Information processing system

• US 20040117401A1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Horiuchi, Takashi, Miyata, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/564 by virus signature recognition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Information such as a last scan time and a last update is encrypted and added to a file system that a CPU 132 on a host computer 13 manages. In accordance with the information, host 13 and a scan server work cooperatively. A scan is omitted for a file that is dated earlier than the last scan time, accelerating file access. When a file to be accessed is virus-infected, the user causing the virus infection is specified. Predetermined countermeasures can also be taken.

Claims

1. A computer to read from and write to a file, comprising:

a file attribute information indicating an attribute of the file,

wherein the computer uses the file attribute information to execute a process for ensuring file safety.

3. The computer of claim 1 further comprising:

a database to manage a virus pattern; and

wherein the computer uses the database and the file attribute information to determine whether or not to execute a process to detect a virus for the file.

4. The computer of claim 3 wherein:

the file attribute information contains a last scan time indicating a time when the file was last processed for virus detection; and

the computer uses the last scan time to determine whether or not a process is needed to detect a virus and, when such process is unneeded, omits the process.

5. The computer of claim 4 wherein when the file is updated, the computer updates the last scan time to a specified value.

6. The computer of claim 4 wherein:

the database contains a last update time indicating a time when a pattern of the virus was last updated,

the computer compares the last update time with the last scan time, and

when the last scan time is later than the last update time, the computer omits a process for detecting a virus for the file.

2. A computer to read from and write to a file, comprising:

a file attribute information indicating an attribute of the file,

wherein, when an access request is issued to the file, the computer uses the file attribute information to execute a process for ensuring file safety.

7. The computer of claim 2 wherein:

the file attribute information contains a last updater indicating a user who updated the contents of the file, and

the computer uses the last updater to take security countermeasures against a user corresponding to the last updater.

8. The computer of claim 7 wherein te computer encrypts the file attribute information.

9. The computer of claim 8 wherein the computer uses the serial number as an apparatus encryption key.

10. An information processing system comprising:

a host computer to read and write a file;

a server computer to execute a process for detecting a virus for the file,

wherein the host computer is provided with file attribute information indicating an attribute of the file and uses the file attribute information to execute a process for ensuring file security.

11. The information processing system of claim 10 wherein, when an access request is issued to the file, the computer uses the file attribute information to execute a process for ensuring file safety.

12. The information processing system of claim 10 wherein:

the server computer further comprises a database for managing virus patterns, and

wherein the host computer uses the database and the file attribute information to determine whether or not to execute a process to detect a virus for the file.

13. The information processing system of claim 12 wherein:

the file attribute information contains a last scan time indicating a time when the file is processed last for virus detection; and

the host computer uses the last scan time to determine whether or not a process is needed to detect a virus.

14. The information processing system of claim 13 wherein when the file is updated, the computer updates the last scan time to a specified value.

15. The information processing system of claim 14 wherein:

the database contains a last update time indicating a time when a pattern of the virus is updated last,

the host computer compares the last update time with the last scan time, and

when the last scan time is later than the last update time, the computer omits a process for detecting a virus for the file.

16. The information processing system of claim 11 wherein:

the file attribute information contains a last updater indicating a user who updated the contents of the file last, and

the host computer uses the last updater to take security countermeasures against a user corresponding to the last updater.

17. The information processing system of claim 16 wherein the host computer encrypts the file attribute information.

18. The information processing system of claim 17 wherein the host computer uses an apparatus'"'"' serial number as an encryption key.