Document classification toolbar

Abstract

Electronic document classification is disclosed. A toolbar adds the ability to classify documents based on specific properties such as security classification, information type, document type, document retention, document caveats, and the like associated. The toolbar through dropdown selections allows users to select the appropriate classification and properties based upon the content of the document and have appropriate classifiers added to the document. Document classification properties are generated that are associated with the document in the document properties and by inserting visual markings that allow users to quickly identify the security, sensitivity, intended distribution or retention. By utilizing the classification toolbar a user can classify an document by one or more classification levels and be ensured that the classification will be visible to any person viewing the document.

1 . A method for document classification in a document creation application comprising the steps:
 providing a classification toolbar within a document in the document creation application, the classification toolbar providing at least a first classification selection input;   populating classification selections in the classification toolbar based upon pre-defined classification criteria;   receiving a classification selection input, selected by a user, from the classification selections populated in the toolbar;   determining if classification input is valid based upon administrator defined classification policy;   applying visual cues to the document to identify that the document has been classified; and   assigning XML classification properties to the document metadata based upon the classification selections when the classification input is valid.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the classification toolbar is generated by a COM API interface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the toolbar is provided by a Microsoft Office 2007 ribbon bar and task pane. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the visual cues are font characteristics. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 determining if an additional classification is required based upon the previous classification input; and 
 dynamically changing the toolbar in order to prompt for additional classification selection input, selected by the user, from the toolbar. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving identification of a selected portion of the document from the user; 
 receiving a portion classification selection input, selected by the user, from the classification selections populated in the toolbar; 
 determining if the portion classification input is valid based upon administrator defined classification policy; 
 applying portion classification visual markings and visual cues associated with the selected portion classification when the classification input is valid; and 
 applying XML properties within the document representing the classification of the portions. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the steps of:
 determining if an additional classification is required based upon the previous classification input; and 
 dynamically changing the toolbar in order to prompt for additional classification selection input, selected by the user, from the toolbar. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising;
 comparing selected portion classifications to current document classifications; and 
 updating classification properties of document metadata when the selected portion classification are higher than the current document classifications. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pre-defined criteria are defined relative to one or more security levels, sensitivity levels, intended distribution groups or retention level. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the visual cues comprises inserting a classification identifier into a body of the document. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the visual cues are inserted in header and footer of the document. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein visual cues are inserted as a watermark in the document. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of logging all classification actions taken by a user in a classification information database. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of forcing the user to select classification properties before a document is stored, printed, or transmitted. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of verifying that the classification property in a document has not been tampered with by comparing a hash code, computed relative document properties (word count, pages etc) and the classification properties, when the document is saved, and the next time the document is opened. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  where in the step of populating classification selections comprises retrieving classification properties previously associated with the document and populating the toolbar classification criteria based upon the retrieved classification properties. 
     
     
         17 . A method for document classification in a document creation application comprising the steps:
 providing a classification toolbar within the document, the classification toolbar providing at least a first classification selection input;   populating classification selections in the classification toolbar based upon pre-defined classification criteria;   receiving identification of a selected text portion of the document from a user;   receiving a portion classification selection input, selected by the user, from the classification selections populated in the toolbar;   determining if portion classification input is valid based upon administrator defined classification policy;   applying visual cues to the document to identify a portion of the document has been classified;   applying visual markers identifying the selected classification at the beginning and end of the portion that has been classified; and   applying XML properties within the document representing the classification of the portions.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the classification toolbar is generated by a COM API interface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the visual cues are font characteristics. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the visual markers comprises inserting pre-defined text associated with the selected classification selection. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the steps of;
 comparing selected portion classifications to current document classifications; and 
 assigning classification properties to the document metadata if the selected portion classification are higher than the current document classifications. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein classification toolbar is provided by a Microsoft Office 2007 ribbon bar and task. 
     
     
         23 . A computer readable medium containing instructions for providing document classification in a document creation application, the instructions which when executed by a processor perform the steps of:
 providing a classification toolbar within a document in the document creation application, the classification toolbar providing at least a first classification selection input;   populating classification selections in the classification toolbar based upon pre-defined classification criteria;   receiving a classification selection input, selected by a user, from the classification selections populated in the toolbar;   determining if classification input is valid based upon administrator defined classification policy;   applying visual cues to the document to identify that the document has been classified; and   assigning XML classification properties to the document metadata based upon the classification selections when the classification input is valid.   
     
     
         24 . A computer readable medium containing instructions for providing document classification in a document creation application, the instruction which when executed by a processor perform the steps of:
 providing a classification toolbar within the document, the classification toolbar providing at least a first classification selection input;   populating classification selections in the classification toolbar based upon pre-defined classification criteria;   receiving identification of a selected text portion of the document from a user;   receiving a portion classification selection input, selected by the user, from the classification selections populated in the toolbar;   determining if portion classification input is valid based upon administrator defined classification policy;   applying visual cues to the document to identify a portion of the document has been classified;   applying visual markers identifying the selected classification at the beginning and end of the portion that has been classified; and   applying XML properties within the document representing the classification of the portions.