KR20010079297A - Method for applying locking function to an electronic document transmitted through network - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for locking an electronic document transmitted through a network is provided to maintain the security of information transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver by giving a lock function to an electronic document transmitted through a network, and by secretly maintaining the document for a fixed time. CONSTITUTION: Each user's computer is connected to a server which controls that an electronic document is received from each user computer or stored. The server enables a user who wants to transmit the electronic document to select a lock function among one or more lock functions. The server enables the user to input solution information on the lock function and adds information on the lock function selected and the solution information to the electronic document. The server checks whether the lock function is set to the electronic document. In case that the function is set, solution information on the function is inputted. In case that the solution information is identical to the solution information added to the electronic document, the electronic document is opened.

Description

METHOD FOR APPLYING LOCKING FUNCTION TO AN ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT TRANSMITTED THROUGH NETWORK}

The present invention relates to a method for granting a lock function to an electronic document on a network, and more particularly, to provide a lock function to an electronic document transmitted through a network so as to set security or viewing conditions for the electronic document.

Recently, with the development of the World Wide Web, as the number of users of the Internet based on Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (IP / IP) has increased, and also the development of wireless network systems and the number of users using them have increased, The use of electronic documents (eg, e-mails, posts on Internet sites, text messages using personal digital assistants (PDAs), including mobile phones, etc.) as an information transmission medium has been greatly increased.

FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of a conventional electronic document delivery system. The electronic document delivery system specifically includes a source server 1 and a destination server 1 of electronic documents each having storage means 4 and 5. 2), the first authors 6a to N-th authors 6n, the first viewers 7a to Mth viewers 7m, and the Internet 3 connecting the origin server 1 and the destination server 2; It consists of. The principle of operation of the electronic document delivery system is as follows. First, when one of the first authors 6a to Nth authors 6n creates an electronic document and transmits it to the origin server 1, the origin server 1 stores the electronic document in the storage means 4 or The data is transmitted to the destination server 2 via the Internet 3 and stored in the storage means 5 of the destination server 2. Thereafter, the first viewer 7a to the seventh viewer 7m can view the electronic document without any restriction from the storage means 4 of the origin server 1 or the storage means 5 of the destination server 2. The first authors 6a to N-th authors 6n also become readers and can read electronic documents.

FIG. 1B is a flowchart showing a post on an Internet site according to the prior art, and includes a document creating step 10 and a document viewing step 11.

The document creation step 10 is a procedure for storing an electronic document as a post in a storage means when the creator (or sender) connects to an internet site where a post can be posted and creates an electronic document. This is a procedure that allows the viewer (or recipient) who accesses the site to view the post stored in the storage means.

At this time, the post may be written directly on the Internet site, or may be written before accessing the site. Posts on the Internet site are open to anyone who accesses the bulletin board of the Internet site from the time the author (or sender) posts to the Internet site. In addition, even if the website is operated by membership system is open to all members. Therefore, the author (or sender) cannot make a post visible only to people who meet certain qualifications or conditions.

Fig. 1C shows a flowchart for transmitting an e-mail according to the prior art, and is composed of a document creation step 12, a document transmission step 13, and a document viewing step 14.

The document creation step 12 is a procedure for creating an e-mail before or after the e-mail sender accesses the origin server 1 and providing the e-mail address of the e-mail recipient to the origin server 1. In the document transmission step 13, the origin server 1 transmits the email to the destination server 2 for storage in the storage means 5 of the destination server 2, and the destination server 2 sends the email recipients the email of the email. You will be informed of your arrival. Of course, in the case of a recipient who uses the origin server 1 in common, the email is stored in the storage means 4 of the origin server 1. In the document viewing step 14, the recipient can immediately view the e-mail.

Therefore, after the sender sends the e-mail, the receiver can view the e-mail without any restriction, so that the sender cannot restrict the e-mail even when the e-mail is sent incorrectly. There is also a risk that the recipient may forget the information if it is sent too early.

Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a security means for viewing only an electronic document that meets a certain qualification or condition.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a means of limiting the viewing of a mistransmitted electronic document and may induce curiosity between the electronic document creator (or sender) and the viewer (or recipient).

