Cooperative operation using workstations having operative rights assigned

• US 5,530,880 A
• Filed: 12/15/1994
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Katsurabayashi, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, MENG AI T
• Application Number:
  US08/357,347
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 395/200, 395/725, 395/325, 395/860, 395/600, 364/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay

Abstract

An information processing system for a cooperative operation in which a plurality of work stations including at least one common work station are connected to one another by means of a network. The information processing system includes a memory device for storing operation rights corresponding to operation issuing sources, an identification device for identifying whether an operation request is a whole operation mode or a limited operation mode in accordance with a storage content of the memory device when the operation request is issued from a certain operation issuing source with respect to a function of the common work station, and an execution device for executing all functions of the common work station corresponding to the operation request when the operation request is identified as the whole operation mode as a result of identification by the identification device, and for limiting the execution of the functions of the common work station when the operation request is identified as the limited operation mode.

Claims

1. An information processing system for a cooperative operation in which a plurality of work stations including at least one common work station are connected to a network, wherein each of said work stations has a common display window for sharing common display information, and respective private display windows, said information processing system comprising:

first memory means for storing respective operation rights for operation request issuing sources at said work stations, said operation request issuing sources issuing operating requests to said common work station, said common work station performing respective functions in response to said operation requests, said operation rights including a first operation right and a second operation right;

second memory means for storing information on a first class of operation requests allowed only for said first operation right and a second class of operation requests allowed for both said first operation right and said second operation right;

first identification means for indirectly determining the operation rights for operation requests by identifying whether an operation request is issued from an operation request issuing source having said first operation right or issued from an operation request issuing source having said second operation right in accordance with a storage content of said first memory means;

second identification means for identifying a class of said operation request issued from the operation request issuing source in accordance with a storage content of said second memory means;

execution means for executing a function corresponding to an operation request issued from an operation request issuing source when said operation request is identified by said first identification means as issued from said operation request issuing source having said first operation right, for executing the function corresponding to said operation request when said operation request is identified by said second identification means that said operation request is of said first class and said operation request is identified by said first identification means as issued from said operation request source having said second operation right, and for preventing execution of a corresponding function to said operation request when said operation request is identified by said second identification means that said operation request is of said second class and said operation request is identified by said first identification means as issued from said operation request issuing source having said second operation right.

2. An information processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first memory means stores said operation rights for names of users at said work stations, said users being said operation request issuing sources.

3. An information processing system set forth in claim 1, wherein said first memory means stores said operation rights for names of said work stations, said work station being said operation request issuing sources.

4. An information processing system set forth in claim 1, wherein said first memory means stores said operation rights for combinations of names of users and names of said work stations, said users at said work station being said operation request issuing sources.

5. An information processing system set forth in claim 1, wherein said first memory means further stores operation modes for said operation requests.

6. An information processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second memory means are rewritable.

7. An information processing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising decision means for deciding which kind of operation right is to be given for an operation request issuing source newly participating in said cooperative operation, in accordance with a number of operation issuing sources having said first operation rights.

8. An information processing system set forth in claim 1, wherein an execution result of said execution means is reflected on said common display windows when a display mode of said operation request is a first display mode, and wherein said execution result is reflected on a private display window of a work station corresponding to an operation request issuing source which issued said operation request when said display mode is a second display mode.

9. An information processing system set forth in claim 1, wherein said common work station includes a display device having a common display window to display common information.

10. An information processing system set forth in claim 9, wherein an execution result by said execution means is reflected on said common display windows when a display mode of said operation request is a first display mode, and said execution result is reflected on a private display device of a work station corresponding to an operation request issuing source which issued said operation request when said display mode is a second display mode.

11. An information processing system for a cooperative operation in which a plurality of work stations including at least one common work station are commonly connected to a network, said work stations each having a common display window and sharing common display information in said common display window, and further having respective private display windows, said information processing system comprising:

first memory means for storing respective operation rights for operation request issuing sources at said work stations, said operation request issuing sources issuing operation requests to said common work station, said common work station performing respective functions in response to said operation requests, said operation rights including a first operation right and a second operation right;

second memory means for storing respective display modes for said operation requests;

identification means for identifying whether an operation request is issued from an operation request issuing source having said first operation right or issued from an operation request issuing source having said second operation right in accordance with a storage content of said memory means;

first execution means for executing a function corresponding to an operation request issued from an operation request issuing source when said operation request is identified by said identification means as issued from said operation request issuing source having said first operation right, an execution result by said first execution means being reflected on said common display window when a display mode of said operation request is a first display mode, and said execution result being reflected on a private display window of a work station corresponding to said operation request issuing source which issued said operation request when the display mode is a second display mode;

second execution means for executing said function corresponding to said operation request when said operation request belongs to a first class and is identified by said identification means as issued from said operation request source having said second operation right, an execution result by said second execution means being reflected on said common display window when said display mode of said operation request is a first display mode, and said result being reflected on said private display window of work station corresponding to said operation request issuing source which issued said operation request when the display mode is the second display mode; and

said second execution means preventing execution of said function corresponding to said operation request when said operation request belongs to a second class and is identified by said identification means as issued from said operation request issuing source having said second operation right.