JPH11249963A - Computer system, personal data management method used therein, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a mobile network computer which can be shared among a plurality of users. SOLUTION: A plurality of day packs for holding copies of resources of a server computer 11 are generated in a local storage 121 of a network computer NC 12. Information of the right of ownership is individually set to each day pack. Since rights of ownership are given to day packs for mobile use respectively in this manner, personal data in day packs can be protected. The plurality of users sharing the network computer NC 12 can perform the same business in an off-line state as well as in an online state by using their private day packs, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a computer system that operates by downloading a program and data from a server computer via a network, a personal data management method and a recording medium used in the system, and particularly to a mobile environment. The present invention relates to a computer system suitable for realizing a usable network computer, a personal data management method and a recording medium used in the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, instead of a personal computer, a network computer (NC: Network) has been used.
A new computer architecture, called Computer, has begun to be developed.

[0003] This network computer is premised on the use of a network, and all programs and data required for data processing are downloaded from a server computer via the network. As a result, each client computer functioning as a network computer does not need to have programs and data, so that it is possible to flexibly cope with an update of an operating system (OS) or an application program, and as a result, a machine management cost. Drastic alleviation is possible.

[0004] However, the network computer is premised on operation through a network connection as described above, and is not normally considered for use in a mobile environment. For this reason, development of a new network computer capable of performing the same business as in the online state connected to the network even in the offline state not connected to the network is desired.

[0005]

In order to realize a network computer that can be used in a mobile environment as described above, a copy of a server resource required for work in an offline state is copied to a local storage in the network computer. It is necessary to create a virtual storage medium for a mobile computer and use the mobile virtual storage medium so that a network computer can operate.

However, in order to realize an environment in which a plurality of users can use such a network computer for mobile use, programs and data used by others are stored together in a mobile virtual storage medium. It is necessary to put. For this reason, there is a problem that the personal data is seen by others, or is changed or deleted. Also, in order to avoid such a situation, there arises a problem that a dedicated network computer must be prepared.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a plurality of users can use the same network computer while protecting personal data by managing a mobile virtual storage medium as a personal storage medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer system suitable for realizing a network computer for mobile use, a personal data management method and a recording medium used in the system.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a computer system which operates by downloading a program and data required for data processing from a server computer via a network. Creating a copy of a server resource used by a user as a mobile virtual storage medium on the local storage device and using the mobile virtual storage medium to operate the computer system without accessing the server computer. And means for setting ownership information for the mobile virtual storage medium on the local storage device, and by means of the authentication process using the ownership information, Use of mobile virtual storage media by other users can be prohibited And it said that there was Unishi.

In this computer system, by setting ownership to a mobile virtual storage medium,
The mobile virtual storage medium can be used as data exclusively for the user. Therefore, even in the case where the same network computer is shared by a plurality of users, only the user having the ownership can operate the mobile virtual storage medium. There is no danger that it will be changed or deleted.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of mobile virtual storage media for which ownership information can be respectively set are set on the local storage device. This allows
Any user who can protect the personal data of each of a plurality of users and owns the network can use their own mobile virtual storage medium regardless of which user uses the network computer. It is possible to work in a mobile environment.

Further, the present invention provides a means for determining whether or not a mobile virtual storage medium owned by a user of the computer system exists by an authentication process using the ownership information. Setting and deletion of the ownership of the mobile virtual storage medium on the basis of the mobile virtual storage medium owned by the user of the computer system. And the ownership management means for permitting the setting of the ownership only to the empty mobile virtual storage medium to which the ownership is not set if the ownership does not exist. It is further characterized by comprising: By limiting the operation on the mobile virtual storage medium in this way, it is possible to avoid the danger of accidentally deleting another person's mobile virtual storage medium.

Further, the present invention further comprises a login authentication means for performing an authentication process using at least a user name and a password when logging in the computer system, wherein the ownership information has at least a user name and a password, A login user name authenticated by the login authentication unit is used as a user name of the ownership information in setting / deletion of the ownership information and in an authentication process using the ownership information. In this way, by managing the ownership of the mobile virtual storage medium in conjunction with the authentication processing at the time of login, the setting / deletion of the ownership of the mobile virtual storage medium, the ownership authentication processing, and the like are efficiently performed. be able to.