In order to achieve the above object, a method of granting a lock function to an electronic document on the Internet according to the present invention allows a user to transmit an electronic document to select a desired lock function from one or more lock functions, the lock function A lock document creation procedure for allowing the user to input answer information about the lock information and storing the selected lock function together with information indicating the selected lock function and information to which the answer information is to be transmitted; And when the server attempts to read the electronic document, examines whether the locking function is set in the electronic document, and if the locking function is set, the server receives answer information for the locking function or answers the information itself. And after determining that the answer information corresponds to the answer information attached to the electronic document, a document reading procedure of opening the electronic document.

The data area for setting the lock function includes a lock selection area for indicating whether the lock function is set, a lock condition area for storing which lock condition is set and answer information corresponding to the lock condition, and the electronic document. A lock guide message area for storing a message to be output when an attempt to open a message is not successful, and a system information area for storing the name of the electronic document creator (or sender) and the user who viewed the electronic document, if necessary. It is preferable to construct. Specifically, the locked electronic document according to the present invention includes a lock selection area for indicating whether a lock function is selected, a lock condition area for storing what lock condition is added and a solution information for the lock function if the lock function is selected, and a receiver. If you enter the incorrect answer information, including a lock message area to inform that the incorrect answer has been entered, and an electronic document area for storing the information to send to the recipient, if necessary, the system information for storing the user's name It further comprises a region.

In this case, the document creation procedure includes storing the author (or sender) name of the electronic document in the system information area, and providing one or more electronic document locking functions so that the creator (or sender) can select the document. ; If the author (or the sender) does not select the lock function, the electronic document is treated as a general document. If the author (or the sender) selects one or more lock functions, the electronic document indicates that the lock is set in the lock selection area. Receiving a function and answer information thereof and storing the same in a lock condition area; And when the lock function is selected, inputting a message to be output when the electronic document cannot be opened due to the lock function, and storing the input message in the lock guide message area. It can be carried out.

The document viewing procedure may include: when a request is made to view a specific electronic document, determining whether a locking function is set by examining a lock selection area attached to the electronic document; As a result of the determination, in the case of an electronic document that does not have a lock function set, a reading procedure for the general document is performed. If the lock function is set, the answer information for the lock function is input or is determined according to the lock function. Determining answer information; Examining whether the determined answer information matches the answer information of the lock condition area attached to the electronic document; Processing the electronic document so that the electronic document can be read when the two answer information matches. And processing the electronic document so that the electronic document cannot be viewed when the two answer information does not match, and displaying the guide message in the guide message area.

In the document viewing procedure, when the electronic document is normally opened and an answer electronic document is created for the electronic document, identification information (name, ID, etc.) of the reply electronic document creator is added to the hierarchical information area attached to the electronic document. It is possible to manage the viewing history of the electronic document.

The locking function described above may be configured in various ways.

One preferred embodiment of the locking function is to specify a reading start date (year, month, day, hour, minute, second) for viewing the electronic document, wherein the answer information may be configured to be the reading start date. have. Another preferred embodiment of the locking function is to specify identification information (name, ID, address, etc.) of a viewer (or recipient) who can read the electronic document, wherein the answer information is the identification of the reader (or recipient). It can consist of information. Another preferred embodiment of the locking function provides a quiz as the locking condition, and the answer information may be composed of the answer.

1A is a block diagram of an electronic document delivery system.

1B is a flowchart of posting a post on an Internet site according to the prior art.

1C is a flowchart for transmitting an email according to the prior art.

2 is a structural diagram of a locked electronic document according to the present invention.

3A is a block diagram of a system for transmitting a locked electronic document according to the present invention.

3B is a flowchart illustrating a locking function of a locked electronic document according to the present invention.

3C is a flowchart for transmitting a locked electronic document to another destination server according to the present invention.

3D is a flow chart of a method for viewing a locked electronic document in accordance with the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

The electronic document (hereinafter referred to as "lock document") in which the lock function is set according to the present invention includes the following areas as shown in FIG.

a) lock selection area (200) indicating whether a lock function is selected;

b) a lock condition area 201 for storing which lock condition is added and the answer information if the lock function is selected;

c) the lock guide message area 202 indicating that an inappropriate answer has been entered, if the recipient has entered an inappropriate answer information, and

d) an electronic document area 204 for storing information to be sent to the recipient.

