(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2001/0028363 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Oct. 11, 2001
`NOmoto et al.
`
`US 2001 0028363A1
`
`(54) METHOD FOR RECEIVING AND
`MANAGING ELECTRONIC FILES AND
`FILE-MANAGING DEVICE USED
`THEREFOR
`(75) Inventors: Junichi Nomoto, Tokyo (JP); Ryuichi
`Noshiro, Ichikawa-shi (JP); Akira
`Atsumi, Tokyo (JP); Masataka
`Yamamoto, Kitamoto-shi (JP); Kazuo
`Matsuda, Tokyo (JP)
`Correspondence Address:
`Michael A. Jaffe
`ARTER & HADDEN LLP
`1100 Huntington Building
`925 Euclid Avenue
`Cleveland, OH 44115-1475 (US)
`(73) Assignee: Mitsubishi Corporation and Starnet
`Co., Ltd.
`(21) Appl. No.:
`09/740,395
`(22) Filed:
`Dec. 19, 2000
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Apr. 10, 2000 (JP)...................................... 2000-108625
`Sep. 26, 2000 (JP)...................................... 2OOO-292.864
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl." ......................... G06F 15/173; G06F 17/30
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................ 345/748; 345/853; 707/10;
`707/527
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Provided is a file Storing-and-managing method and device,
`for receiving, Storing and managing electronic files over the
`Internet, the method and device including an effective and
`easy-to-operate GUI which can be operated Visually and
`intuitionally without causing any StreSS. The file-managing
`device Sends a graphical operation page to a user-computer
`connected over the Internet. The operation page includes a
`description (5) of the structure showing how the received
`files are Stored in the file-managing device and a description
`(7) of the structure showing how local files are stored in the
`user-computer, So that a user can easily upload and down
`load files through graphical and intuitional operations of this
`page. Further, the file-managing device createS preview
`image data which is provided for previewing of the
`received-file and which has a data-Size Smaller than the
`original received-file. This preview image data is associated
`to and managed with the original received-file. When there
`is an instruction from the user where he wishes to preview
`a received-file, the file-managing device Sends the preview
`image data to the user-computer instead of the whole
`received-file, and a small window (9) showing a preview
`image according to the preview image data is displayed on
`the user-computer.
`
`Adobe - Exhibit 1005, page 1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 11, 2001 Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 2001/0028363 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`(WEB SERVER S)
`
`MEMBER COMPUTER 3
`
`
`
`MEMBER COMPUTER 3
`
`MEMBER COMPUTER 3
`
`F.G. 1
`
`Adobe - Exhibit 1005, page 2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Oct. 11, 2001 Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 2001/0028363 A1
`
`
`
`Adobe - Exhibit 1005, page 3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 11, 2001 Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 2001/0028363 A1
`
`(A)
`
`(B)
`
`LOGN PROCEDURE
`
`SEND ING OF
`OPERATION PAGE
`
`RECEW NG OF
`UPLOADED DATA
`
`JUDGE ATTR BUTE OF
`UPLOADED DATA
`
`CREATE PREVIEW
`MAGE DATA
`
`STORE PREVIEW
`MAGE DATA
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`LOGN PROCEDURE
`
`SENDING OF
`OPERATION PAGE
`
`SELECT FILE
`
`JUDGE ATR BUTE OF
`SELECTED FLE
`
`S THERE
`PREWEY MAGE
`DATA FOR
`SELECTED F LE?
`
`ENABLE "WEW
`PREVIEW IMAGE."
`COMMAND IN MENU
`
`
`
`DSABLE "WEW
`PREVIEW IMAGE”
`COMMAND IN MENU
`
`
`
`ACCEPT REQUEST FOR
`PREVEW MAGE DATA
`
`
`
`SEND PREVIEW MAGE
`DATA TO MEMBER
`COMPUTER
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Adobe - Exhibit 1005, page 4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Oct. 11, 2001 Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 2001/0028363 A1
`
`(A)
`
`LOGN PROCEDURE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SEND NG OF
`OPERATION PAGE
`
`ACCEPT INSTRUCT ON
`TO MAKE A CERTAN
`RECE WED-FILE
`WEWABLE
`
`CREATE URL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CREATE FOLDER
`CORRESPONDING TO
`THE URL
`
`
`
`COPY WEWABLE
`RECEIVED-FILE TO
`CREATED FOLDER
`
`CREATE LINK TO
`COPY OF WEWABLE
`RECEIVED-FILE
`
`SET TIME PERIOD FOR
`VIEW PERMISSION
`
`SET PASSWORD
`
`SEND URL
`NOT FICATION PAGE
`
`
`
`(B)
`ACCEPT ACCESS
`ACCORDING TO URL
`
`SEND PAGE FOR
`INPUTTNG PASSWORD
`
`RECEIVE PASSWORD
`
`DO THE URL AND
`< PASSWORD
`CORRESPOND?
