Device and method for managing files in storage device

• US 20060095433A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Kano, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database

Abstract

In a device, files are stored in each of a plurality of storage areas, and an authenticated user can browse and/or manipulate the files stored in the storage areas. A user is allowed to set the device when the user is authenticated as a system administrator, otherwise the user is inhibited to set the device. A user is allowed to browse and/or manipulate a storage area provided for the user in the plurality of storage areas in the storage device. The user is allowed to browse and/or manipulate another storage area when the user is a box administrator different from a system administrator, the another area being provided for another user authenticated and different from the box administrator. Alternatively, the user is inhibited to browse and/or manipulate files stored in a storage area provided for another user even when the user is the system administrator.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a storage device for storing files in each of a plurality of storage areas;

a browsing/manipulation device for browsing and/or manipulating the files stored in the storage areas in said storage device;

an authentication device for authenticating a user of the device;

a setter for setting the device;

a first limiting device for allowing the user to set the device with the setter when the user is authenticated as a system administrator by said authentication device, and for inhibiting the user to set the device by said setter when the user is not authenticated as the system administrator; and

a second limiting device for allowing the User authenticated by said authentication device to browse and/or manipulate a storage area provided for the user in the plurality of storage areas in said storage device with said browsing/manipulation device, wherein when the user authenticated by the authentication device is a box administrator different from a system administrator, said second limitation device allows the user to browse and/or manipulate another storage area provided for another user authenticated by said authentication device and different from the box administrator in said storage device.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein even when the user authenticated by the authentication device is the system administrator, said second limiting device prohibits browsing and/or manipulation of files stored in a storage area provided for to another user authenticated by said authentication device and different from the system administrator.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is connected via a network to a terminal, and said first limiting device creates data to be displayed on the device setting according to a result of the authentication by said authentication device, and sends the created data to the terminal.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said first limiting device limits a menu and data to be displayed on the device setting according to result of authentication and sends the limited menu and data to the terminal.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is connected via a network to a terminal, and said second limiting device creates data to be displayed on the storage areas according to a result of the authentication by said authentication device, and sends the created data to the terminal.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said second limiting device limits a menu and data to be displayed on the storage areas according to a result of the authentication by said authentication device and sends the limited menu and data to the terminal.

7. A device comprising:

a storage device for storing files in each of a plurality of storage areas;

a browsing/manipulation device for browsing and/or manipulating the files stored in the storage areas in said storage device;

a setter for setting the device;

an authentication device for authenticating a user of the device;

a first limiting device for allowing the user to set the device with the setter when the user is authenticated as a system administrator by said authentication device, and for inhibiting the user to set the device by said setter when the user is not authenticated as the system administrator; and

a second limiting device for allowing the user authenticated by said authentication device to browse and/or manipulate a storage area provided for the user in the plurality of storage areas in said storage device with said browsing/manipulation device, wherein when the user authenticated by the authentication device is a system administrator, said second limiting device inhibits the user to browse and/or manipulate another storage area provided for another user authenticated by said authentication device.

8. A device management method for a device comprising a storage device for storing files in each of a plurality of storage areas, and a browsing/manipulation device for browsing and/or manipulating the files stored in the storage areas in the storage device, the method comprising:

authenticating a user of the device;

allowing the user to set the device when the user is authenticated as a system administrator, and for inhibiting the user to set the device when the user is not authenticated as the system administrator;

allowing the user to browse and/or manipulate a storage area provided for the user in the plurality of storage areas in the storage device; and

allowing the user to browse and/or manipulate another storage area when the user is a box administrator different from a system administrator, the another area being provided in said storage device for another user authenticated and different from the box administrator.

9. The device management method according to claim 8, wherein even when the user authenticated is the system administrator, browsing and/or manipulation of files stored in a storage area provided for another user different from the system administrator.

10. The device management method according to claim 8, wherein the device is connected via a network to a terminal, and data to be displayed on the device setting is created according to a result of the authentication, and the created data is sent to the terminal.

11. The device management method according to claim 10, wherein a menu and data to be displayed on the storage areas are limited according to a result of the authentication and the limited menu and data are sent to the terminal.

12. The device management method according to claim 8, wherein the device is connected via a network to a terminal, and data to be displayed on the storage areas is created according to a result of the authentication, and the created data is sent to the terminal.

13. The device management method according to claim 12, wherein a menu and data to be displayed on the storage areas are limited according to a result of the authentication and the limited menu and data are sent to the terminal.

14. A device management method for a device having a storage device for storing files in each of a plurality of storage areas, and a browsing/manipulation device for browsing and/or manipulating the files stored in the storage areas in the storage device, the method comprising:

authenticating a user of the device;

allowing the user to set the device when the user is authenticated as a system administrator, and for inhibiting the user to set the device when the user is not authenticated as the system administrator;

allowing the user to browse and/or manipulate a storage area provided for the user in the plurality of storage areas in the storage device; and

prohibiting the user to browse and/or manipulate files stored in a storage area provided for another user even when the user is the system administrator.

15. A computer-executable program for device management for a device comprising a storage device for storing files in each of a plurality of storage areas, and a browsing/manipulation device for browsing and/or manipulating the files stored in the storage areas in the storage device, comprising the steps of:

authenticating a user of the device;

allowing the user to set the device when the user is authenticated as a system administrator, and for inhibiting the user to set the device when the user is not authenticated as the system administrator;

allowing the user to browse and/or manipulate a storage area provided for the user in the plurality of storage areas in the storage device; and

allowing the user to browse and/or manipulate another storage area when the user is a box administrator different from a system administrator, the another area being provided in said storage device for another user authenticated and different from the box administrator.

16. A computer-executable program for device management for a device having a storage device for storing files in each of a plurality of storage areas, and a browsing/manipulation device for browsing and/or manipulating the files stored in the storage areas in the storage device, comprising the steps of:

authenticating a user of the device;

allowing the user to set the device when the user is authenticated as a system administrator, and for inhibiting the user to set the device when the user is not authenticated as the system administrator;

allowing the user to browse and/or manipulate a storage area provided for the user in the plurality of storage areas in the storage device; and

prohibiting the user to browse and/or manipulate files stored in a storage area provided for another user even when the user is the system administrator.