The lock selection area 200 refers to an area indicating whether a sender who wants to provide information or the like has set a lock function on the information. When the user selects any one or more of the lock functions provided by the server, the lock selection area 200 is locked. A unique value indicating that the function is set is stored in the lock selection area 200. For example, if " 0 " is stored in the lock selection area, it indicates that no locking function is set in the electronic document, in which case it is treated like a normal electronic document. If "1" is stored in the lock selection area, this means that the lock function is set for the electronic document to be sent.

The lock condition area 201 is provided with which lock function is provided among the lock functions provided by the server and answer information corresponding to the selected lock function. For example, the server may grant a specific viewer (or recipient) that can be viewed, the view date that can be viewed, and the ability to view the information stored in the electronic document area delivered from the sender only when the quiz is solved. Suppose you can. In this case, the sender may designate a specific viewer (or recipient), specifically, the name, social security number, address, and / or school of a specific viewer (or recipient), and the lock condition area 201 has a lock condition for the specific viewer (or recipient). Information indicating that the recipient is a recipient, and information on a particular viewer (or recipient) (e.g., a name, a social security number, an address, and / or a school of origin) of the particular viewer (or recipient) as the answer information. 201. If the sender designates a specific reading date, the lock condition area 201 includes information indicating that the lock condition is a specific reading date and a specific reading date (for example, 10 May 2001 10 o'clock) as information indicating the lock condition. 30 minutes). More specifically, when the sender selects a particular viewer (or receiver) as a lock condition on the electronic document and selects "Hong Gil-dong" as the answer information, the lock condition area 201 indicates that the lock condition is specified by the viewer (or receiver). Information indicating that the name of the name) and the answer thereof is "Hong Gil-dong" is stored in the lock condition area 201. If necessary, the lock condition area may be divided into a lock condition display area indicating which lock condition is set and a lock condition answer area storing answer information corresponding to the lock condition (in this case, the lock condition display area). Stores information about which lock condition is set, and the lock condition answer area stores answer information corresponding to the lock condition). In addition, if necessary, two or more different locking functions may be set. In this case, information on each locking function and answer information corresponding thereto are stored in the locking condition area.

The lock guide message area 202 is an area for storing a message delivered to the viewer (or receiver) when the locker (or receiver) does not satisfy the lock condition specified by the creator (or the sender). For example, if you do not reach the start date of reading, please wait. If you are not a specific viewer (or recipient), you are not. If you do not have the correct quiz, the answer is wrong. The message can be displayed on the user's computer. On the other hand, if the lock condition is a particular reading date and the request of the reader (or recipient) is made before the reading start date, presenting the remaining time until the reading start date will be more interesting services.

The electronic document area 204 refers to an area for storing information to be provided by the sender, which is an area for storing the body of the electronic document like a conventional electronic document. For example, if the information to be sent by the sender is the event announcement, the body of the event announcement is stored in the electronic document area 204.

The lock document according to the present invention may further include a system information area 203, and the system information area 203 is an area for storing information for identifying the author, including the name of the person who created the lock document. For example, when information (typically the name or ID of the author) of the creator of the locked document is identified, and a response is added to the locked document by the viewer (or recipient) who read the locked document, the answer is added. In addition to the name of the original author (or sender), the name of the respondent can be recorded to manage the reading history of the locked document. The system information area 203 is particularly advantageous in the case of a document posted on a bulletin board operated by an internet site.

Suppose that the sender "Kim Gap-dong" selects the name of a specific viewer (or recipient) as a locking function and enters "Hong Gil-dong" as the answer information, and delivers the event guide. For example as follows. First, when the sender selects a lock function for an electronic document to be delivered, the lock selection area 200 stores "1" indicating that a lock is set on the information to be transmitted, and the lock selection area 201 is stored as a lock function. "3" to indicate that the name of a specific viewer (or recipient) is specified (but it is assumed that this corresponds to 3 if the name of the viewer is locked), and "Hong Gil-dong", the name of a specific viewer (or recipient), The message "not you" is stored in the lock guide message area 202, and "Kim Gap-dong" which is the name of the sender may be stored in the system area information 203. In addition, the electronic document area 204 may store an event guide that is information to be transmitted.

