JP2009020829A - Electronic conference server device and electronic conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic conference server device for appropriately managing and keeping confidential electronic data accessed in an electronic conference, depending on the access authority of each participant of the electronic conference, and capable of performing the appropriate access management of the electronic data after the electronic conference is finished. <P>SOLUTION: When there are electronic data which are desired to be restricted in access after an electronic conference is finished, an organizer of the electronic conference sets a confidentiality level and also sets collection to be "necessary" in an electronic data collection necessity check box 153c shown in a setting table 153. When the electronic conference is finished, an access management part 105 deletes the electronic data whose collection is set to be "necessary" from the electronic data in a folder created for a participant of the electronic conference. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic conference server apparatus, and in particular, an electronic conference that performs access management on electronic data used in an electronic conference, and can execute access management on the electronic data even after the electronic conference ends. The present invention relates to a server device and an electronic conference system.

In order to make paperless and work more efficient, the spread of electronic conference systems is expanding.
The electronic conference system displays conference material data, presentation material data, etc. stored in an electronic conference server device (hereinafter referred to as an electronic conference server) on a monitor of a terminal device (hereinafter referred to as a PC). There are those that hold a conference using the chat, videophone function, etc. provided by the electronic conference server while viewing the conference material displayed on the screen.

A technique for improving the convenience of the user of such an electronic conference system has been proposed.
For example, in Patent Document 1, when an electronic conference participant leaves the conference (logout from the electronic conference system) during the conference, unprinted electronic data is distributed among the electronic data distributed (transmitted) in the electronic conference. A printer device is disclosed that can automatically transfer data to a terminal of an absentee.

  In Patent Literature 2, electronic data distributed at the electronic conference can be automatically transmitted to the absentee using electronic mail to a person who has failed to participate in the electronic conference (absent). A functional terminal device is disclosed.

In addition, not only an electronic conference but also a technique for preventing external leakage of electronic data distributed to attendees of a normal conference and printed matter of the electronic data has been proposed.
For example, Patent Document 3 discloses an image processing apparatus capable of deleting electronic data relating to a distribution material stored in a server simultaneously with the collection when the distribution material is collected from attendees after the meeting is over. Is disclosed.
JP 2003-140855 A JP 2006-252519 A JP 2006-155380 A

However, all of the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 distribute or collect electronic data or the like uniformly to conference participants.
Here, when the electronic data used in the electronic conference is an object of confidential management, a participant P who has the authority to access the electronic data and a participant NP who does not have the authority to access the electronic data, If they are mixed, it is not possible to restrict access to the electronic data during the electronic conference for the participant NP who does not have access authority (permission), and the electronic data subject to confidentiality management is appropriately Can not be managed.

  In addition, if there is electronic data that is necessary to consider the items that were the subject of the conference until the conference is held again after the conference ends, But you have to access electronic data.

  On the other hand, after the end of the electronic conference, the electronic conference organizer needs to restrict access to electronic data used only during the electronic conference, for example, electronic data including uncertain information, that is, to collect the electronic data.

  In other words, after the end of the electronic conference, if the access to the electronic data used in the electronic conference is uniformly permitted, the access to the electronic data to be restricted is also possible. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the access to the electronic data used in the electronic conference after the electronic conference ends for each electronic data.

  In the case of a participant who has stepwise access authority according to the level of confidentiality of electronic data (confidentiality, confidentiality, etc.), there is the same problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and appropriately manages confidentiality of electronic data accessed in the electronic conference according to the access authority for each participant of the electronic conference, and further, after the electronic conference is completed. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic conference server apparatus and an electronic conference system that can execute appropriate access management for each electronic data.

  The first technical means includes an access authority level setting unit that sets an access authority level for electronic data used in the electronic conference for each participant of the electronic conference, a confidentiality level for each electronic data used in the electronic conference, and the electronic In an electronic conference, there is a confidentiality level setting unit that sets necessity / unnecessity of data collection, and an access management unit that manages whether to access the electronic data based on the correspondence between the access authority level and the confidentiality level. And restricting access to the electronic data by the participant according to the access authority set for the participant, and, after the end of the electronic conference, access to the electronic data is set to the collection of the electronic data. It is an electronic conference server device characterized by being restricted according to necessity / unnecessity.

