Information management system, an information processor, and an information management method

• US 20060106803A1
• Filed: 10/18/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Matsuda, Toru, Takeuchi, Sachiko
• Application Number:
  US11/251,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106803A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries

Abstract

An information management system, information processors, and an information management method are disclosed. The information management system includes the information processors and an information management apparatus that are connected through a network. One of the information processors adjusts a level of encryption of information that consists of two or more items having different security levels according to predetermined credibility, when storing the information in the information management apparatus.

Claims

1. An information management system wherein one or more information processors and an information management apparatus are connected through a predetermined network, wherein

the information processor adjusts an encryption level of information containing two or more items having different security levels according to predetermined credibility when the information is to be stored to the information management apparatus.

2. The information management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the information processor adjusts the encryption level of the information according to the credibility of one of the information management apparatus, a user who operates the information management apparatus, and a predetermined policy.

3. The information management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

one of a range of the information to be encrypted and an encryption system is adjusted according to the predetermined credibility.

4. The information management system as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the range of the information to be encrypted is either all the items having different security levels, or a part thereof.

5. The information management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a first information processor encrypts the information according to the predetermined credibility, and stores the encrypted information in a second information processor through the information management apparatus.

6. The information management system as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the first information processor shares a cryptographic key used for encryption of the information with the second information processor.

7. The information management system as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the first information processor generates the cryptographic key using a pass phrase, and shares the pass phrase with the second information processor.

8. The information management system as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the first information processor stores the encrypted information in the second information processor using a backup and restoration function of the information management apparatus.

9. The information management system as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the information management apparatus does not display, or does not readably display the information within the encrypted range of the items having different security levels when displaying the information is requested by the user, the information being received from the information processor.

10. An information processor that stores information containing two or more items having different security levels in an information management apparatus connected through a predetermined network, comprising:

an encryption level adjusting unit for adjusting a level of encryption of the information according to predetermined credibility when the information is to be stored to the information management apparatus.

11. The information processor as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the encryption level of the information is adjusted according to credibility of the information management apparatus, a user who operates the information management apparatus, and a predetermined policy.

12. The information processor as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the encryption level of the information is adjusted according to one of a range of the information to be encrypted and a system of encryption according to the predetermined credibility.

13. The information processor as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the range of the information to be encrypted is either all the items having different security levels, or a part thereof.

14. An information management method of an information management system wherein one or more information processors and an information management apparatus are connected through a predetermined network, comprising:

a step of the information processor adjusting a level of encryption of information according to predetermined credibility, and

a step of storing the information in the information management apparatus, the information being encrypted according to the adjusted level of encryption.

15. The information management method as claimed in claim 14, wherein

the information processor adjusts the encryption level of the information according to credibility of the information management apparatus, a user who operates the information management apparatus, and a predetermined policy.

16. The information management method as claimed in claim 14, wherein

the information processor adjusts one of the range of the information to be encrypted and an encryption system according to the predetermined credibility.

17. The information management method as claimed in claim 16, wherein

the range of the information to be encrypted is either all the items having different security levels, or a part thereof.