First, the server checks the lock selection area to determine whether the electronic document is a locked document. If the electronic document to be sent is a locked document, that is, if "1" is assigned to the lock selection area 200, the server transmits a message indicating that the document has arrived to the receiver to which the sender wants to send. Thereafter, when the recipient requests the lock document, the server checks the lock document area 201 of the document to confirm which lock condition is set and notifies the recipient. That is, as described above, when the name of a specific viewer (or recipient) is assigned as a lock condition, the server checks the information "3" indicating the name of the specific person as a lock function, and locks the recipient to "this lock document." As a condition, the name of a specific person is set. Please enter your name. " According to the above message, when the recipient enters his or her name, the server compares the entered name with the name entered as the answer information in the locked document, and the recipient is entitled to view the event guide, which is information attached to the locked document. Determine whether you have If the entered name and the name entered as the answer information in the lock document coincide with each other, the server delivers the information stored in the storage document area 204 to the receiver. In this case, the receiver can send the mail back to the sender, and this information is stored in the system information area 203 to enable integrated mail management. If there is a mismatch, the server transmits a message "not you" stored in the lock guide message area 202, and gives a chance to enter a name again. If necessary, the server may notify the sender of this inconsistency more than three times, in which case the sender will contact the server to verify that the correct incoming mail address has been entered, and if the e-mail is incorrectly sent, You can avoid the problem caused by the incorrect delivery of electronic documents by deleting the.

The above example describes an example in which a specific viewer (or receiver) is set as a lock function, but it is possible to set various lock conditions including a specific reading date, a correct answer to a quiz, and the like. It will be self-evident to those who have it. That is, as a lock function, one or more selected from a specific person's name, social security number, address, and school of origin can be selected, a lock function that can be viewed on a specific date can be selected, and / or a specific quiz is solved. Locking function can be given.

3A illustrates an example of a system for delivering a locked document including a lock condition area 201, a lock guide message area 202, a system information area 203, and an electronic document area 204, and showing a general document. First authors 27a to Nth connected to source server 20, destination server 21, and source server 20 each having storage means 23, 25 and lock document storage means 24, 26, respectively. The author 27n, the first-viewers 28a to M-th viewers 28m connecting to the destination server 21, and the Internet 22 connecting the source server 20 and the destination server 21 are configured.

The first writer 27a to the Nth writer 27n may create a conventional electronic document or may create an electronic document (hereinafter referred to as a "lock document") with a locking function, and the source server 20 locks the electronic document. It is equipped with the function which can give a function. The source server 20 stores the electronic document created by each creator in the general document storage means 23 when the lock function is not provided, and in the locked document storage means 24 when the lock function is given.

At this time, if the destination server 21 also has a locking function, it includes a general document storage means 25 and a lock document storage means 25, otherwise the storage means (5) does not distinguish between the normal document and the locked document Will be provided. Here, the general document storage means 23 and 25 and the lock document storage means 24 and 26 are divided for convenience of description and may be configured in an integrated form by checking the lock selection area.

The service procedure according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3B to 3D.

First, with reference to Figure 3b will be described in detail the document creation procedure for granting a lock function to the electronic document in accordance with the present invention.

The author (or sender) who wants to create a locked document must have access to or have access to the source server 20 that grants the lock function for the locked document. In step 301, an electronic document is created in the same manner as a conventional electronic document.

Source server 20 provides one or more lockout information to the author's (or sender's) computer so that the creator (or sender) can choose whether to use the lockdown feature (302), and the creator (or sender) locks out. If one of them is selected (303), the source server 20 processes (304) to input the answer information (ie, lock condition information) of the selected lock function. An example of the locking function may be a specific viewer (or recipient), a specific reading date, a quiz, and the like, and the answer information may include identification information of a specific reader (or recipient) according to the locking function as described above, and start reading. This can be a date or a quiz.

The source server 20 now processes the creator (or sender) to input the lock announcement message and receives the guidance message (305). The information received in steps 303 to 305 is stored in the lock selection area, the lock condition area (which can be divided into the lock condition display area and the lock condition answer area), and the lock guide message area, respectively, and the creator (or the sender). Attached to the information to be delivered is stored in the lock document storage means 24 (307).