Further, the present invention provides a synchronization processing means for performing file synchronization processing between the server computer and the mobile virtual storage medium of the network computer, and a request for deleting ownership of the mobile virtual storage medium. Means for determining whether or not unsynchronized update data exists on the mobile virtual storage medium, and if so, prompting the user to select whether to delete the data after the synchronization process or to forcibly delete the data. And further characterized by:

By synchronizing files between the server computer and the mobile virtual storage medium, it is possible to continue the same work in both the online state and the offline state, but this synchronization processing is performed only in the online state. Therefore, unsynchronized update data may exist on the mobile virtual storage medium. In this case, if the mobile virtual storage medium for which the deletion of ownership is requested is immediately deleted to make it empty, data inconsistency occurs between the server and the mobile virtual storage medium. Therefore, in the present invention, in such a case, the user is made to select whether to delete after the synchronization processing or to forcibly delete. This makes it possible to prevent problems caused by careless operation by the user.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a network computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Network computer (NC) 12
Operates by downloading all programs and data necessary for data processing such as an operating system and application programs from a server computer 11 via a network such as a LAN 10 or a public network. The (NC) 12 is used while connected to the LAN 10 (office mode). Also, when you go out,
The network computer (NC) 12 is basically used in a state of being disconnected from the server computer 11 (mobile mode).
PP (Point to Point Protocol)
1) remote connection to the server computer 11 is also possible (PPP mode).

The server computer 11 is a network computer (NC) serving as a client machine.
12 provides resources such as programs and data to the disk device 111.
Is stored and managed by

Network computer (NC) 12
In order to be able to work offline,
A local storage 121 is provided. In the local storage 121, a replica that is a copy of resources such as programs and data on the server computer 11 is created. This replica is a mobile virtual storage medium (hereinafter, referred to as a daypack) for enabling server resources required by the user to be used even in an offline state. In the present embodiment, a plurality of daypacks having different owners can be created on the local storage 121 by giving ownership to the daypack.

Which resource on the server computer 11 is downloaded as a replica to the daypack of the network computer (NC) 12 is managed for each user by a synchronization list on the server computer 11.

Here, the synchronization list describes a file to be subjected to data synchronization processing performed to maintain data consistency between the server computer 11 and the daypack of the network computer (NC) 12. With this synchronization list, it is possible to perform synchronization processing for each user.

When a replica is downloaded to the network computer (NC) 12, a replica list, which is a copy of the synchronization list, is also downloaded and stored in the local storage 121. In addition, as the local storage 121, a flash memory card, a hard disk, or the like is used.

The OS downloaded from the server computer 11 to the network computer (NC) 12 includes a connected processing function for controlling the network computer (NC) 12 in a normal network operation mode operating with server access, and a local storage. A disconnected processing function is provided that enables business operations to be performed in an offline state by using 121 daypacks. Furthermore, this O
In S, there are provided a daypack management function for managing the operation of each daypack using ownership, and a synchronization processing function for synchronizing files between each daypack and the server computer 11. .

This synchronization processing function can be performed in a network computer (NC) in either an offline state or an online state.
In order to continue the same business on 12
By downloading / uploading the resource to / from the server computer 11, the server resource and the resource in the daypack are synchronized. This synchronization process is executed when the network computer (NC) 12 logs in or logs out.

FIG. 2 shows an example of resources held in the daypack and an example of a procedure of synchronization processing between the daypack and the server computer 11. As shown,
The server computer 11 has various other server functions, such as an NC server that provides an OS or the like to the network computer (NC) 12, a file server that provides a network file system, and a WW server.

(1) Prefetch In preparation for use in the mobile mode, programs and data used in the mobile mode are copied from the server 11 to the daypack in the office mode. The content written in the daypack is, for example, the server computer 11
Application files in the user home directory and individual private files managed by each user on the file system. In addition, WWW documents and applets on the server computer 11 are downloaded as needed.