  According to a second technical means, in the electronic conference server device of the first technical means, a participant registration unit for registering a participant of the electronic conference, and an attempt to participate in the electronic conference depending on whether or not registration is performed in the participant registration unit. It further has a participant authentication unit for authenticating the participation qualification of the person who performs, and only the person who has been authenticated for the participation qualification every time an electronic conference is held can access the electronic data.

  According to a third technical means, in the electronic conference server device of the second technical means, when an electronic data is accessed by a person who is not registered in the participant registration unit, the access authority level setting unit performs the access. When an access authority level is set for a user, electronic data restricted according to the access authority level can be accessed.

  According to a fourth technical means, in the electronic conference server device according to any one of the first to third technical means, the access management unit creates a folder accessible only to the participant for each participant of the electronic conference. The electronic data restricted in accordance with the access authority level set for the participant is copied.

  According to a fifth technical means, in the electronic conference server device according to the fourth technical means, the access management unit, after the electronic conference ends, retrieves electronic data set to be collected from the electronic data in the folder. It is characterized by deleting.

  A sixth technical means is the electronic conference server apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth technical means, wherein the access management unit prohibits access to the folder when all electronic conferences have been held. It is characterized by that.

  A seventh technical means is connected to the electronic conference server device of any one of the first to sixth technical means via a network, and the inputted personal information of the electronic conference participant is input to the electronic conference server device. An electronic conference system comprising an electronic conference terminal device for transmission.

  According to the present invention, after the end of the electronic conference, the convenience of the electronic conference organizer and participants can be improved by executing appropriate access management for each electronic data.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an electronic conference system according to the present invention.
Reference numeral 1 denotes an electronic conference system. The electronic conference system 1 includes an electronic conference server 10 and PCs 20a... PC20k... PC20p .. The electronic conference server 10 and the PC 20a are connected via a LAN and a network N.
In addition to providing a general electronic conference function, the electronic conference server 10 accesses electronic data such as conference material data recorded in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) in the electronic conference server 10 that is viewed in the electronic conference. Perform management.

  The PC 20a or the like is an electronic conference terminal device assigned to each electronic conference participant, that is, a client PC. The conference participant uses the electronic conference function of the electronic conference server 10 to access electronic data via the PC. can do.

2A is a block diagram of the electronic conference server 10, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a PC 20a (hereinafter referred to as PC 20).
[Electronic Conference Server 10]
101 is an electronic conference application (for server). The electronic conference application 101 is software that realizes an electronic conference using a chat function, a videophone function, or the like, and an electronic conference participant can talk with other conference participants using the chat function or the like.

(Register electronic conference participants)
Reference numeral 102 denotes a participant registration unit. The participant registration unit 102 updates and manages the participant registration table 151 shown in FIG. 3, and each time an electronic conference is newly held, the electronic conference organizer (facilitator, chairperson) A process of registering the names and IDs of the electronic conference participants input via a mouse or the like is executed. That is, the names and IDs of the electronic conference participants input by the organizer are registered in the name field 151a and ID field 151b of the participant registration table 151.
Thereafter, as will be described later, the participant registration table 151 is referenced to authenticate the electronic conference participant.

  The participant registration table 151 can be updated. For example, when a subsequent meeting is held, such as when the first meeting ends and the second meeting continues, a new conference participant can be additionally registered. Furthermore, it is also possible to limit the participants at any time and remove the previously registered conference participants (deletion from the participant registration table 151).

  Reference numeral 103 denotes an electronic conference management unit. The electronic conference management unit 103 includes an access authority level setting unit 103a that sets an access authority level for electronic data used in the electronic conference for each participant of the electronic conference every time an electronic conference is held. The access authority level setting table 152 shown is updated and managed.

(Access privilege level)
The access authority level is set for each electronic conference and for each participant of the electronic conference, and indicates a level (range) at which electronic data used in the electronic conference can be accessed.
The level is information indicated by a numerical value, for example. Here, as the numerical value is larger, it is possible to access electronic data such as conference material data having a higher confidentiality level (confidential management level) (accessible electronic data). (The number (type) of data is large.) A specific example will be described later.

