JP2011249946A - File transfer and management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a file transfer and management system capable of issuing a notification to a creator, administrator or the like of a file in a state where security is maintained when the file is changed by the recipient.SOLUTION: This invention is a transmission and management system which transmits a file stored in rewritable memory means of a file sharing and distribution device to a plurality of users and manages them. An image formation composite device MFP1 which functions as the file sharing and distribution device comprises: a file storage part 31; a transmission destination link information storage part 32; a transmission and reception management part 33; transmission and reception parts 34-37; and a network interface 38. The management part 33 associates an original file stored in the file storage part 31 with memory means and a stored file in the user device of the transmission destination, and saves the associated file. In addition, the management part 33 detects modification of the file in the transmission destination, updates the original file according to the modification, and notifies the creator of the original file, the administrator, and/or the transmission destination user.

Description

  The present invention relates to a file transmission / management system, and more particularly to a file transmission / management system centering on an image forming composite apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer.

  In recent years, various communication systems for transmitting and managing electronic data files to a plurality of users have been constructed. Here, management of file security is regarded as important.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 discloses a communication apparatus that transfers a received data to a memory box designated by a subaddress / password signal by adding a password by a method according to a transfer destination (e-mail terminal or facsimile apparatus). And a communication method is described. Patent Document 2 describes an electronic document distribution system that performs the following steps. That is, the sender terminal sends an electronic document to the distribution server and requests distribution to the receiver terminal. The distribution server stores the electronic document requested to be distributed and links a notification mail, which is an e-mail notifying the recipient of the arrival of the electronic document, to the URL of the receiving login page, which is a Web page on the distribution server. Send including When the recipient receives the e-mail, the recipient uses the link included in the e-mail to access the login page for receiving on the web server of the distribution server, receives user authentication by the distribution server, and then receives the electronic document. To do.

  In the communication device and the communication method described in Patent Document 1, confidentiality is maintained by transmitting electronic data with a password corresponding to the transfer destination. However, when a third party obtains a password, the data can be altered. Further, when it is desired to change the password and access right after transfer, it is impossible to change the transfer destination file from the transfer destination.

  The distribution system described in Patent Document 2 has confidentiality in that the URL of the storage destination is notified to the user by a notification mail, and user authentication is performed when the user acquires a file from the URL. However, it is impossible for the user to change and manage the password and access right for the acquired file. Moreover, it is inconvenient in that there is no means for redistribution when the user changes the file after acquisition.

  In a communication system using an image forming composite apparatus or the like as a communication base, a file distributed from the image forming composite apparatus usually does not have information on the creator or manager of the transmission source file. Therefore, there is no means for notifying the creator or the administrator when the user changes the received file.

JP 2001-245163 A JP 2002-269012 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a file transmission / management system capable of notifying the creator or manager of a file while maintaining security when the received file is changed by the recipient.

In order to achieve the above object, a file transmission / management system according to one aspect of the present invention includes:
In a transmission / management system for transmitting and managing a file stored in a rewritable memory means of a file sharing / distribution device to a plurality of users,
The file sharing / distribution device includes the memory means, an interface capable of transmitting and receiving files, and a control means.
The control means includes
The original file stored in the memory means and the memory means and storage destination file of the destination user device are stored in association with each other,
Determining that the destination file has changed, updating the original file in response to the change, and notifying the creator, administrator and / or destination user of the original file;
It is characterized by.

  In the file transmission / management system, link information of a transmission destination of a corresponding file is stored in a file sharing / distribution device as a transmission source device, and the transmission destination file can be accessed by file sharing. As a result, it becomes possible to change and manage the password and access right of the file in the destination user device from the file sharing / distribution device. When the transmission destination user changes the transmitted file, the transmission-source file sharing / distribution apparatus determines that the file has been changed, and automatically updates the original file. Then, it notifies that the file has been updated, such as the creator of the original file and the administrator. In addition, the file sharing / distribution device prevents access to the original file or modification of the file from a third party not included in the link information.

  According to the present invention, when the received file is changed by the recipient, it is possible to notify the creator or administrator of the file while maintaining security.