In the daypack, ownership information indicating the ownership is set as authentication information. This authentication information is set in the network computer (NC) 12
Is performed by the OS downloaded to the PC.

The OS and the DHCP parameters used for setting the environment by the OS are downloaded to an area other than the daypack in the local storage 121.

(2) Local operation In the mobile mode, processing is performed using programs and data on the daypack.

(3) Synchronization Processing When returning from the mobile mode to the office mode in order to synchronize with the server data, the data on the daypack updated in the mobile mode is transferred to the server computer 11.
Upload to and synchronize data.

Next, the basic operation mode of the network computer (NC) 12 of the present embodiment will be described. Depending on the type of network used, the network operation mode presuming operation in the online state includes a LAN mode (office mode) and a PPP mode.
(Point to Point Protocol)
Divided into modes. PPP mode is for telephone networks, ISD
It is used for remote access to the server 11 via a public network such as an N network or a PHS network.

On the other hand, the disconnect operation mode on the premise of the operation in the off-line state is to support the above-mentioned mobile mode, and is based on the use of a replica of the server resource, that is, a daypack. As described above, by replicating the necessary programs and data in the mobile mode from the server computer 11 to the daypack in advance, the work performed in the network operation mode (office mode or PPP mode) can be disconnected. Even if the mode is changed, the operation can be continuously performed.

As described above, even in the network operation mode, the daypack may be used for prefetching programs and data in preparation for shifting to offline work. The download operation for the prefetch is executed as an initial process of the synchronization process.

Therefore, the following four operation modes of the network computer (NC) 12 can be considered. (1) LAN & daypack mode (2) LAN mode (daypack not used) (3) Daypack mode (4) PPP & daypack mode (5) PPP mode (daypack not used) Office modes (1) and (2) Divided into When going out, (3) to (5) can be used, but usually only (3) or (4) is used, and (5) is not used.

FIG. 3 shows the transition of these connection modes. When the network computer (NC) 12 is powered on from the power off state or reset in the power on state, an initialization process (system start) by the OS is started. Network computer (N
C) At the time of login processing for acquiring an environment necessary for the operation from the server 11, a login dialog is displayed on the screen of the network computer (NC) 12, and the operation mode to be used is displayed on the login dialog. A selection is made. The operation modes used are broadly classified into the "office mode" and the "mobile mode".

The "office mode" is a mode for use in an office where a LAN can be used. If "Office Mode" is selected, the connection mode will be LAN
Mode or LAN & daypack mode is transited.

The "mobile mode" is a mode in which use of the LAN is impossible and is assumed to be used outside. When the “mobile mode” is selected, the connection mode transits to the daypack mode or the PPP & daypack mode.

The mechanism for the state transition and the selection of the use mode are incorporated in the OS initialization processing. Hereinafter, the transition of the connection mode will be specifically described. (A) Use of daypack in LAN mode In LAN mode, if there is a daypack owned by the user, the mode automatically switches to LAN & daypack mode. Despite the presence of a daypack that the user owns, there is no LAN mode.

In the LAN mode, the ownership of the daypack can be obtained or abandoned.・ Release of ownership of daypack In LAN & daypack mode, ownership of daypack can be released at any time. If the ownership of the daypack is abandoned, the mode shifts to the LAN mode.

Acquisition of Daypack Ownership In the LAN mode, if there is a daypack that no one owns, ownership of that daypack can be acquired. If the ownership of the daypack is obtained, the mode shifts to the LAN & daypack mode. (B) Use of PPP in Day Pack Mode In day pack mode, use of PPP can be started at any time. When you start using PPP, PPP &
Move to daypack mode.

Conversely, in the PPP & daypack mode, the use of PPP can be terminated at any time. When the use of the PPP ends, the mode shifts to the daypack mode. (C) The PPP mode is not used.

The PPP mode is not used. P
In order to establish a PP connection, various setting information for dial-up is required. To enter PPP mode,
This information must be entered directly by the operator.