(Access privilege level setting)
First, the electronic conference management unit 103 registers the name of the participant registered by the participant registration unit 102 in the name column 152a of the access authority level setting table 152 of FIG.
The access authority level setting unit 103a sets, for each participant in the electronic conference, the access authority level input by the electronic conference organizer via a keyboard (not shown) each time an electronic conference is newly held. The process is executed, that is, the access authority level for each participant input by the organizer is set in the access authority level column 152 b of the access authority level setting table 152.

In the example of FIG. 4, the access authority level will be described in detail. For example, the access authority levels “3” and “1” are set by the organizer for Mr. AA and Mr. PP. Compared with Mr. PP, he can access electronic data of higher confidentiality level.
In the present invention, access management for electronic data is performed based on the access authority level and a confidentiality level set for the electronic data, which will be described later.

As described above, when a conference participant is newly registered in the participant registration table 151, the conference participant is registered in the name field 152a of the access authority level setting table 152, and the access authority is given by the electronic conference organizer. Is set.
However, when the previously registered conference participant is deleted from the participant registration table 151, the participant is not deleted from the name field 152 a of the access authority level setting table 152. This is because the deleted participant may be re-registered again to improve convenience.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an electronic conference data management unit. The electronic conference data management unit 104 has a confidentiality level setting unit 104a for setting the confidentiality level and the necessity / unnecessity of electronic data collection for the electronic data. Update and manage the setting table 153. Electronic data is recorded in the HDD 110.

(Confidential level)
The confidentiality level indicates the level of electronic data confidentiality management, and is set for each electronic data.
The level is information indicated by a numerical value, for example. Here, the larger the numerical value, the higher the confidentiality level, in other words, it is necessary to strictly manage confidentiality. Specific examples will be described later.

(Confidential level setting)
The electronic conference data management unit 104 first executes a process of setting the name of electronic data used in the electronic conference input by the electronic conference organizer via a keyboard / mouse (not shown), that is, the confidentiality of FIG. The name of the electronic data is set in the electronic data name column 153a of the level / recovery necessity setting table 153.
Next, the confidentiality level setting unit 104a executes a process of setting the confidentiality level input by the electronic conference organizer via a keyboard / mouse (not shown) for each electronic data, that is, the confidentiality level column of the setting table 153. The confidentiality level is set at 153b.

  In the example of FIG. 5, “February sales data” has a confidential level “3” [for example, top secret], and “Sales up campaign proposal” has a confidential level “2” [for example, handling precautions], “Products”. In the pamphlet, the confidential level “1” [for example, normal] is set by the organizer.

(Setting of necessity of collection)
After the electronic conference is finished, for example, when there is electronic data whose access is to be restricted such as electronic data including indeterminate information, the electronic conference organizer displays the relevant information shown in the setting table 153 together with the above-described confidentiality level setting. Collection “required” is set in the electronic data collection necessity column 153c.
On the other hand, if there is electronic data that may be allowed to be accessed, such as electronic data necessary for considering the items that were the subject of the meeting, until the electronic meeting is held again after the end of the electronic meeting, Set “Unnecessary” for collection.

  Here, the end of the electronic conference means that the purpose of the electronic conference is not achieved, and the electronic conference is continuously held again.

Reference numeral 105 denotes an access management unit. The access management unit 105 includes a folder creation unit 105a, which will be described later, and manages whether or not the electronic conference participant can access the electronic data based on the correspondence between the access authority level and the confidentiality level in the electronic conference.
Here, the access management unit 105 executes access management so that a certain participant can access only electronic data set with a confidentiality level equal to or lower than the access authority level set for the participant.

  Similarly, after the end of the electronic conference, access to the electronic data is restricted according to the necessity / unnecessity of collection set in the electronic data.

