US 11,972,005 B1
System and methods for the management and security of data variations in an electronic spreadsheet
Lee David Buckland, Round Rock, TX (US)
Filed by Lee David Buckland, Round Rock, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/364,454.
Application 17/364,454 is a continuation of application No. 17/112,694, filed on Dec. 4, 2020, granted, now 11,087,015.
Application 17/112,694 is a continuation of application No. 17/013,317, filed on Sep. 4, 2020, granted, now 10,915,653, issued on Feb. 9, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/940,768, filed on Nov. 26, 2019.
Int. Cl. G06F 21/00 (2013.01); G06F 21/60 (2013.01); G06F 21/62 (2013.01); G06F 40/18 (2020.01)
CPC G06F 21/6218 (2013.01) [G06F 21/602 (2013.01); G06F 40/18 (2020.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for managing and securing data variations in an electronic spreadsheet workbook comprising:
receiving, in a spreadsheet program running on a computing device of a user, data content entered into one or more cells in an active layer of a worksheet of an electronic spreadsheet workbook, wherein the active layer is displayed in a user interface of the spreadsheet program, wherein the spreadsheet program provides a plurality of spreadsheet interface tools configured to obscure authentic user provided data content;
receiving a selection, by the user, of a capture area comprising the one or more cells in the active layer;
receiving a selection, by the user, of a particular spreadsheet interface tool in the plurality of spreadsheet interface tools configured to obscure authentic user provided data content;
determining whether the data content in the selected capture area of the active layer comprises authentic user provided data content;
detecting, when the data content in the selected capture area of the active layer is authentic user provided data content, particular exposed data in the data content that is associated with a protected classification of information;
comparing the particular exposed data in the data content to a data pattern associated with the protected classification of information;
taking an action, by way of an obfuscation capability of the particular spreadsheet interface tool, to obscure a protected portion of the particular exposed data in the data content when the data content in the selected capture area of the active layer is authentic user provided data content and when the particular exposed data conforms to the data pattern;
storing, in a first layer of the worksheet of the electronic spreadsheet workbook, the obscured protected portion of the particular exposed data in the data content within the capture area of the active layer;
encrypting the data content within the capture area of the active layer, wherein encrypting the data content comprises encrypting the particular exposed data without obfuscation;
storing, in a second layer of the worksheet of the electronic spreadsheet workbook, the encrypted data content as a secure and encrypted copy of the data content and the particular exposed data without obfuscation;
setting the active layer of the electronic spreadsheet workbook to the first layer; and
setting a protected layer of the electronic spreadsheet workbook to the second layer, wherein the protected layer prevents unauthorized viewing by users without authorization.