1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to electronic documents, and particularly to an electronic document security system and method.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic documents, such as electronic contracts or orders, are widely used in paperless offices. The electronic documents may be editable. Therefore, users may modify the electronic documents by accident while viewing the electronic documents.
The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
In general, the word “module,” as used hereinafter, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, for example, Java, C, or Assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware. It will be appreciated that modules may comprised connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage device.
In one embodiment, the system 10 may include a security unit 13, a storage system 14, and at least one processor 15. The storage system 14 may include a database storing the electronic documents. The security unit 13 includes a number of function modules. The function modules may comprise computerized codes in the form of one or more programs stored in the storage system 14. The computerized code includes instructions executed by the at least one processor 15 to provide functions for the modules. In one embodiment, the storage system 14 may be an internal storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM) for temporary storage of information, and/or a read only memory (ROM) for permanent storage of information. In some embodiments, the storage system 14 may also be an external storage device, such as an external hard disk, a storage card, or a data storage medium.
The reception module 200 is operable to receive a user request for viewing an electronic document from the client device 11. For example, the reception module 200 can receive a user request for viewing an electronic document with a document ID “0010101.” In one embodiment, the reception module 200 provides a user interface, such as a webpage, for a user to enter the user request. The user request may include a document name or a document ID of the electronic document to be viewed by the user.
The retrieval module 210 is operable to examine the user request and reward approval or rejection to the user request. The retrieval module 210 is further operable to retrieve the electronic document from the storage system 14 if the user request is approved. In one example, the retrieval module 210 determines whether the user request is approved by checking whether the document name of the electronic document matches one of the document names of the electronic documents stored in the storage system 14. If the document name of the electronic document matches one of the document names of the electronic documents stored in the storage system 14, the retrieval module 210 determines that the user request is approved, and retrieves the electronic document from the storage system 14 according to the document name of the electronic document.
The conversion module 220 is operable to convert the electronic document into an image format. The image format is not editable. Thus, the electronic document cannot be modified after conversion. In one example, the electronic document is originally in a DOC or XLS format, which are editable formats. In such a case, the conversion module 220 can convert the electronic document into non-editable formats, such as the JPG format or GIF format.
The storage module 230 is operable to store the converted electronic document into the storage system 14. In one embodiment, the storage module 230 stores the converted electronic document into the database of the storage system 14.
The output module 240 is operable to output the converted electronic document to the client device 11. Therefore, the user can view the electronic document on a display screen of the client device 11 without risk of modifying the electronic document by accident.
In block S301, the reception module 200 receives a user request for viewing an electronic document from the client device 11. In one embodiment, the reception module 200 provides a user interface, such as a webpage for users to enter the user request. The user request may include a document name or a document ID of the electronic document to be viewed by the user.
In block S302, the retrieval module 210 examines the user request and rewards approval or rejection to the user request. In one example, the retrieval module 210 determines whether the user request is approved by checking whether the document name of the electronic document matches one of the document names of the electronic documents stored in the storage system 14. If the document name of the electronic document matches one of the document names of the electronic documents stored in the storage system 14, the retrieval module 210 determines that the user request is approved.
If the user request is approved, in block S303, the retrieval module 210 retrieves the electronic document from the storage system 14. In one example, the retrieval module 210 retrieves the electronic document according to a document name or a document ID of the electronic document.
In block S304, the conversion module 220 converts the electronic document into an image format. In one embodiment, the electronic document is originally in a text format, such as DOC or XLS format, which are editable formats. In such a case, the conversion module 220 can convert the electronic document from the text format into non-editable formats, such as the JPG format or a GIF format.
In block S305, the storage module 230 stores the converted electronic document into the storage system 14.
In block S306, the output module 240 outputs the converted electronic document to the client device 11. As such, the user can view the electronic document on a display screen of the client device 11 without risk of modifying the electronic document by accident.
Although certain inventive embodiments of the present disclosure have been specifically described, the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201010135541.7 | Mar 2010 | CN | national |