Here, an example of processing for realizing the access management will be described.
(Create data recording folder)
The folder creation unit 105a sends the participation of the electronic conference to the participant data recording unit 106 composed of an HDD or the like at a certain timing, for example, when the access authority level setting processing for all the electronic conference participants is completed. Create a folder that can only be accessed by each participant. That is, a data recording folder is created for each electronic conference participant set in the name field 152a of the access authority level setting table 152 in FIG.

  Then, electronic data restricted in accordance with the access authority level set for the participant is copied to the created folder. Here, the electronic data set with a confidentiality level lower than the access authority level set for the participant related to the folder is copied.

  Specifically, the folder creation unit 105a creates a folder for a participant with access authority level 3 (for example, Mr. AA in FIG. 4) in the participant data recording unit 106 (FIG. 2: folder AA 106a), In this folder, not only confidential level 3 electronic data (FIG. 5: “February sales sales data”, etc.), but also confidential level 2 electronic data (FIG. 5: “sales up campaign proposal”, etc.), and confidentiality Copy level 1 electronic data (Figure 5: “Product Brochure”).

  In addition, a folder for the access authority level 2 participant (for example, Mr. KK in FIG. 4) is created (FIG. 2: folder KK106k), and the confidential level 2 electronic data and the confidential level 1 electronic data are stored in the folder. Copy the data.

  Similarly, a folder for an access authority level 1 participant (for example, Mr. PP in FIG. 4) is created (FIG. 2: folder PP106p), and confidential level 1 electronic data is copied to the folder.

(Access management for folders)
The access management unit 105 allows the participant to access the folder created for the participant, but denies access to the folder by other participants.
By doing in this way, in an electronic conference, the access to the electronic data by the participant of an electronic conference can be restrict | limited according to the access authority set to the said participant.

In the above example, access restriction is performed so that only the participant AA can access the folder AA106a.
It should be noted that various methods that have been proposed in the past can be employed for access management for folders.

(Recovering electronic data after the end of the electronic conference)
When the electronic conference ends, the access management unit 105 deletes the electronic data for which “required” is set from the electronic data in the folder created for the participants of the electronic conference. Electronic data for which collection “unnecessary” is set is recorded as it is in the folder.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a participant authentication unit. The participant authentication unit 107 tries to participate in the electronic conference based on the personal information (name, ID number) of the participant of the electronic conference and the presence / absence of registration in the participant registration table 151 managed by the participant registration unit 102. Authenticate the qualifications of those who participate.
Thereafter, only a person who has been certified for participation every time an electronic conference is held can access the electronic data copied to the folder for the person as described above.

  An ID card reader (ID card reader) provided on a PC 20 assigned to a person who wants to participate in an electronic conference receives an ID card storing personal information including at least the name or ID number of the participant. ) 202, the ID card reader 202 reads the personal information and transmits the read personal information to the participant authentication unit 107.

The participant authentication unit 107 that has received the personal information receives the name and ID number included in the personal information and the name and ID number set in the name field 151a and the ID field 151b of the participant registration table 151. If they match, the person authenticates the person qualified to participate in the electronic conference and approves the person's participation. Thereafter, as described above, access to the folder created for the person is permitted.
If they do not match, the person's participation is refused and the electronic conference organizer is notified.

A network connection unit 108 functions as an interface for connecting to the network N and the LAN.
Reference numeral 109 denotes a memory for recording various control information and the like.
Reference numeral 111 denotes a CPU (control unit) that controls each functional block.

[PC20]
201 is an electronic conference application (for client). The electronic conference application 201 uses the chat function provided by the electronic conference application (for server) 101 of the electronic conference server 10 to create a conversation with other conference participants or the same for each conference participant. A process of accessing the electronic data recorded in the folder of the participant data recording unit 106 is executed.

  The ID card reader 202 reads the personal information stored in the ID card and outputs the read personal information to the network connection unit 203. The network connection unit 203 that has received the personal information transmits it to the network connection unit 108 of the electronic conference server 10 connected to the PC 20 via the network N. That is, the PC 20 transmits the personal information of the electronic conference participant input to the PC 20 to the electronic conference server 10.

  The network connection unit 108 that has received the personal information outputs the personal information to the participant authentication unit 107, and the participant authentication unit 107 executes the authentication process described above.