However, if the author (or the sender) has not selected the lock function in step 302, the author treats the document as a general document and stores it in the general document storage means 230 (306). If necessary, as described above, the lock document storage means 24 and the general document storage means 230 may be operated integrally without being separated from each other, in the present invention to explain the case separated from each other for convenience of understanding. do.

An example of a process of transmitting a lock document to another destination server will now be described with reference to FIG. 3C.

First, the source server 20 determines whether the electronic document to be transmitted by the creator (or the sender) is the locked document (311), and if it is not the locked document, transmits the same as the general electronic document (312). However, in the case of the locked document, it is determined whether the destination server 21 has a function of processing the locked document (313), and if it has this function, the source server 20 sends the locked document to the destination server 21. 316.

However, if the destination server 21 does not have a function to process the locked document, the source server 20 continues to lock the locked document because the locked document cannot be read even if the locked document is transmitted to the destination server 21. It stores in the storage means 24 (314), and instead transmits the Internet address of the source server 20 to the destination server 21 (315).

On the other hand, regardless of whether or not the destination server 21 has a function to process the locked document, the destination server 21 notifies the viewer (or recipient) that the mail has arrived.

Now, a method of reading a locked document will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3D. The reader (or recipient) requests the destination server 21 to read the mail, and the source server 20 determines whether the corresponding electronic document is a locked document or a general document (321). When the electronic document is a general electronic document, the electronic document is processed to be viewed in a manner of reading the general electronic document (322). If the electronic document is a locked document, if the destination server 21 does not have the ability to process the locked document, the destination server 21 allows the viewer (or recipient) to access the source server 20. A reader (or recipient) accessing the source server 20 requests to view the mail, and the source server 20 confirms that the requested mail is a locked document from the lock selection area, and the requested document is sent to the reader (or recipient). Informs the lock document, informs the lock condition set by the author (or the sender) and allows the user to input the answer information, or finds the answer information by himself (323). An example of finding the answer information for yourself is identifying the current date. On the other hand, when the destination server 21 has the ability to process the locked document, the destination server 20 causes the source server 21 to play the same role.

Then, it is determined whether the answer information input in step 323 matches the answer information stored in the lock condition area (or lock condition answer area) 201 of the locked document (324). The information (or electronic document body) stored in the electronic document area 204 of the user is provided to the viewer (or recipient) (322). If not, the message stored in the lock guide message area 203 of the locked document is not provided. It is displayed (325).

On the other hand, the above-described example describes a case where the author (or sender) and the viewer (receiver) employ different servers, but if the person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, the author (or sender) It will be apparent that the same may be applied to the case where the) and the viewer (or receiver) employ the same server. In this case, since the destination server 20 has a built-in lock document storage means 24 and a means (or program) for creating a locked document, it may be more easily performed.

The invention can also be applied to bulletin boards operated by servers on the Internet, and also to text messages via PDAs, including cell phones. In the case of the bulletin board and the text message through the server system (which refers to the case of accessing the server system to check the text message), the text message can be operated in the same manner as the e-mail. Omit it. In this case, however, it should be noted that the system information area enables the integrated operation of the bulletin board.

The above-described invention describes a case where a means (or a program) for creating and reading a locked document is built in the server system. However, the above-described invention is not limited to an e-mail program in a terminal or a text message program in a personal portable terminal. A means (or program) for creating and reading a locked document can be installed and applied in the same manner as described above without the involvement of a server. In this case, however, when the locked document is managed by the server system, even after the creator (or sender) transmits the locked document, the locked document may be corrected and retransmitted by accessing the server system. In the case of managing the document, since the locked document is directly transmitted to the terminal, the creator (or the sender) is restricted from accessing the terminal. Therefore, the modification and resending of the document may be greatly limited.

According to the present invention, by providing a locking function to an electronic document for transmitting information transmitted through a network, it is possible to maintain the security of information between a specific author (or sender) and a viewer (or receiver). It also allows electronic documents to be kept secret for a period of time, suggesting new ways for authors and viewers to exchange information. Then, the electronic document of another content may be newly transmitted before the elapse of a certain period of time. In addition, since an electronic document (receiver error, etc.) that the author incorrectly sent cannot be viewed by others, there is an effect that only the recipient targeted by the author can be read.

