Information processing apparatus, content management method, and computer-readable non-transitory recording medium encoded with content management program

• US 8,943,553 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Inventors: Teramoto, Keisuke, Morikawa, Takeshi, Yamada, Masami, Ohshima, Atsushi, Torigoshi, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Revak, Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Su, Sarah
• Application Number:
  US13/046,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20110231906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 726/2, 726/3, 726/4, 726/26, 726/27, 726/28, 705/51
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2179 Interfaces allowing access to a plurality of users, e.g. connection to electronic image libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes: a storage portion having a plurality of storage areas; an authentication portion for authenticating a user; a content setting portion for storing content set public by the authenticated user in a public storage area with no access restriction, of the plurality of storage areas of the storage portion, and for storing content set private into a personal storage area accessible only by the authenticated user, of the plurality of storage areas of the storage portion; and an access permission portion for, when a predetermined process is executed on the content set private stored in the personal storage area, making the content set private accessible by others through the public storage area.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a storage portion having a plurality of storage areas; and

a processor that is connected to the storage portion and that;

determines whether a user is authenticated,

stores content set private by the authenticated user into a personal storage area accessible only by the authenticated user, of the plurality of storage areas of the storage portion,

stores content not set private into a public storage area with no access restriction, of the plurality of storage areas of the storage portion,

detects that the authenticated user accesses the content set private stored in the personal storage area,

based on an event of detecting that the authenticated user accesses the content set private, stores into the public storage area data corresponding to the content set private stored in the personal storage area, and

during a time when the authenticated user accesses the content set private is detected, based on an event of detecting that the data stored in the public storage area is accessed, allows a user other than the authenticated user to use the content set private.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor stores as data corresponding to the content set private into said public storage area link information that allows others to access the content set private stored in said personal storage area.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor deletes the link information stored in said public storage area in a case where the detection that the authenticated user accesses the content set private ends.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor:

sets an output form for said content,

converts said content into said set output form, and

outputs said converted content.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor, in response to deletion of the link information stored in said public storage area by said authenticated user, deletes the content stored in said personal storage area that is linked by the link information.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the processor deletes said personal storage area in response to deletion of all the contents stored in said personal storage area.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor copies into said public storage area the content set private stored in said personal storage area.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processor deletes copy content copied into said public storage area in a case where the detection that the authenticated user accesses the content set private ends.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processor sets an output form for said content and converts said content into said set output form.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor:

accepts content, and

sets said accepted content either public or private, and

generates said personal storage area allocated to said authenticated user when said accepted content is set private.

11. A content management method executed in an information processing apparatus including a storage portion having a plurality of storage areas, comprising:

determining whether a user is authenticated;

storing content set private by the authenticated user into a personal storage area accessible only by the authenticated user, of the plurality of storage areas of the storage portion;

storing content not set private into a public storage area with no access restriction, of the plurality of storage areas of the storage portion;

detecting that the authenticated user accesses the content set private stored in the personal storage area;

based on an event of detecting that the authenticated user accesses the content set private, storing into the public storage area data corresponding to the content set private stored in the personal storage area; and

during a time when the authenticated user accesses the content set private is detected, based on an event of detecting that the data stored in the public storage area is accessed, allowing a user other than the authenticated user to use the content set private.

12. A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium encoded with a content management program executed in a computer which controls an information processing apparatus including a storage portion having a plurality of storage areas, said content management program causing said computer to:

determine whether a user is authenticated;

store content set private by the authenticated user into a personal storage area accessible only by the authenticated user, of the plurality of storage areas of the storage portion;

store content not set private into a public storage area with no access restriction, of the plurality of storage areas of the storage portion;

detect that the authenticated user accesses the content set private stored in the personal storage area;

based on an event of detecting that the authenticated user accesses the content set private, store into the public storage area data corresponding to the content set private stored in the personal storage area; and

during a time when the authenticated user accesses the content set private is detected, based on an event of detecting that the data stored in the public storage area is accessed, allow a user other than the authenticated user to use the content set private.