On the other hand, in the case of the PPP & day pack mode, since the transition is made from the day pack use mode, dial-up setting information can be stored in the day pack. This information can be set in the server in advance.

In consideration of mobile use, it is considered that there is no problem in using PPP if it is limited to a daypack. (D) Mode transition at the time of login At the time of login, either the LAN use mode or the day pack use mode can be selected. When the LAN use mode is selected, if there is a daypack that the user owns, the mode shifts to the LAN & daypack mode.

In the day pack use mode, it is possible to shift to the PPP & day pack mode. The selection of the LAN use mode at the time of login assumes that the user is in an office where the LAN can be used, and is therefore called “office mode”. On the other hand, selecting the daypack mode is referred to as “mobile mode” because it is assumed that the LAN is unavailable and that the user is going out.

At the time of login, the operator selects "office mode" or "mobile mode" as the use mode, and starts using it. (E) Reset and power-off It is possible to reset and power-off from all modes. The reset initializes the data section of the OS and executes a system initialization routine. The power-off is a hardware power-off.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The flow of processing when the OS is started will be described. When the network computer 12 is powered on or rebooted, the RO of the network computer 12 is
The boot program stored in M starts. The boot program of the ROM first checks whether or not the OS is stored in the local storage 121 composed of a flash memory or the like (step S101).

If the OS is stored in the local storage 121, the OS is booted from the local storage 121 (step S102). On the other hand, when the OS is not stored in the local storage 121, the boot program in the ROM uses DHCP (Dyna).
mic Host Configuration Pr
After automatically acquiring the OS name, the IP address, and the minimum required boot environment for booting the OS from the server computer 11 by TFTP, the TFTP (Trial)
A boot loader is loaded from the server computer 11 by File Transfer Protocol, and control is passed to the boot loader (step S10).
3, S104).

The boot loader is an NFS (Network)
The OS is loaded from the server computer 11 and booted (Step S105). Thereby, the initialization processing of the OS is started (step S106). In this initialization process, the OS
The settings of the network environment used by are set.

After the environment setting process is performed in this way, a use mode selection process (step S107) is performed. In this use mode selection process, first, the OS
Whether there is a daypack with ownership set or LAN1
A determination is made as to whether 0 is usable or not, and a default value of the use mode is determined based on the result, and the default value is displayed on the login dialog screen of the network computer (NC) 12. In this use mode selection processing, first, it is checked whether or not there is a daypack for which ownership is set. If there is a daypack for which ownership is set, the default value of the use mode is set to “mobile mode”. Next, the DHCP DI
Broadcasts a SCOVER packet and determines whether or not an OFFER packet has been received.
Is checked to see if it is possible to use it. When the OFFER packet is received, it is determined that the environment is such that the LAN can be used, and the default value of the use mode is switched to “office mode”. As described above, when there is a local storage that can be used as a day pack, “mobile mode” or “office mode” is displayed as a default value in the login dialog depending on whether LAN can be used. When the user explicitly changes the setting of the use mode on the login dialog, the mode is changed to the mode instructed by the user. Then, when the OK button on the login dialog is pressed, the current mode is determined, and processing for setting the mode is started. Then, an indicator indicating the use mode is displayed on the screen. On the other hand, if the local storage does not exist, or if the local storage exists but the ownership is not set for the daypack, the LAN mode is not determined and the default mode is not determined.
Is checked to see if it is possible to use it. If it is determined that the environment is such that the LAN can be used, the default value of the use mode is set to “office mode”. And
“Office mode” is displayed in the login dialog as a default value, and “Mobile mode” is disabled. Thus, if there is no local storage,
Alternatively, if local storage exists but ownership is not set for that daypack, "office mode" is basically selected.

When the use mode is selected in the use mode selection process, a user authentication process is performed based on the user name and password input in the login dialog (steps S108 and S110). When the user authentication process is successful, if the “office mode” is selected, the connection mode is set to the LAN mode or the LAN & daypack mode based on the presence or absence of ownership of the daypack (step S109). On the other hand, "mobile mode"
Is selected, transition is made between the daypack mode and the PPP & daypack mode in accordance with the PPP connection operation and the disconnection operation by the user.

