Method and apparatus to handle changes in file ownership and editing authority in a document management system
First Claim
1. A method of maintaining an updated version of a shared file in a multi-user document management system having a master node and at least one satellite node that communicate over a network, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a central file storage on the network to store a commonly accessible file,providing ownership information that identifies an owner of the file,enabling the owner to authorize changes to said file according to the ownership information,replicating changes to the file at said central file storage,enabling the owner to transfer ownership of said file by altering the ownership information to identify a subsequent owner who may authorize changes to said file, andproviding shared access to the file via a satellite node communicating over the network with said central file storage whereby to maintain an updated version of the file when multiple users may be authorized to make changes.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and corresponding system to maintain an updated version of an electronic file in a multi-user document management system. The system includes a master node and at least one satellite node to enable satellite offices of an enterprise to communicate over a network with a central file store. The method includes providing a central file store on the network to store a commonly accessible shared file, providing ownership information that identifies an owner of the file, enabling the owner of the file to authorize changes to the file, replicating the changes at the central file store, enabling the owner to transfer ownership of the file by altering the ownership information to identify a subsequent owner that controls changes to the file, and providing shared access to the file by the satellite nodes to thereby maintain an updated version of the file for multiple users of the document management system. The owner of the file preferably is the master node or one of the satellite nodes. Other aspects include the master node handling ownership transfers and file transfers with the central file store; enabling read-only access to the file when the owner is off-line, and enabling a file owner to change the file while off-line and then replicating the change upon re-establishment of connection with said network.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of maintaining an updated version of a shared file in a multi-user document management system having a master node and at least one satellite node that communicate over a network, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a central file storage on the network to store a commonly accessible file, providing ownership information that identifies an owner of the file, enabling the owner to authorize changes to said file according to the ownership information, replicating changes to the file at said central file storage, enabling the owner to transfer ownership of said file by altering the ownership information to identify a subsequent owner who may authorize changes to said file, and providing shared access to the file via a satellite node communicating over the network with said central file storage whereby to maintain an updated version of the file when multiple users may be authorized to make changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of transferring ownership and editing authority of a file among multiple owner nodes of a network in a multi-user document management system, said method comprising:
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providing shared access to a file having associated ownership indicia to identify an owner node of said file and whether ownership of the file may be transferred to another owner node, transferring ownership and editing authority of the file to another owner node according to said ownership indicia, enabling an owner node to authorize changes to the file by a user, and replicating changes to the file at a central file store located on the network to thereby maintain a current version of the file in a multi-user environment that enables changes by multiple users. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A document management system to maintain an updated version of a file accessible by multiple users over a network, said system comprising:
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a central file store that stores a file having associated ownership indicia to identify an owner and authorized editor of the file; at least one satellite node to enable a user on the network to communicate with said central file store in order to store and retrieve files; and a processor that includes an editing module to enable changes to said file according to said ownership indicia, a replicator module to replicate changes to said file at said central file store, a negotiator module to enable a transfer of file ownership and editing authority to another owner, and an access coordinator to enable access to said file via the network to thereby enable access to an updated version of the file in a multi-user environment that permits a transfer of editing authority among different owners. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification