Email Composition Surface Document Preview and Permissioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods of sharing files via URL do not allow easy viewing or interaction with the document in the email compose environment, and require complex permission adjustments at cloud storage sites for recipients.

Innovation Solution

Enhanced links in the message composition surface that render a preview of the document, enabling interactive navigation and permission settings for recipients, allowing senders to adjust access permissions directly within the email interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a URL is shared via email using existing methods, then the file can be shared with recipients, but the sender cannot easily view or interact with the document in the compose environment and must navigate to a separate interface to adjust permissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of viewing and managing document permissionsVSAvoidcomplexity of permission adjustment process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the document preview functionality and permission management capabilities directly into the email composition interface. Instead of requiring separate navigation to cloud storage sites, the system merges these functions into a unified view where senders can both preview documents and adjust recipient permissions within the same email compose window, eliminating the need to switch between applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary component that acts as a bridge between the email client and cloud storage service. This intermediary enables the email composition surface to directly access and control cloud storage functions (document previewing and permission management) without requiring the user to leave the email interface, thus simplifying the workflow while maintaining integration with the cloud storage backend

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If the sender navigates to the cloud storage site to adjust permissions, then recipient access can be modified, but this separate operation is time-consuming and complex for users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime spent on permission adjustmentsVSAvoidefficiency of document sharing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by enabling document previewing and permission configuration before the email is actually sent. Senders can set up all necessary permissions and review the document content in advance within the compose interface, so that when the email is sent, everything is already configured and ready, eliminating the need for post-sending permission adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple previously separate operations (navigating to cloud storage, finding the document, adjusting permissions, returning to email) into a single integrated workflow within the email composition interface, significantly reducing the time and steps required to complete permission management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a URL is included in an email message, then the link can be shared, but the sender cannot interactively navigate or edit the document within the message composition surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteractivity with document in compose environmentVSAvoidease of document navigation and editing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary rendering component that enables the email composition surface to display and interact with cloud storage documents directly. This intermediary translates cloud storage document formats into a format that can be rendered and interacted with within the email client, allowing senders to navigate, preview, and even edit documents without leaving the compose environment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the email composition surface multi-functional by enabling it to not only compose text emails but also to preview, navigate, and manage cloud storage documents. The composition surface becomes a universal interface that handles both traditional email composition and cloud document interaction within the same workspace

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10769350B2Document link previewing and permissioning while composing an email

Publication Date: 2020.09.08 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Enhanced links in a message composition surface are described. A uniform resource locator (URL) may be identified while a user is composing a message in a message composition surface of an electronic message such as an email. A source of the URL and the file type of the document linked to by the URL can be determined and a preview of the document can be rendered in the message composition surface. When the source is a cloud storage location, access permissions for the document can be adjusted from within email—without the user navigating to a file management site of the cloud storage. When the file type is a productivity application, a link rendering element can call a productivity application service to provide interaction functionality for the productivity application file and facilitate the rendering of the productivity application file.