Next, the ownership of the daypack, which is a feature of this embodiment, will be described. There are two methods of setting ownership for the daypack: a partition method and a directory method.

(1) Partition Method In the partition method, the number of users who use the network computer (NC) 12 is determined in advance, and a partition area corresponding to the number of users is allocated to the local storage 121. An authentication information sector is provided in each partition, and when ownership is set, ownership information is set therein. This is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the local storage 121
Daypack for 3 people (Daypack # 1, # 2, # 3)
3 is provided for setting three partitions. These daypacks # 1, # 2
Each of the partitions # 3 has an authentication information sector #
1, # 2 and # 3 are provided correspondingly. When the ownership of the authentication information sector is deleted, the corresponding partition is initialized. The OS downloaded from the server 11 is stored in a storage area different from the daypack partition.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ownership information set in the authentication information sector is composed of user name information, password information, user ID information (UID), and group ID information (GID). .

(2) Directory Method The directory method is a method in which when ownership is set, a directory is created on the local storage 121 by a combination of a user name and a password that constitute ownership information, and the user creates the directory. In this method, only the files below can be accessed. When ownership is removed, all files under that directory shall be deleted. This is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 7, the user name “X” of the user A
A directory having a directory name (XXXX1YYYY1) consisting of “XXX1” and a password “YYYY1” is created as a day pack for user A, and a user name “XXXX2” for user B and a password “YYYY”.
2 "(XXXX2YYYY
A state in which the directory having 2) is created as a day pack of the user B is shown. In this case, user A
Is the directory name (XXXX1YYYY1)
Can be used as a daypack that owns the ownership, and for the user B, only the directory under the directory name (XXXX2YYYY2) can be used as a daypack that owns the ownership.

Next, a user interface used for daypack ownership management will be described. (1) Day Pack Setup As described above, a day pack is a place for storing a replica of a server resource such as a program or data used in a disconnected operation (mobile mode or PPP mode). The day pack is set up from each network computer (NC) 12 using a day pack management utility. This daypack management utility is provided as a function of the OS.

(2) Daypack Ownership Daypack ownership is information for determining the owner of the daypack, and is managed by a user name and a password as shown in FIG. 8A. One daypack cannot be shared by multiple user names.

FIG. 8 shows a day pack depending on the state of ownership.
As shown in (B), there are the following three states, and possible operations are different in each state. (A) State in which ownership is not set (b) State in which ownership is set with the login user's user name (c) State in which ownership is set with a user name other than the user name of the login user ( In a), since the ownership is not set and is in an empty state, the login user can set the ownership, but cannot delete the ownership.

The state (b) is a state of a daypack that is owned by the logged-in user. In this state (b), the logged-in user cannot set the ownership. Can be deleted.

The state (c) is a state of a daypack that is owned by a user other than the logged-in user. In the state (b), the logged-in user sets and deletes the ownership. Can not do.

(3) Daypack Ownership and Daypack Access Right It is possible to access only the daypack that matches the user authentication at the time of login.

(4) Setting of Daypack Ownership The ownership of the daypack is set before the daypack is used. -Daypack ownership is set by the daypack management utility.

(5) Activation of Daypack Management Utility FIG. 9 shows an example of a desktop screen of the network computer (NC) 12.

A status indicator is provided on the desktop screen of the network computer (NC) 12 so that the user can recognize the current use mode during the operation. The status indicator is an area on an icon displayed on the display, and is movable by a mouse.

By clicking the status indicator with a mouse, a dialog box is opened, and it is possible to instruct connection / disconnection of PPP and acquisition / discard of ownership of the daypack.

When the login is successful, the application is activated and the mode is set so that the user can operate. At this time, a status indicator is displayed, and the current use mode and the like are displayed there. The status indicator is provided with a disconnected operation button as shown in the figure. By operating this button, the daypack management utility can be started.

