changes based on the opening application. Authorized software causes interleaf pages to be displayed (visible state), while other applications cause them to be hidden (invisible state), creating a visual transformation that indicates proper authorization without physical security measures.
3Ease of operation
If electronic books can be freely distributed, then accessibility is improved, but costless multiplication and unauthorized sharing occur
Solution Approach 1:
The document is pre-configured with interleaf pages that contain authorization markers or metadata indicating they should only be rendered by specific software. This preliminary setup ensures that when the document is distributed, the authorization structure is already in place to prevent unauthorized viewing or copying without requiring additional security measures at distribution time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling access to a document file includes creating the document file, which is a mutable computer-readable file that includes content that is presentable to a user on an electronic display device. The document file is encrypted and provided to a user, including storing the encrypted document file on a content storage device associated with a unique global identifier. Encrypting the document file includes applying an encryption algorithm to the document file to reversibly cipher the document file. Applying the encryption algorithm to the document file includes providing an encryption key and the unique global identifier and actuating the encryption algorithm with the encryption key and the unique global identifier. The encrypted document file can be decrypted and the content presented to the user on an electronic display device through the use of a user interface application.