Section-Level Document Permissions to Prevent Undesired Edits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing document collaboration systems allow unrestricted editing, leading to undesired modifications and increased resource consumption due to time-consuming iterations to revert undesired edits, affecting computing and network resources.

Innovation Solution

Implementing collaboration controls that allow section-by-section editing permissions, enabling users to restrict or permit edits based on specific document sections, thereby controlling edits and reducing unnecessary resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If unrestricted editing is enabled for document collaboration, then ease of operation is improved, but undesired modifications increase and reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the document into multiple sections and assigns different editing permissions to different collaborators for each section. This segmentation allows certain collaborators to edit specific sections while restricting others, thereby maintaining ease of operation for authorized users while improving reliability by preventing undesired modifications in restricted sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local editing permissions where different parts of the document have different access controls. Each section can have customized permission settings allowing or disallowing edits based on the specific needs of each section, enabling the system to maintain both ease of operation for authorized users and reliability for protected sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If unrestricted editing is enabled for document collaboration, then productivity is improved, but loss of time increases due to iterations to revert undesired edits

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the document into sections with specific editing permissions, the patent prevents undesired edits from occurring in the first place, eliminating the need for time-consuming iterations to revert unwanted changes. This maintains productivity while reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary control measures by restricting editing permissions before undesired modifications can occur. This preventive approach stops unwanted edits at the source, avoiding the need for later iterations to revert changes, thus maintaining productivity without time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of operation

If unrestricted editing is enabled for document collaboration, then ease of operation is improved, but computing and network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidcomputing and network resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the document into sections with specific permission controls, allowing the system to process only the sections that require editing rather than the entire document. This reduces computing and network resource consumption while maintaining ease of operation for authorized users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial editing permissions where only the necessary sections are accessible for editing, rather than allowing unrestricted editing of the entire document. This partial action approach reduces resource consumption while maintaining operational ease for authorized users who only need access to specific sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250323959A1Collaboration controls for document sections
Publication Date: 2025.10.16 ADOBE INC
  • US20250323959A1 patent drawing
  • US20250323959A1 patent drawing
  • US20250323959A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and systems are provided for facilitating document collaboration in accordance with collaboration controls. In embodiments, an indication of a collaboration control for a collaborator of a document is obtained. The collaboration control generally indicates an edit permission for a document section of the document in relation to the collaborator. Thereafter, a set of collaboration control data for the document is generated. In embodiments, the set of collaboration control data includes the collaboration control indicating the edit permission for the document section of the document in relation to the collaborator. Based on an input (e.g., edit) by the collaborator to the document section of the document, a determination is made, using the set of collaboration control data, as to whether to enable an edit to the document section of the document.