User Interface for Multi-Account Server Selection and Permission Templates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current user interfaces for setting document protection levels are not user-friendly, making it difficult to efficiently manage user permissions for various documents.

Innovation Solution

A user interface that allows users to easily identify and select servers for setting access permissions on content items, presenting a list of available servers and their associated templates for information rights management, enabling users to apply permissions without needing to log in multiple times or keep track of different credentials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current user interfaces are used for setting document protection levels, then document security can be enforced, but the user interface becomes difficult to operate and not user-friendly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument security enforcementVSAvoiduser interface usability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex permission-setting process into distinct, manageable components: selecting from predefined permission levels (no permission, read-only, read-write), choosing from separate categories of actions (print, forward, open, change, copy), and organizing these options in a structured interface. This segmentation makes the interface easier to navigate while maintaining comprehensive security control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses template copying where predefined permission templates can be created and reused. Once a permission configuration is established, it can be copied and applied to multiple documents or users, reducing the complexity of repeatedly configuring similar permissions and improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If comprehensive permission controls are implemented for various documents, then security is improved, but the complexity of managing user permissions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity controlVSAvoidpermission management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universal permission templates that can be applied across multiple documents and user contexts. A single permission configuration can serve multiple purposes and be reused throughout the system, reducing the overall complexity of permission management while maintaining comprehensive security controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows administrators to pre-configure permission templates with common permission settings before they are needed. These pre-configured templates can then be quickly applied to documents and users, eliminating the need to manually configure complex permissions from scratch each time and reducing management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2776968B1User interface for selection of multiple accounts and connection points
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP2776968B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2776968B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2776968B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a user interface that enables a user to more easily identify servers that may be used to set access permissions for content items. The method and system described herein includes receiving user credentials that are associated with a user. In response to receiving the user credentials, one or more servers associated with the user credentials are displayed. The one or more servers are configured to manage information rights for a content item created by the user. Upon receiving a selection of one of the one or more servers, a list of one or more templates supported by the selected server is displayed to the user. The one or more templates identify information rights that may be applied to the content item.