COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, CLIENT APPARATUS, RELAY APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM

• US 20140101725A1
• Filed: 04/30/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: SHINODA, Kazumoto
• Granted Patent: US 9,183,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication

Abstract

A communication system includes a client apparatus and a relay apparatus. The client apparatus includes an acquisition unit and a request unit. The acquisition unit acquires permission information indicating permission to access a service provider apparatus, from the service provider apparatus. The request unit transmits the permission information and user identification information which has been input, to the relay apparatus so as to request access to the service provider apparatus. The relay apparatus includes a storage controller and an access unit. The storage controller stores the permission information and the user identification information which are received from the client apparatus, in a storage unit in such a manner that the permission information and the user identification information are associated with each other. The access unit accesses the service provider apparatus by using the permission information stored in the storage unit.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a client apparatus; and

a relay apparatus,

wherein the client apparatus includes

an acquisition unit that acquires permission information indicating permission to access a service provider apparatus, from the service provider apparatus, and

a request unit that transmits the permission information acquired by the acquisition unit and user identification information which has been input, to the relay apparatus so as to request access to the service provider apparatus, and

wherein the relay apparatus includes

a storage controller that stores the permission information and the user identification information which are received from the client apparatus, in a storage unit in such a manner that the permission information and the user identification information are associated with each other, and

an access unit that accesses the service provider apparatus by using the permission information stored in the storage unit.

2. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the request unit transmits data to be stored in the service provider apparatus to the relay apparatus, and

wherein the access unit requests the service provider apparatus to store the data received from the client apparatus.

3. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the request unit transmits data identification information for identifying data stored in the service provider apparatus to the relay apparatus,

wherein the access unit acquires the data identified with the data identification information received from the client apparatus, from the service provider apparatus, and

wherein the relay apparatus further includes a transfer unit that transfers the data acquired by the access unit to the client apparatus.

4. The communication system according to claim 2,

wherein the request unit transmits data identification information for identifying the data stored in the service provider apparatus to the relay apparatus,

wherein the access unit acquires the data identified with the data identification information received from the client apparatus, from the service provider apparatus, and

wherein the relay apparatus further includes a transfer unit that transfers the data acquired by the access unit to the client apparatus.

5. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the acquisition unit requests an issuing apparatus to perform user authentication on the basis of the user identification information which has been input, the issuing apparatus corresponding to the service provider apparatus, accesses the service provider apparatus by using information indicating user certification, the information being issued from the issuing apparatus when the authentication succeeds, and acquires the permission information from the service provider apparatus.

6. The communication system according to claim 2,

wherein the acquisition unit requests an issuing apparatus to perform user authentication on the basis of the user identification information which has been input, the issuing apparatus corresponding to the service provider apparatus, accesses the service provider apparatus by using information indicating user certification, the information being issued from the issuing apparatus when the authentication succeeds, and acquires the permission information from the service provider apparatus.

7. The communication system according to claim 3,

wherein the acquisition unit requests an issuing apparatus to perform user authentication on the basis of the user identification information which has been input, the issuing apparatus corresponding to the service provider apparatus, accesses the service provider apparatus by using information indicating user certification, the information being issued from the issuing apparatus when the authentication succeeds, and acquires the permission information from the service provider apparatus.

8. The communication system according to claim 4,

wherein the acquisition unit requests an issuing apparatus to perform user authentication on the basis of the user identification information which has been input, the issuing apparatus corresponding to the service provider apparatus, accesses the service provider apparatus by using information indicating user certification, the information being issued from the issuing apparatus when the authentication succeeds, and acquires the permission information from the service provider apparatus.

9. A client apparatus comprising:

an acquisition unit that acquires permission information indicating permission to access a service provider apparatus, from the service provider apparatus; and

a request unit that transmits the permission information acquired by the acquisition unit and user identification information which has been input, to a relay apparatus so as to request access to the service provider apparatus.

10. A relay apparatus comprising:

a storage controller that stores permission information and user identification information which are received from a client apparatus in a storage unit in such a manner that the permission information and the user identification information are associated with each other, the permission information indicating permission to access a service provider apparatus, the user identification information having been input into the client apparatus; and

an access unit that accesses the service provider apparatus by using the permission information stored in the storage unit.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process comprising:

acquiring permission information indicating permission to access a service provider apparatus, from the service provider apparatus; and

transmitting the permission information and user identification information which has been input, to a relay apparatus so as to request access to the service provider apparatus.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process comprising:

storing permission information and user identification information which are received from a client apparatus in a storage unit in such a manner that the permission information and the user identification information are associated with each other, the permission information indicating permission to access a service provider apparatus, the user identification information having been input into the client apparatus; and

accessing the service provider apparatus by using the permission information stored in the storage unit.