When the daypack management utility is started, as shown in FIG. 10, a main screen for daypack management including a “set ownership” button, a “delete ownership” button and the like is displayed, and the interface on this screen is used. To set or delete ownership. In the state where the ownership is not set, “none” is displayed in the “owner” column as shown in FIG. The “delete ownership” button cannot be selected if ownership is not set.

(6) Ownership Setting When the “ownership setting” button is pressed, as shown in FIG. 11A, an ownership setting dialog box for setting ownership to the daypack with the logged-in user name Is displayed. An input box for inputting ownership information is displayed in the ownership setting dialog box, and a login user name is automatically displayed in a column of user name information indicating an owner. This username cannot be changed. As described above, the setting of the ownership information of the day pack is performed in conjunction with the information used in the authentication processing at the time of login.

After inputting the password and re-entering the password to confirm the password, when the "OK" button is pressed, the ownership is set in the daypack with the specified user name and password. Upon successful completion, a system reboot dialog box as shown in FIG. 11B is displayed.
Pressing the "OK" button reboots the system and enables the daypack.

When the "cancel" button is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 11A, the setting of the ownership of the daypack is stopped and the screen returns to the main screen. (7) Deletion of Ownership If the “Delete Ownership” button on the main screen of FIG. 10 is pressed when there is a daypack for which the login user has ownership, the settings are made as shown in FIG. The Delete Ownership dialog box is displayed to remove the ownership. In this ownership deletion dialog box, an input box for entering the set ownership information is displayed, but the login user name is automatically displayed in the user name information field indicating the owner. You. As described above, even when the ownership information of the day pack is deleted, the information used in the authentication processing at the time of login is used in conjunction with the deletion.

Pressing the "OK" button after inputting the password deletes the ownership. If the entered password does not match the set ownership information,
A password mismatch dialog box as shown in (B) is displayed.

Even if the passwords match, if there is unsynchronized update data in the server 11 in the daypack to be deleted, the update content discard dialog as shown in FIG. Display a box. This is in consideration of the fact that if the ownership is unconditionally deleted and the daypack is left empty, data inconsistency will occur between the server 11 and the daypack.
The update discard dialog box notifies the user that there is unsynchronized update data, and deletes the ownership after the synchronization process, or performs a forced deletion with the discard of the unsynchronized update data without performing the synchronization process Is selected by the user.

[0107] "O" in the update content discard dialog box
Pressing the "K" button discards the updated contents and deletes the ownership of the daypack. That is, the partition corresponding to the day pack is initialized or the directory is deleted. When the process of deleting the ownership is completed normally, a system reboot dialog box as shown in FIG. 13B is displayed. Pressing the "OK" button will reboot the system and disable the daypack.

When the "cancel" button is pressed on the update content discarding dialog box shown in FIG. 13A, the deletion of the ownership of the daypack is stopped, and the display returns to the main screen. Next, with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 14, a processing procedure of daypack operation management for determining whether ownership setting / deletion is possible or impossible will be described.

The processing of the day pack operation management is shown in FIG.
(B) three states (the state where ownership is not set,
A state in which ownership is set by the user name of the login user, and a state in which ownership is set by a user name other than the user name of the login user). .

That is, first, by comparing the authentication information at the time of login with the set ownership information, it is checked whether or not there is a daypack for which the logged-in user has ownership (step S201). If there is a daypack for which the logged-in user has the ownership, the state is changed to the state (b) in FIG. 8B, and only the operation for deleting the daypack having the ownership is permitted (step S20).
2). Then, when the deletion of ownership is requested by the “deletion of ownership” button on the main screen of the daypack management utility, authentication processing with the ownership information is performed after inputting the password, and the ownership of the daypack is deleted. This is performed (steps S203 to S205).

On the other hand, if there is no daypack for which the logged-in user has ownership, it is checked whether or not there is an empty daypack for which ownership is not set (step S206). If there is no, the state (c) of FIG. 8B is reached, the activation of the daypack management utility is prohibited, and all daypack operations are prohibited (step S210).

