Controlling the processing of a multimedia object by a software application

1. A method for controlling the processing of a multimedia object with a software application implemented within a communication device comprising the following in a control application implemented within the communication device:

Intercepting a call from the software application to an execution environment to carry out a basic operation on the multimedia object, the multimedia object being divided into segments, each associated with control data comprising at least data from among semantic data, sensitivity data, and functionality data,

Associating transformation parameters comprising at least one functionality parameter and at least one semantic parameter and one sensitivity parameter with the call, based on the execution context of the call,

Transforming the multimedia object into a transformed multimedia object based on the control data associated with the multimedia object and the transformation parameters associated with the call, the transformed multimedia object comprising at least one transformed segment such that the transformed multimedia object presents less information than the multimedia object and is capable of undergoing a basic operation carried out by the execution environment;

wherein the sensitivity data indicates a graduated level of sensitivity of the segment; and

wherein when the sensitivity data indicates that the multimedia object is confidential, the control application transforms the multimedia object if a first basic operation is called and leaves the multimedia object untransformed if a second operation is called;

wherein the first basic operation is one of a print operation, a copy operation, a paste operation, a drag operation, and an edit operation, and wherein the second operation is one of a read operation and an open operation.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the semantic data define the meaning of a segment, the sensitivity data define the level of sensitivity of a segment, and the functionality data define the actions possible for the segment, and the semantic parameter describes a meaning related to the multimedia object, the sensitivity parameter describes a level of sensitivity for the multimedia object, and the functionality parameter describes an action requested on the multimedia object.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the execution context of the call by the software application is determined based on the type of basic operation requested by the software application.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the execution context of the call by the software application is also determined based on at least one element from among the elements including the name of the software application, the type of software application, the type of execution environment, and the identity of the user of the software application.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the transformed multimedia object comprises at least one transformed segment that is selected when it is associated with control data compatible with the transformation parameters.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the transformed multimedia object may comprise at least one segment that is deleted or blurred.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a basic operation on the multimedia object is an operation carried out by an API (Application Programming Interface).

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a basic operation on the multimedia object is an operation from a set comprising at least read, copy, paste, drag, edit, open, and print operations.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the execution environment is an operating system.

10. A communication device to control the processing of a multimedia object by a software application implemented within the communication device, comprising: a processor configured to:

intercept a call from the software application to an execution environment to carry out a basic operation on the multimedia object, the multimedia object being divided into segments, each associated with control data comprising at least data from among semantic data, sensitivity data, and functionality data;

associate transformation parameters comprising at least one functionality parameter and at least one semantic parameter and one sensitivity parameter with the call, based on the execution context of the call; and

transform the multimedia object into a transformed multimedia object based on the control data associated with the multimedia object and the transformation parameters associated with the call, the transformed multimedia object comprising at least one transformed segment such that the transformed multimedia object presents less information than the multimedia object and is capable of undergoing a basic operation carried out by the execution environment;

wherein the sensitivity data indicates a graduated level of sensitivity of the segment; and

wherein the processor is further configured to, when the sensitivity data indicates that the multimedia object is confidential, transform the multimedia object if a first basic operation is called, and to leave the multimedia object untransformed if a second operation is called;

wherein the first basic operation is one of a print operation, a copy operation, a paste operation, a drag operation, and an edit operation, and wherein the second operation is one of a read operation and an open operation.

11. A non-transitory computer program product capable of being implemented within a communication device in order to control the processing of a multimedia object by a software application implemented within the communication device, said program comprising instructions which, when the program is loaded and executed within said communication device, perform the following:

Intercepting a call from the software application to an execution environment to carry out a basic operation on the multimedia object, the multimedia object being divided into segments, each associated with control data comprising at least data from among semantic data, sensitivity data, and functionality data,

Associating transformation parameters comprising at least one functionality parameter and at least one semantic parameter and one sensitivity parameter with the call, based on the execution context of the call,

Transforming the multimedia object into a transformed multimedia object based on the control data associated with the multimedia object and the transformation parameters associated with the call, the transformed multimedia object comprising at least one transformed segment such that the transformed multimedia object presents less information than the multimedia object and is capable of undergoing a basic operation carried out by the execution environment;

wherein the sensitivity data indicates a graduated level of sensitivity of the segment; and

wherein the instructions further comprise, when the sensitivity data indicates that the multimedia object is confidential, transform the multimedia object if a first basic operation is called and leaves the multimedia object untransformed if a second operation is called;

wherein the first basic operation is one of a print operation, a copy operation, a paste operation, a drag operation, and an edit operation, and wherein the second operation is one of a read operation and an open operation.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transformation comprises deleting the segment when the sensitivity level is at a maximum level.

13. The communication device according to claim 10 , wherein the transformation comprises deleting the segment when the sensitivity level is at a maximum level.

14. The non-transitory computer program product according to claim 11 , wherein the transformation comprises deleting the segment when the sensitivity level is at a maximum level.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first basic operation is a print operation and wherein the second operation is a read operation.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the transformation comprises deleting the confidential information when the print operation is called.

17. The communication device according to claim 10 , wherein the first basic operation is a print operation and wherein the second operation is a read operation.

18. The non-transitory computer program product according to claim 11 , wherein the first basic operation is a print operation and wherein the second operation is a read operation.