# US 8,543,599 B2 · Variably controlling access to content > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,599 B2 - Document ID: US8543599B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/501,735 - Filed: 2009-07-13 - Published: 2009-11-05 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2004-10-01 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Alma W. Whitten; Joseph K. O'Sullivan - Inventors: Alma W. Whitten; Joseph K. O'Sullivan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543599B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/93: Document management systems - G06F 16/951: Indexing; Web crawling techniques - G06F 21/60: Protecting data - G06F 21/62: Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules - G06F 21/6209: {to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself} - G06F 2221/2141: Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices - Y10S 707/99939: Privileged access - Y10S 707/99943: Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface - Y10S 707/99944: Object-oriented database structure - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A software module is presented that enables a person to determine the relevance of a document while preventing the person from making a copy of the entire document. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by programmatically controlling which portions of a document will be presented to a user and which portions will not be presented to the user. In one embodiment, the software module is used in conjunction with a search engine to present a document search result. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for controlling access to a portion of a document, the method comprising: receiving a request from a user to access one of a plurality of portions of the document; identifying at least one portion of the plurality of portions that has not been accessed by any users; accessing usage data that describes how many times other users have accessed other portions of the document; and determining, based on the identification and based on the usage data, whether to provide access to the requested document portion to the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein access to the requested document portion is denied responsive to the usage data indicating that access was provided to one or more other document portions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein access to the requested document portion is denied responsive to the usage data indicating that access was provided to a majority of other portions of the document. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein access to the requested document portion is denied responsive to the usage data indicating that access was provided to all document portions other than the requested document portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein access to the requested document portion is denied responsive to the usage data indicating that access was provided to one or more other document portions more frequently than access was provided to the requested document portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein access to the requested document portion is denied responsive to the usage data indicating that access was provided to one or more other document portions on more occasions than access was provided to the requested document portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein access to the requested document portion is granted responsive to the usage data indicating that access was not provided to one or more other document portions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein access to the requested document portion is granted responsive to the usage data indicating that access was not provided to one or more other document portions more frequently than access was provided to the requested document portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein access to the requested document portion is granted responsive to the usage data indicating that access was not provided to one or more other document portions on more occasions than access was provided to the requested document portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to provide the user access to the requested document portion is further based on data describing past requests for other portions of the document. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to provide the user access to the requested document portion is further based on data describing past accesses of the requested document portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to provide the user access to the requested document portion is further based on data describing past requests for the requested document portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to provide the user access to the requested document portion is further based on information regarding the user from whom the request to access the document portion was received. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the user information comprises one of a group containing an indication of whether the user has logged in to an account and an indication of the user's identity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to provide the user access to the requested document portion is further based on information regarding the request. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the request information comprises one of a group containing an indication of when the request was received and an indication of an internet protocol (IP) address of a device from which the request was received. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising responsive to determining not to provide access to the requested document portion: modifying a visual appearance of the requested document portion; and providing the modified portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein modifying the visual appearance of the requested document portion comprises distorting the requested document portion. ### Claim 19 A computer-implemented method for controlling access to a portion of a document, the method comprising: receiving a request from a user to access one of a plurality of portions of the document, the requested document portion containing a part of the document that matches a search query; identifying at least one portion of the plurality of portions that has not been accessed by any users; accessing usage data that describes how many times other users have accessed other portions of the document; and determining, based on the identification and based on the usage data, whether to provide access to the requested document portion to the user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising responsive to determining to provide access to the requested document portion, presenting the part of the document that matches the search query to the user. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising responsive to determining not to provide access to the requested document portion, not presenting the part of the document that matches the search query to the user. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising responsive to determining not to provide access to the requested document portion: modifying a visual appearance of the part of the document that matches the search query; and presenting the modified part to the user. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein modifying the visual appearance of the part of the document comprises distorting the part of the document. ### Claim 24 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for performing a method of controlling access to a portion of a document, the method comprising: receiving a request from a user to access one of a plurality of portions of the document; identifying at least one portion of the plurality of portions that has not been accessed by any users; accessing usage data that describes how many times other users have accessed other portions of the document; and determining, based on the identification and based on the usage data, whether to provide access to the requested document portion to the user. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein access to the requested document portion is denied responsive to the usage data indicating that access was provided to one or more other document portions. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein access to the requested document portion is denied responsive to the usage data indicating that access was provided to a majority of other portions of the document. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein access to the requested document portion is denied responsive to the usage data indicating that access was provided to all document portions other than the requested document portion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein access to the requested document portion is denied responsive to the usage data indicating that access was provided to one or more other document portions more frequently than access was provided to the requested document portion. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein access to the requested document portion is denied responsive to the usage data indicating that access was provided to one or more other document portions on more occasions than access was provided to the requested document portion. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein access to the requested document portion is granted responsive to the usage data indicating that access was not provided to one or more other document portions. ### Claim 31 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein access to the requested document portion is granted responsive to the usage data indicating that access was not provided to one or more other document portions more frequently than access was provided to the requested document portion. ### Claim 32 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein access to the requested document portion is granted responsive to the usage data indicating that access was not provided to one or more other document portions on more occasions than access was provided to the requested document portion. ### Claim 33 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein determining whether to provide the user access to the requested document portion is further based on data describing past requests for other portions of the document. ### Claim 34 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein determining whether to provide the user access to the requested document portion is further based on data describing past accesses of the requested document portion. ### Claim 35 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein determining whether to provide the user access to the requested document portion is further based on data describing past requests for the requested document portion. ### Claim 36 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein determining whether to provide the user access to the requested document portion is further based on information regarding the user. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The computer readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the user information comprises one of a group containing an indication of whether the user has logged in to an account and an indication of the user's identity. ### Claim 38 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein determining whether to provide the user access to the requested document portion is further based on information regarding the request. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The computer readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the request information comprises one of a group containing an indication of when the request was received and an indication of an internet protocol (IP) address of a device from which the request was received. ### Claim 40 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining not to provide access to the requested document portion: modifying a visual appearance of the requested document portion; and providing the modified portion. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The computer readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein modifying the visual appearance of the requested document portion comprises distorting the requested document portion. ### Claim 42 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for performing a method of controlling access to a portion of a document, the method comprising: receiving a request from a user to access one of a plurality of portions of the document, the requested document portion containing a part of the document that matches a search query; identifying at least one portion of the plurality of portions that has not been accessed by any users; accessing usage data that describes how many times other users have accessed other portions of the document; and determining, based on the identification and based on the usage data, whether to provide access to the requested document portion to the user. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining to provide access to the requested document portion, presenting the part of the document that matches the search query to the user. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining not to provide access to the requested document portion, not presenting the part of the document that matches the search query to the user. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining not to provide access to the requested document portion: modifying a visual appearance of the part of the document that matches the search query; and presenting the modified part to the user. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The computer readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein modifying the visual appearance of the part of the document comprises distorting the part of the document. ### Claim 47 A computer-implemented method for controlling access to a search result, the method comprising: receiving a search query; identifying a document that satisfies the search query, wherein the document comprises a plurality of portions; identifying at least one portion of the plurality of the portions that has not been accessed by any users; receiving a request from a user to access the document; accessing usage data that describes how many times other users have accessed other portions of the document; and for each document portion within the plurality of portions: determining whether to provide the user access to the document portion based on the at least one identified unaccessed portion and based on the usage data; and responsive to determining to provide the user access to the document portion, providing the document portion for display to the user. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, further comprising for each document portion within the plurality of portions: responsive to determining not to provide the user access to the document portion, modifying a visual appearance of the document portion and providing the modified document portion for display to the user. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, wherein modifying the visual appearance of the document portion comprises distorting the document portion. ### Claim 50 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, further comprising for each document portion within the plurality of portions: responsive to determining not to provide the user access to the document portion, not providing the document portion for display to the user.