Protected Document Preview Generation via Segmented Viewable Regions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional search systems fail to provide users with previews of copyright-protected electronic content that matches their queries, forcing users to purchase the content in its entirety to access relevant portions, without allowing them to determine its relevance first.

Innovation Solution

A computer system generates previews for protected electronic documents by creating viewable regions containing query terms and obfuscated regions not containing the terms, based on rules set by the content owners, allowing users to view the content without full access until the preview limit is reached, at which point they are prompted to purchase the content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional search systems provide full access to copyright-protected electronic content, then users can view and access the content without restrictions, but copyright protection and owner control are violated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser access to contentVSAvoidcopyright protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the electronic content into two distinct types: unprotected content that can be fully accessed and protected content that requires authentication. This segmentation allows the search system to treat different content differently, providing full access to public domain works while maintaining copyright protection for protected works, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of access and copyright reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism between the user and protected content. This intermediary (authentication system) mediates the access relationship, allowing users to access protected content only after providing proof of authorization. This resolves the contradiction by enabling controlled access that satisfies both user needs and copyright protection requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional search systems provide only thumbnails and summaries of protected content, then copyright protection is maintained, but users cannot determine relevance without purchasing the entire content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecopyright protectionVSAvoidcontent relevance information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts relevant information from protected content and makes it available through previews. By taking out and displaying preview portions that contain query terms, the system provides users with relevant information about the content without requiring them to purchase the entire work. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining copyright protection while preventing loss of relevance information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by providing previews of protected content before requiring purchase. Users can view preview portions that contain information matching their search query before committing to purchase the entire content. This preliminary exposure of relevant information resolves the contradiction by allowing users to assess relevance while maintaining copyright protection through limited access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If the search system provides unlimited previews of protected content, then users can access more information, but copyright owner control and revenue protection are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoidcopyright owner control

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by providing only limited preview portions of protected content rather than full access. The system provides just enough information (preview portions containing query terms) to help users determine relevance, but stops short of providing complete access. This partial action resolves the contradiction by balancing information availability with copyright owner control and revenue protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS7702633B2Previews providing viewable regions for protected electronic documents

Publication Date: 2010.04.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A computer system and media for generating previews for protected electronic documents are provided. The computer system provides servers that receive rules corresponding to the protected electronic documents from owners of the protected electronic documents. The rules specify quantity and quality of each interaction, by client devices, with each protected electronic document. Additionally, the servers receive queries having query terms from the client devices. In response, the servers generate previews for the protected electronic documents that match the query. The previews are generated and transmitted to the client devices based on the rules stored by the servers.