Reference numeral 204 denotes a memory for recording various control information and the like.
Reference numeral 205 denotes an HDD that records an OS, application software, and the like.
Reference numeral 206 denotes a CPU (control unit) that controls each functional block.

An example of access management during the electronic conference and after the electronic conference ends will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6A to 6C.
First, in step S1 of FIG. 6A, the organizer of the electronic conference activates the electronic conference application (for server) 101.

Next, the names and IDs of all participants participating in the electronic conference are input via a keyboard or the like, and the electronic conference participants are registered (step S2).
Similarly, an access authority level is set for each registered participant (step S3), and a confidentiality level for each electronic data is set (step S4).
Furthermore, the necessity of collection | recovery is set for every electronic data (step S5).
That is, the participant registration unit 102, the access authority level setting unit 103a, and the confidentiality level setting unit 104a are respectively provided in the columns of the participant registration table 151, the access authority level setting table 152, and the confidentiality level / recovery necessity setting table 153, respectively. The predetermined items described above are set.

  Then, the folder creation unit 105a of the access management unit 105 creates a data recording folder for each electronic conference participant in the participant data recording unit 106 (step S6), and the access set for each electronic conference participant. The electronic data in which the confidential level below the authority level is set is copied to the folder created in step S4 (step S7).

  In step S11 of FIG. 6B, the electronic conference participant starts the electronic conference application (for client) 201 of the PC 20 assigned to the participant, and passes the participant's ID card through the ID card reader 202 (step). S12).

  Next, the participant authentication unit 107 of the electronic conference server 10 authenticates the participant (step S13). When the authentication is approved (step S14 / YES), the participation is permitted (step S15).

  When the authentication is not approved (step S14 / NO), the participation is rejected (step S16).

When authentication of all participants is completed, the organizer of the electronic conference starts the electronic conference in step S21 of FIG. 6C.
When a participant tries to access a folder in which electronic data is recorded during the electronic conference (step S22), the access management unit 105 determines whether the folder to be accessed is a folder for the participant (step S22). S23) If the folder is for a participant (step S23 / YES), access is permitted (step S24).
If the folder is not for a participant (step S23 / NO), access is denied (step S25).

When the electronic conference ends (step S26 / YES), if there is electronic data for which “required” is set in the participant folder (step S27 / YES), the electronic data is deleted from the folder (step S27 / YES). Step S28). Then, the electronic conference end process is executed (step S29), for example, the electronic conference applications 101 and 201 are ended.
If there is no electronic data for which the collection “necessary” is set in the folder for the participant (step S27 / NO), the electronic conference end process is executed (step S29).

[Others]
In this embodiment, the electronic data itself is copied to the folder. However, instead of copying the electronic data itself, a shortcut (symbolic link) of the electronic data may be created in the folder.
Further, instead of creating a folder for each participant and copying the electronic data to the folder, a folder may be created for each access authority level and the electronic data may be copied to the folder.
In this way, the recording area can be reduced.

  Instead of setting the necessity of collection for each electronic data, the electronic conference organizer may automatically set the necessity of collection based on the confidentiality level.

  Since it is not registered in the participant registration table 151, even if access to the electronic data is denied before or during the conference, the electronic conference organizer sets the person who has been denied participation as the conference participant in FIG. In addition to the participant registration table 151, the access authority level of the person can be set in the access authority level setting table 152 of FIG. Thereafter, the person can access the electronic data restricted according to the access authority level as described above.

You can join a meeting even during a meeting. At this time, if participation in the conference is rejected, in order to ensure confidentiality, the electronic conference organizer's PC is notified to that effect and, for example, the monitor screen of the PC 20 is blacked out to access the folder. May be temporarily disabled. Further, only access to electronic data having a high confidentiality level may be made impossible.
When the person who has been refused participation leaves the PC or when a predetermined time has elapsed, the blackout is canceled and access is possible.

Electronic data such as conference material data can be created as needed, not only before the conference but also during the conference.
If created, as described above, the electronic meeting organizer sets the confidentiality level and necessity of collection for the created electronic data, and then copies it to a folder that has access authority higher than the confidentiality level. Is done.