If there is a vacant daypack, the state is changed to the state (a) in FIG. 8B, and only the ownership setting operation is permitted (step S207). Then, when the ownership setting process is requested by the “ownership setting” button on the main screen of the daypack management utility, the daypack ownership setting process is performed after the password is input (steps S208 and S209).

Next, a process for a daypack deletion request will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the ownership of a daypack is requested to be deleted, it is first checked whether or not there is update data not reflected on the server 11 on the daypack to be deleted (step S301). If there is no unreflected update data,
Delete the ownership of the daypack (step S30)
2). On the other hand, if there is unupdated update data,
The update content discarding dialog box shown in FIG. 13A is displayed, and the update data of the day pack is reflected after being reflected in the server 11, or the update is discarded by forcibly deleting the ownership of the day pack without reflecting it. The user is made to select whether or not to perform the process, and a process corresponding to the selection operation is performed (step S303).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by giving ownership to a daypack for mobile use, the daypack can be used as data dedicated to the user. Therefore, the same network computer (NC) 12 can be shared by a plurality of users while protecting personal data. In addition, since ownership can be individually set for a plurality of daypacks, each of a plurality of users sharing the network computer (NC) 12 can use the personal daypacks even in an offline state. The same work can be performed even when online.

If a computer program for executing the procedure for managing the daypack ownership in the network computer according to the present embodiment is recorded on a recording medium, the computer program can be applied to a normal network computer only by applying the computer program to a normal network computer. The same effect as described above can be obtained.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of users can use the same network computer while protecting personal data by setting ownership to a daypack that holds a copy of a server resource. This makes it possible to provide a computer system suitable for realizing a network computer for mobile use. In particular, multiple day packs are prepared and ownership can be set for each day pack, so that multiple users can use the dedicated day packs to perform the same work both offline and online become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a network computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for explaining the operation principle of the network computer according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view for explaining transition of operation modes of the network computer according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an OS of the network computer according to the embodiment;
5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of startup.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view for explaining the principle of creating a plurality of daypacks in a local storage using a partition method in the network computer of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing contents of an authentication information sector used in the network computer of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view for explaining the principle of creating a plurality of daypacks in the local storage using the directory method in the network computer of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view for explaining the contents of ownership information used in the network computer of the embodiment and restrictions on the ownership operation.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view for explaining a start operation of the daypack management utility in the network computer of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view showing a day pack management screen in the network computer of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary view showing an ownership setting screen in the network computer of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary view showing an ownership deletion screen in the network computer of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary view showing an update content discarding dialog screen in the network computer of the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an exemplary flowchart showing the procedure of ownership operation management in the network computer of the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the processing procedure when a daypack is deleted in the network computer of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... LAN 11 ... Server computer 12 ... Network computer (NC) 111 ... Disk device 121 ... Local storage

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G06F 15/16 370 G06F 9/06 420J