Claims (13)

Each user's computer connects to a server that manages to receive and store electronic documents or read stored electronic documents from the computer over the network. The server allows a user who wants to transmit the electronic document to select a desired lock function from one or more lock functions, A document creation procedure for allowing input of answer information for the locking function and then attaching information indicating the selected locking function and answer information to the electronic document; And When the server attempts to read the electronic document, the server checks whether the locking function is set in the electronic document. If the locking function is set, the server receives answer information for the locking function or inputs answer information by itself. And a document viewing procedure for opening the electronic document only when the answer information matches the answer information attached to the electronic document after the determination. The method of claim 1, The data area for setting the lock function includes a lock selection area for indicating whether a lock function is selected, a lock condition area for storing any lock condition and answer information when the lock function is selected, and a receiver is inappropriate. In the case of inputting the answer information to the electronic document transmitted through the network, characterized in that it comprises a lock guide message area for notifying that an inappropriate solution has been entered and an electronic document area 204 for storing information to be sent to the recipient How to grant a lock. The method of claim 2, wherein the document preparation procedure is Storing an author name of the electronic document in the branch information area; Providing at least one electronic document locking function to allow the creator to select; When the creator selects the lock function, the user can input a response message corresponding to the selected lock function and a guide message to be output when the electronic document cannot be opened due to the lock function. Storing information indicating that the lock function is set, storing lock condition information and answer information corresponding to the selected lock function in the lock condition area, and storing the input guide message information in the lock guide message area; And a method of granting a lock function to an electronic document transmitted through a network. The method of claim 2, wherein the document viewing procedure is If a request is made to view a specific electronic document, determining whether a locking function is set by examining a lock selection area attached to the electronic document; As a result of the determination, in the case of an electronic document that does not have a lock function set, a reading procedure for a general document is performed. If the lock function is set, the answer information for the lock function is inputted according to the lock function. Determining answer information; Examining whether the determined answer information matches the answer information of the lock condition area attached to the electronic document; Processing the electronic document so that the electronic document can be read when the two answer information matches. And And if the two answer information does not match, processing the electronic document so that the electronic document cannot be viewed, and displaying a guide message in the guide message area. How to grant a lock. 3. The lock function of an electronic document transmitted through a network according to claim 2, wherein the data area for setting the lock function further includes a system information area for storing author information including the name of the author. How to. The electronic document of claim 5, wherein when the electronic document is normally opened and an answer electronic document is created, the identification information (name, ID, etc.) of the reply electronic document creator is added to the hierarchical information area attached to the electronic document. And adding the lock to the electronic document on the Internet. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The locking function is to designate the start date (year, month, day, hour, minute, second) to view the electronic document, The answer information is a method for providing a lock function to the electronic document on the Internet, characterized in that the reading start date. The method of claim 7, wherein the document viewing procedure is If the current date found by the server does not coincide with the viewing start date attached to the electronic document, additionally displaying a time remaining until the available time for reading when displaying the guide message. How to give a lock function to the electronic document on the Internet. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The locking function is to designate one or more reader identification information including a name, ID, address, and school of origin for reading the electronic document, And the answer information is identification information of the viewer. a) lock selection area indicating whether the lock function is selected; b) a lock condition area for storing what lock condition is added and the solution information if the lock function is selected; c) a lock prompt message area informing the user that an inappropriate answer has been entered, if the recipient has entered an inappropriate answer information; and d) A locked electronic document delivered over a network, comprising an electronic document area for storing information to be sent to the recipient. 11. The locked electronic document of claim 10, wherein the locked electronic document further comprises a systematic information area for storing the author information including the author name. The locked electronic document transmitted through a network according to claim 10, wherein the locked electronic document is a text message transmitted through an electronic mail, a bulletin board opened by a site on the Internet, or a personal portable terminal. The network of claim 10, wherein the lock condition area is divided into a lock condition display area indicating which lock condition is set in an electronic document and a lock condition answer area storing answer information about the lock condition. Locked electronic document delivered through.