Method and Apparatus for Handling Files Containing Confidential or Sensitive Information
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Abstract
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing files in a data processing system. An attribute for a file is specified as having a special designation. The file with the attribute having the special designation is processed, by the operating system, in a different manner from other files when performing operations, such as, for example, copying the file to a removable media, printing the file, or sending the file over a network.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1-23. -23. (canceled)
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24. A data processing system for managing files, the data processing system comprising:
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a bus system; a communications unit connected to the bus system; a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to determine whether a confidentiality attribute has been set for a file and a type of file access being requested in response to receiving a file access request from a user application;
determine whether the type of file access being requested is one of a plurality of pre-specified access types in response to determining that the confidentiality attribute is set; and
process the file access request using pre-specified confidentiality protection procedures associated with one of the plurality of pre-specified access types in response to determining that the type of file access being requested is the one of the plurality of pre-specified access types.
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25-26. -26. (canceled)
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32. A data processing system for managing files, the data processing system comprising a processor capable of executing:
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determining means, responsive to receiving a request to access a file, for determining whether a confidentiality attribute has been set for the file and a type of file access being requested; processing means, responsive to determining that the confidentiality attribute is set, for determining whether the type of file access being requested is one of a plurality of pre-specified access types; and processing means, responsive to determining that the type of file access being requested is one of the plurality of pre-specified access types, for processing the request to access the file using pre-specified confidentiality protection procedures associated with the one of the plurality of pre-specified access types. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40-48. -48. (canceled)
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49. A recordable-type medium having a computer program product for managing files, the computer program product comprising:
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first instructions, responsive to receiving a request to access a file, for determining whether a confidentiality attribute has been set for the file and a type of file access being requested; second instructions, responsive to determining that the confidentiality attribute is set, for determining whether the type of file access being requested is one of a plurality of pre-specified access types; and third instructions, responsive to determining that the type of file access being requested is one of the plurality of pre-specified access types, for processing the request to access the file using pre-specified confidentiality protection procedures associated with the one of the plurality of pre-specified access types.
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50. (canceled)
Specification