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A computer system which operates by downloading a program and data necessary for data processing from a server computer via a network, wherein a local storage device and a copy of a server resource used by a user are copied on the local storage device. Means for making the computer system operable without access to the server computer by using the mobile virtual storage medium created as a mobile virtual storage medium; and a mobile virtual storage on the local storage device. Means for setting ownership information for the medium, and the authentication process using the ownership information can prohibit the use of the mobile virtual storage medium by a user other than the user having the ownership. A computer system characterized in that: 2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of virtual storage media for mobile, for which ownership information can be set, are prepared on the local storage device. 3. A means for determining whether or not there is a mobile virtual storage medium owned by a user of the computer system by an authentication process using the ownership information. Setting / deletion of the ownership of the virtual storage medium for management, and when there is a mobile virtual storage medium owned by the user of the computer system, only the mobile virtual storage medium owned by the user is managed. And ownership management means for permitting deletion of the ownership and, when the ownership does not exist, permitting the ownership to be set only to a free mobile virtual storage medium having no ownership set. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein: 4. A computer further comprising: a login authentication unit for performing an authentication process using at least a user name and a password when logging in to the computer system; wherein the ownership information includes at least a user name and a password; The computer according to claim 1, wherein the login user name authenticated in step (1) is used as a user name of the ownership information in setting / deletion of the ownership information and in an authentication process using the ownership information. system. 5. A synchronization processing means for performing file synchronization processing between the server computer and the mobile virtual storage medium of the computer system, and when a request to delete ownership of the mobile virtual storage medium is requested, Means for determining whether or not unsynchronized update data exists on the mobile virtual storage medium, and, if so, allowing the user to select whether to delete the data after the synchronization process or to forcibly delete the data. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of partitions are created in said local storage device in advance, and each of said partitions is used as a mobile virtual storage medium. 7. Each time ownership is set in the mobile virtual storage medium, a directory specified by the ownership information is created on the local storage device, whereby a plurality of mobile virtual storage media can be stored. 3. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the computer system is created on the local storage device. 8. A network computer system which operates by downloading a program and data required for data processing from a server computer via a network, and stores a local storage device and a copy of a server resource used by each of a plurality of users. Means for creating, on the local storage device, a plurality of mobile virtual storage media for managing, a means for managing ownership information for each of the mobile virtual storage media, and a mobile device owned by a login user of the network computer system. A network computer system operable without access to the server computer by using a virtual storage medium. 9. A program and data required for data processing are downloaded from a server computer via a network, and operate without access to the server computer using a local storage device in which the downloaded programs and data are stored. A personal data management method in a computer system that is configured so as to be able to copy a server resource used by a user as a mobile virtual storage medium on the local storage device. Personal data management, wherein the use of the mobile virtual storage medium by a user other than the user having the ownership is prohibited by an authentication process using the ownership information. Method. 10. The personal data management method according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of mobile virtual storage media are created on the local storage device, and ownership information is managed for each mobile virtual storage medium. . 11. A mobile virtual storage medium owned by a user of the computer system is determined by an authentication process using the ownership information, and based on the determination result, a mobile virtual storage medium is determined. Manages the setting / deletion of ownership of the storage medium, and when there is a mobile virtual storage medium owned by the user of the computer system, owns only the mobile virtual storage medium owned by the user. 11. The personal data according to claim 10, wherein the deletion of the right is permitted, and when the right does not exist, the setting of the ownership is permitted only for an empty mobile virtual storage medium in which the ownership is not set. Management method. 12. The ownership information includes at least a user name and a password, performs an authentication process using at least a user name and a password when logging in to the computer system, and performs authentication in the authentication process when logging in. 10. The personal data management method according to claim 9, wherein an authentication process for setting / deleting the ownership information is executed by using the login user name as a user name of the ownership information. 13. When unrequested ownership of the mobile virtual storage medium is requested, whether unsynchronized update data not reflected in resources on the server computer exists on the mobile virtual storage medium. 10. The personal data management method according to claim 9, wherein a determination is made as to whether or not there is, and if there is, control is performed to allow the user to select whether to delete after the synchronization process or to forcibly delete. 14. A program and data required for data processing are downloaded from a server computer via a network, and operate without access to the server computer using a local storage device in which the downloaded programs and data are stored. A recording medium recording a computer program used in a computer system configured to be able to be used, wherein the computer program creates a copy of a server resource used by a user as a mobile virtual storage medium on the local storage device. When the ownership is set to the mobile virtual storage medium, the authentication processing using the ownership information uses the mobile virtual storage medium by a user other than the user having the ownership. It includes a procedure to prohibit Recording medium. 15. The computer program according to claim 14, wherein the computer program creates a plurality of mobile virtual storage media on the local storage device and manages ownership information for each mobile virtual storage medium. Recording medium. 16. The computer program determines whether or not there is a mobile virtual storage medium owned by a user of the computer system by an authentication process using the ownership information, and based on the determination result. Setting / deletion of ownership of the mobile virtual storage medium, and if there is a mobile virtual storage medium owned by the user of the computer system, the mobile virtual storage medium is owned by the user. Claims wherein only the ownership of the mobile virtual storage medium in which the ownership is not set is allowed to be set only for the empty mobile virtual storage medium in which the ownership is not set. 15. The recording medium according to 14.