It is a block diagram of the file communication and management system which is one Example. 1 is a block diagram of a file sharing / distribution device included in an image forming composite apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of transmission destination link information. It is a flowchart figure which shows a file delivery process. It is a flowchart figure which shows the file acquisition process by URL. It is a flowchart figure which shows the change detection / update process of a file. It is a flowchart figure which shows the file update request from a transmission destination.

  Embodiments of a file transmission / management system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a file communication / management system according to an embodiment is configured such that an image forming composite apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as MFP) 1 functions as a file sharing / distribution apparatus. It can communicate with one image forming composite apparatus (MFP 2), file creator / manager terminal 21, user terminal 22, server 23, and the like. That is, the MFP 1 shares a file with the MFP 2, the terminals 21, 22, the server 23, and the like, and has a file distribution function to these transmission destination user devices. By setting the file access right, password, encryption method, and the like, Has security management function.

  The MFP 1 has a function of reading a document image by a scanner and an image forming function by a normal electrophotographic method, and particularly includes a file sharing / distribution apparatus 30 shown in FIG. The MFP 2 also includes such a file sharing / distribution device 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the file sharing / distribution device 30 includes a file storage unit 31, a transmission destination link information storage unit 32, a transmission / reception management unit 33, an SMB transmission / reception unit 34, an MAIL transmission / reception unit 35, an FTP transmission / reception unit 36, A WebDAV transmission / reception unit 37 and a network interface 38 are included. The network interface 38 controls data transmission / reception through communication with other devices, terminals, and servers. As a communication protocol, SMB, EMAIL, FTP, WebDAV, etc. have functions of sending and receiving files and URL notification by mail.

  The transmission / reception management unit 33, when transmitting a file, based on the information stored in the transmission destination link information storage unit 32, the access right and password of the file stored in the file storage unit 31 according to the transmission destination Then, the file is processed by the encryption method, and the file data is transmitted to each of the transmission / reception units 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the communication protocol according to the set communication method.

  The file sharing / distribution apparatus 30 receives data received by each of the transmission / reception units 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the communication protocol, user information, user information stored in the transmission destination link information storage unit 32, The access right is collated, and it is determined whether or not to update the file based on the received data. When the file needs to be updated, the corresponding file stored in the file storage unit 31 is updated.

  The transmission destination link information stored in the storage unit 32 is as shown in FIG. 3, and the transmission / reception management unit 33 acquires transmission destination link information from these table data. The destination link information is, for example, “MFP-2: BOX-B”, “User PC: C: \ Folder-C”, “Server: D: \ Folder-D” shown in FIG. .

  From such link information, it becomes possible to access the destination MFP, PC, and server files from the destination file storage location and file name information, and obtain file change and access right information It becomes possible to do. In addition, the file creator / manager can be notified of file changes and access right changes, and the creator / administrator can change the access rights.

  An example of table data of information stored in the transmission destination link information storage unit 32 is shown in Table 1 below. For example, when the file name: File-A is stored in the box name: BOX-1 of the MFP 1, the administrator information of the corresponding file, the file transmission destination, and the communication method to each transmission destination (SMB, EMAIL , FTP, WebDAV, URL notification, etc.), destination link information, access right, password, file encryption method information, etc. are stored. The transmission / reception management unit 33 executes file transmission / reception and update control based on the table data.

  Here, the procedure of the file distribution process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the MFP 1 functioning as a file sharing / distribution device transmits a file stored in the box or notifies the URL according to the transmission destination link information.

  First, when there is a file transmission request (step S1), the file transmission destination information is acquired (step S2), and the transmission method is checked (step S3). If the transmission method is SMB / FTP / WebDAV transmission, the file password, encryption processing, and access right are set according to the transmission destination (step S4). Then, the file is transmitted to the transmission destination according to the transmission method (step S5), and the storage destination link transmitted to the file transmission link information is added (step S6).

  On the other hand, if the transmission method is URL notification, the password, encryption processing, and access right of the URL storing the file are set according to the transmission destination (step S7). Then, the URL notification mail is transmitted to the transmission destination (step S8), and the URL notification destination information is added to the file transmission link information (step S9).

  Next, the procedure of file acquisition processing using URL will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. That is, this is processing when the user / device that has received the URL notification acquires a file stored in the box of the MFP 1.

  First, a file acquisition process using a URL is requested (step S11), file process request source information is acquired (step S12), and file transmission information is acquired (step S13). Then, the access right of the request source is determined (step S14). If the access right is permitted, the file password, encryption processing, and access right are set according to the request source (step S15), the file transmission is received from the request source (step S16), and the file transmission link information is received. The file storage destination of the request source is added (step S17).

  On the other hand, if the access right is prohibited, the request source information is notified to the administrator of the corresponding file (step S18), and if the administrator changes the request source access right to permit (step S19), the step S15 is performed. ˜S17 is executed. If it remains prohibited, the processing here ends.

  Next, the procedure for file change detection / update processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the MFP 1 functioning as a file sharing / distribution device detects whether or not the file transmitted according to the transmission destination link information or the file of the user who acquired the file by the URL notification has been changed. Determine whether to update the corresponding file in the box.

  First, when file change detection is requested (step S21), the transmission destination link information of the corresponding file is acquired (step S22), and the link destination file change information is acquired (step S23). Then, the original file and the link destination file are compared (step S24). If there is no change, the processing here ends. If there is a change, it is determined whether or not the change file is permitted to be changed by the changing user (step S25).

  If the change is permitted, the changed file is acquired (step S26), the original file is updated to the changed file (step S27), and the corresponding file manager is notified (step S28). Then, redistribution and notification are performed according to the distribution list of the corresponding file (step S29). If the change is not permitted, the file manager is notified (step S30), and if the administrator changes the request source access right to allow (step S31), steps S26 to S29 are executed. If it remains prohibited, the processing here ends.

  Next, a file update request procedure from the transmission destination will be described with reference to FIG. Here, when the MFP 1 functioning as a file sharing / distribution device receives a file change request from the user / device of the transmission destination, whether or not to update the corresponding file in its own box according to the transmission destination link information Judging.

  First, when a file update is requested from the transmission destination (step S41), the transmission destination link information of the corresponding file is acquired (step S42), and the link destination file change information is acquired (step S43). Then, it is determined whether or not the change of the original file by the changing user is permitted (step S44).

  If the change is permitted, the changed file is acquired (step S45), the original file is updated to the changed file (step S46), and the corresponding file manager is notified (step S47). Then, redistribution and notification are performed according to the distribution list of the corresponding file (step S48). If the change is not permitted, the file manager is notified (step S49), and if the administrator changes the request source access right to allow (step S50), steps S45 to S48 are executed. If it remains prohibited, the processing here ends.

(Other examples)
The file transmission / management system according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified within the scope of the gist thereof.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an MFP having a server function and a communication device is used as the file sharing / distribution apparatus. However, the same role can be executed by a server other than the MFP. It is also possible to store transmission / reception link information in a personal computer terminal or another MFP and manage the user's device as a file sharing / distribution device by the user managing it.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for a file transmission / management system. In particular, when a recipient changes a received file, the file creator or manager is notified in a state in which security is maintained. It is excellent in that it can be done.

MFP 1, 2, ... Image forming composite apparatus 10 ... Network 21 ... File creator / manager terminal 22 ... User terminal 23 ... Server 30 ... File sharing / distribution apparatus 31 ... File storage unit 32 ... Destination link information storage unit 33 ... Transmission・ Reception management unit 34-37 ... Transmission / reception unit 38 ... Network interface

Claims (4)

In a transmission / management system for transmitting and managing a file stored in a rewritable memory means of a file sharing / distribution device to a plurality of users,
The file sharing / distribution device includes the memory means, an interface capable of transmitting and receiving files, and a control means.
The control means includes
The original file stored in the memory means and the memory means and storage destination file of the destination user device are stored in association with each other,
Determining that the destination file has changed, updating the original file in response to the change, and notifying the creator, administrator and / or destination user of the original file,
File transmission and management system. The control means sets the access right according to the user of the transmission destination, and when there is a change request from a user without the access right, sets the access right by notifying the creator and / or administrator of the original file Inquiring whether to do,
The file transmission / management system according to claim 1. The control means automatically updates the original file when the original file is changed and sent back by the user, and retransmits it to the creator, administrator and / or destination user.
The file transmission / management system according to claim 1 or 2.   4. The file transmission / management system according to claim 1, wherein the file sharing / distribution apparatus is an image forming composite apparatus.

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