  The permission / denial of printing electronic data can also be managed. In order to realize the management, the confidentiality level / recovery necessity setting table 153 in FIG. 5 is provided with a column for setting permission / non-permission of printing for each electronic data, and printing of the electronic data is performed based on the setting. It is sufficient to manage permission / non-permission.

  The access authority level and confidentiality level may be information other than numerical values, for example, character information such as H, M, and L.

  The electronic conference server 10 can be mounted on the image forming apparatus.

The electronic conference management unit 103 and the electronic conference data management unit 104 may be made independent of the electronic conference server 10 and separately used as an electronic conference management server and an electronic conference data management server.
Similarly, the participant registration unit 102 and the participant authentication unit 107 may be separately used as a participant registration server and an authentication server.
Further, the access management unit 105 and the participant data recording unit 106 may be separately used as an access management server and a storage server.
By doing so, the processing load is distributed, so that the processing speed is improved.

  When all the electronic conferences have been held, that is, when all the objectives of the conference have been achieved and the conference is not held again thereafter, access to the folder is prohibited in principle.

It is the schematic for demonstrating an electronic conference system. It is a block diagram of an electronic conference server. It is a block diagram of PC. It is the figure which showed the participant registration table. It is the figure which showed the access authority level setting table. It is the figure which showed the confidentiality level / recovery necessity setting table. It is a flowchart explaining setting processing, such as an access authority level. It is a flowchart explaining the authentication process of a participant. It is the flowchart explaining the access management to a folder, and the collection process of electronic data.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic conference system, 10 ... Electronic conference server, 101 ... Electronic conference application (for server), 102 ... Participant registration part, 103 ... Electronic conference management part, 103a ... Access authority level setting part, 104 ... Electronic conference data management 104a ... confidential level setting unit 105 ... access management unit 105a ... folder creation unit 106 ... participant data recording unit 106a, 106k, 106p ... folder AA, folder KK, folder PP, 107 ... participant authentication unit 108, 203 ... Network connection unit, 109, 204 ... Memory, 110, 205 ... HDD, 111, 206 ... CPU, 151 ... Participant registration table, 152 ... Access authority level setting table, 153 ... Secret level / recovery required No setting table, 20, 20a, 20k, 20p ... PC, 201 ... electronic conference Li (for the client), 202 ... ID card reader.

Claims (7)

An access authority level setting unit for setting an access authority level for electronic data used in the electronic conference for each participant of the electronic conference;
A confidentiality level setting unit for setting the confidentiality level and the necessity / unnecessity of collecting the electronic data for each electronic data used in the electronic conference;
An access management unit that manages whether to access the electronic data according to a correspondence relationship between the access authority level and the confidentiality level;
In an electronic conference, the access to the electronic data by the participant is restricted according to the access authority set for the participant,
An electronic conference server apparatus, which restricts access to the electronic data according to necessity / unnecessity of collection set in the electronic data after the electronic conference ends.   An electronic conference that further includes a participant registration unit that registers participants of the electronic conference, and a participant authentication unit that authenticates the participation qualification of a person who intends to participate in the electronic conference depending on whether or not registration is performed in the participant registration unit. 2. The electronic conference server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein only a person whose participation qualification is authenticated can hold access to the electronic data every time.   When an access authority level is set for the access person by the access authority level setting section when an electronic data is accessed by a person who is not registered in the participant registration section, the access authority level is set according to the access authority level. The electronic conference server apparatus according to claim 2, wherein restricted electronic data can be accessed.   The access management unit creates a folder accessible only by the participant for each participant of the electronic conference, and copies the electronic data restricted in accordance with the access authority level set for the participant The electronic conference server device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein   5. The electronic conference server apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the access management unit deletes the electronic data set to be collected from the electronic data in the folder after the electronic conference ends.   The electronic conference server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the access management unit prohibits access to the folder when all electronic conferences have been held.   An electronic conference terminal device connected to the electronic conference server device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 via a network and transmitting the inputted personal information of the electronic conference participant to the electronic conference server device. An electronic conference system characterized by that.

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