Computer resource assignment of a temporary user from a computer pool of available identifiers

• US 6,539,481 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Toshiya, Kimura, Tetsuro, Muranaga, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACKSON, JENISE E
• Application Number:
  US09/184,901
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 700/99, 700/124, 700/237, 705/8, 707/205, 709/104, 709/102, 709/223, 709/225, 709/226, 709/237, 709/229, 713/201, 713/202, 713/165, 713/166, 713/161, 713/229, 713/193, 713/200
• US Class Current: 726/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

In a computer resource assignment apparatus, a registration request processing section assignes a computer resource to a user in response to a temporary registration request from the user. A computer resource management section manages the computer resource assigned to the user of the temporary registration request by unit of each user.

Claims

1. A computer resource assignment apparatus, comprising:

computer resource pool means for maintaining a plurality of computer resources to be assigned to a temporary registered user;

computer resource list means for previously storing a plurality of user identifiers to be assigned to the temporary registered user;

registration request processing means for receiving a temporary registration request from a terminal of a user, the user being the temporary registered user;

computer resource management means for selecting an unused user identifier from the plurality of user identifiers in said computer resource list means, for assigning the unused user identifier as a user identifier to the temporary registered user, for selecting a computer resource of an empty area from the plurality of computer resources in said computer resource pool means, for assigning a home directory representing an address of the computer resource to the temporary registered user, for assigning a group identifier representing an access right of the computer resource to the temporary registered user, and for setting a use period of the computer resource assigned to the temporary registered user; and

use period notice means for sending a message that the present time is near the end of the use period to the terminal of the temporary registered user when the present time is near the end of the use period of the temporary registered user,

wherein said computer resource list means correspondingly registers the user identifier, the home directory, the group identifier, the use period, a user name and a password of the temporary registered user, and

wherein said computer resource management means deletes the registered information of the temporary registered user in said computer resource list means, if the temporary registered user does not input an extension registration request through the terminal in reply to the message.

2. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said registration request processing means informs the temporary registered user that a user identifier of the temporary registered user is not secured through the terminal, if the unused user identifier does not exist in the plurality of user identifiers stored in said computer resource list means.

3. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computer resource management means checks whether the same user name is already registered in said computer resource list means, when said registration request processing means receives the user name from the terminal of the temporary registered user.

4. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said registration request processing means requests the temporary registered user to input another user name through the terminal, if the same user name is already registered in said computer resource list means.

5. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said computer resource list means registers the user name, if the same user name is not registered yet in said computer resource list means.

6. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computer resource list means registers the password, when said registration request processing means receives the password from the terminal of the temporary registered user.

7. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computer resource management means sets an extended use period for the temporary registered user in said computer resource list means, if the temporary registered user inputs an extension registration request through the terminal in reply to the message.

8. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the user identifier of the temporary registered user becomes available as the unused user identifier in said computer resource list means after said computer resource management means deletes the registered information of the temporary registered user in said computer resource list means.

9. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computer resource list means registers a last use date representing a date when the temporary registered user used the computer resource assignment apparatus last.

10. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said computer resource management means checks whether the temporary registered user of the user identifier is presently using the computer resource assignment apparatus by referring to the last use date in said computer resource list means, if the user identifier of which the use period expired exists in said computer resource list means.

11. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said computer resource management means deletes the registered information of the temporary registered user in said computer resource list means, if the temporary registered user of the user identifier is not presently using the computer resource assignment apparatus.

12. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said use period notice means sends a message asking whether the temporary registered user postpones the use period to the terminal of the temporary registered user, if the temporary registered user of the user identifier is presently using the computer resource assignment apparatus.

13. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said computer resource management means sets an extended use period for the temporary registered user in said computer resource list means, if the temporary registered user inputs an extension registration request through the terminal in reply to the message.

14. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said use period notice means notifies the temporary registered user of use completion of the computer resource assignment apparatus through the terminal, if the temporary registered user does not input an extension registration request through the terminal in reply to the message.

15. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said computer resource management means deletes the registered information of the temporary registered user in said computer resource list means, when the temporary registered user finishes using the computer resource assignment apparatus.

16. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an access right information sending means for sending an access right information of the computer resource assigned to the temporary registered user to the terminal of the temporary registered user,

wherein the access right information includes the user identifier and the group identifier of the temporary registered user.

17. The computer resource assignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said registration request processing means confirmatively sends each information to the terminal of the temporary registered user, whenever said computer resource list means registers each information of the temporary registered user.

18. A computer resource assignment method, comprising:

maintaining a plurality of computer resources to be assigned to a temporary registered user in a computer resource pool;

previously storing a plurality of user identifiers to be assigned to the temporary registered user in a computer resource list;

receiving a temporary registration request from a terminal of a user, the user being the temporary registered user;

selecting an unused user identifier from the plurality of user identifiers in the computer resource list;

assigning the unused user identifier as a user identifier to the temporary registered user;

selecting a computer resource of an empty area from the plurality of computer resources in the computer resource pool;

assigning a home directory representing an address of the computer resource to the temporary registered user;

assigning a group identifier representing an access right of the computer resource to the temporary registered user;

setting a use period of the computer resource assigned to the temporary registered user;

correspondingly registering the user identifier, the home directory, the group identifier, the use period, a user name and a password of the temporary registered user in the computer resource list;

sending a message that the present time is near the end of the use period to the terminal of the temporary registered user when the present time is near the end of the use period of the temporary registered user; and

deleting the registered information of the temporary registered user in the computer resource list if the temporary registered user does not input an extension registration request through the terminal in reply to the message.

19. A computer readable memory containing computer-readable instructions, comprising:

instruction means for causing a computer to maintain a plurality of computer resources to be assigned to a temporary registered user in a computer resource pool;

instruction means for causing a computer to previously store a plurality of user identifiers to be assigned to the temporary registered user in a computer resource list;

instruction means for causing a computer to receive a temporary registration request from a terminal of a user, the user being the temporary registered user;

instruction means for causing a computer to select an unused user identifier from the plurality of user identifiers in the computer resource list;

instruction means for causing a computer to assign the unused user identifier as a user identifier to the temporary registered user;

instruction means for causing a computer to select a computer resource of an empty area from the plurality of computer resources in the computer resource pool;

instruction means for causing a computer to assign a home directory representing an address of the computer resource to the temporary registered user;

instruction means for causing a computer to assign a group identifier representing an access right of the computer resource to the temporary registered user;

instructions means for causing a computer to set a use period of the computer resource assigned to the temporary registered user;

instruction means for causing a computer to correspondingly register the user identifier, the home directory, the group identifier, the use period, a user name and a password of the temporary registered user in the computer resource list;

instruction means for causing a computer to send a message that the present time is near the end of the use period to the terminal of the temporary registered user when the present time is near the end of the use period of the temporary registered user; and

instruction means for causing a computer to delete the registered information of the temporary registered user in the computer resource list if the temporary registered user does not input an extension registration request through the terminal in reply to the message.

20. A computer resource assignment apparatus, comprising:

a computer resource pool configured to maintain a plurality of computer resources to be assigned to a temporary registered user;

a computer resource list configured to previously store a plurality of user identifiers to be assigned to the temporary registered user;

a registration request processing unit configured to receive a temporary registration request from a terminal of a user, the user being the temporary registered user;

a computer resource management unit configured to select an unused user identifier from the plurality of user identifiers in said computer resource list, to assign the unused user identifier as a user identifier to the temporary registered user, to select a computer resource of an empty area from the plurality of computer resources in said computer resource pool, to assign a home directory representing an address of the computer resource to the temporary registered user, to assign a group identifier representing an access right of the computer resource to the temporary registered user, and to set a use period of the computer resource assigned to the temporary registered user; and

a use period notice unit configured to send a message that the present time is near the end of the use period to the terminal of the temporary registered user when the present time is near the end of the use period of the temporary registered user,

wherein said computer resource list correspondingly registers the user identifier, the home directory, the group identifier, the use period, a user name and a password of the temporary registered user, and

wherein said computer resource management unit deletes the registered information of the temporary registered user in said computer resource list if the temporary registered user does not input an extension registration request through the terminal in reply to the message.