File transfer system for secure remote file accesses

• US 7,269,635 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sagawa, Nobutoshi, Nishizawa, Itaru, Masuoka, Yoshimasa, Imaki, Tsuneyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne; Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): NANO, SARGON N
• Application Number:
  US10/170,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20030061350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/228, 709/229, 709/248, 709/203, 709/218, 379/88.13, 379/93.24, 340/5.8
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

In a file transfer system, a file stored in a server computer is transmitted to a client computer through a network. A portable mobile apparatus also connectable to the network has a transmission requesting means for requesting the server computer that the user of the mobile apparatus be authenticated and a desired file be transmitted from the server computer to the client computer. The server computer has a communication control unit for transmitting the desired file requested by the mobile apparatus to the client computer after authenticating the user of the mobile apparatus.

Claims

1. A file transfer system for transferring a file stored in a second computer to a first computer through a network in response to a request made by a third computer to transfer the file and in dependence on a result of authentication of the third computer, the first computer being allowed to be used by anyone besides a user of the third computer, the file transfer system comprising:

a fourth computer, which is connected to the network, having a function of receiving the file transmitted from the second computer in response to a request made by the second computer, and a function of transmitting the file to the first computer in response to a request made by the first computer, wherein;

the third computer, which is portable and connectable to the network, has a transmission requesting means for selectively designating a file among files stored in the second computer and requesting the second computer that the third computer be authenticated and the file be transmitted from the second computer to the first computer;

the second computer has a means for finding the file requested by the third computer and a means for transmitting the file to a fourth computer after authenticating the third computer;

the first computer has a means for requesting the fourth computer that the file received from the second computer be transferred to the first computer; and

the fourth computer has a means for transmitting the file to the first computer in response to a request received from the first computer.

2. A file transfer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the transmission means for transmitting the file from the second computer to the fourth computer has an encryption means for encrypting the file prior to transmission of the file; and

the first computer has a decryption means for decrypting the file received from the second computer.