`
`
`
`SEND A PAGE
`LISTING WIEWABLE
`RECEIVED-FILES
`
`ACCEPT INSTRUCTION
`TO SELECT WEWABLE
`RECEIVED-FLE
`
`TRANSFER THE
`FILE BY FTP
`
`FIG. 4
`
`DISPLAY ERROR PAGE
`
`Adobe - Exhibit 1005, page 5
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 11, 2001 Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 2001/0028363 A1
`
`(A)
`
`(B)
`
`LOGIN Procture
`
`LOGN PROCEDURE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SEND ING OF
`OPERATION PAGE
`
`RECEIVE INSTRUCT ON
`TO CREATE SHARE FE
`
`CREATE SHARE FILE
`
`RECEIVE INSTRUCT ON
`TO DESIGNATE
`PARTICULAR MEMBER
`
`COPY CERAN FLE
`O SHARE FOLDER
`
`SET WAD TME
`PERIOD TO PERMIT
`WEW OF SHARE FODER
`
`
`
`WTHN WALD
`TIME PER, OD?
`
`SEND OPERATION
`PAGE WITHOUT SHARE
`FOLDER
`
`SEND OPERATION
`PAGE INCLUDING
`SHARE FOLDER
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Adobe - Exhibit 1005, page 6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(A)
`
`LOGIN PROCEDURE
`
`SEND ING OF
`OPERATION PAGE
`
`SET PASSWORD FOR
`SENDING FILE
`
`SET CONDITIONS FOR
`PERMITTING RECEPT
`OF FILE
`
`Oct. 11, 2001 Sheet 6 of 6
`(B)
`|LocI PROCEDURE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SENDING OF
`OPERATION PAGE
`
`RECEIVE INFORMATION
`DESIGNATING WHCH
`MEMBER TO SEND FILE
`
`ACCEPT PASSWORD
`FOR SEND ING FILE
`
`DOES THE PASSWORD
`MATCH THE
`PASSWORD SET BY
`RECEIVER
`
`NO
`
`RECEIVE INSTRUCTION
`TO SELECT SEND ING
`FLE
`
`TRANSFER SELECTED
`FILE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`US 2001/0028363 A1
`
`SEND ERROR PAGE
`
`
`
`DOES TRANSFERRED
`< FLE MEET
`RECE WING
`CONDITION?
`
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE
`TRANSFERRED FLE
`
`REJECT TRANSFERRED
`FLE
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Adobe - Exhibit 1005, page 7
`
`

`

`US 2001/0028363 A1
`
`Oct. 11, 2001
`
`METHOD FOR RECEIVING AND MANAGING
`ELECTRONIC FILES AND FILE-MANAGING
`DEVICE USED THEREFOR
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0001. The present application claims priority upon Japa
`nese Patent Application No. 2000-108.625 filed on Apr. 10,
`2000, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-292864
`filed on Sep. 26, 2000, which are herein incorporated by
`reference.
`0002) 1. Field of the Invention
`0003. The present invention relates to a method for
`receiving electronic files over the Internet and Storing and
`managing the files in an appropriate Storage resource, and
`also to a file-managing device, which functions as a Web
`Server on the Internet, to which Such method is applied.
`0004 2. Description of the Related Art
`0005. There have been Web sites on the Internet which
`provide Service Such as receiving, Storing and managing
`electronic files owned by individuals. In Such a Service, an
`individual become a member of the Service by Signing up
`through an online Sing-up page, and then a predetermined
`amount of Space in a storage resource is allocated to each
`member for Storing his files. Then, a member accesses the
`Web server of the Web site using a Web browser installed in
`his computer, receives a Web page for operation, and uses
`this page for uploading a file Stored in his computer to the
`Storage resource of the Web server or for downloading a file
`Stored in the Storage resource to his computer.
`0006 For example, such a service can be used to save
`Space in a hard disk of a user's computer. Storing and
`managing files in a Web Server, rather than in a local hard
`disk, would be extremely beneficial especially for computers
`having a Small amount of memory, Such as PDAS, lap-top
`computers and mobile phones capable of accessing the
`Internet.
`0007 Further, such a service will enable a user to access
`his file anytime and anywhere over the Internet. For
`example, it would become possible for a user to share a file
`with a computer at his home and a computer in his office.
`Furthermore, files having been uploaded to the Web server
`will be securely maintained by the service-provider which
`provides the file receiving-and-managing Service; that is,
`back-up files will be kept and virus checks will be conducted
`by the Service-provider. Therefore, Such a Service is appro
`priate for managing important files.
`0008. In such a file receiving-and-managing service,
`Since files which were managed by each individual are
`collected together and managed in one Storage resource,
`considerable Saving in resource and cost and efficient man
`agement of information resource Such as hard disks can be
`realized. Therefore, it is expected that the demand for Such
`a Service will increase in the future as the network environ
`ment becomes more high-Speed and inexpensive.
`0009 Meanwhile, there are cases in which the above
`mentioned file receiving-and-managing Service relies on a
`commercial base Such as advertisement income. In Such a
`case, customer acquisition is one important task in running
`the Service. However, alike any other Service on the Internet,
`it will not be possible to acquire permanent users if the
`
`mechanism of the Service is complicated, or if the Service is
`to force a user to conduct complicated operations, even if the
`Service has Superior features.
`0010 Particularly, in the file receiving-and-managing
`Service, data management tends to become complicating and
`troublesome as the amount of files and folders created in the
`Storage resource increases. In the meantime, local files and
`folderS Stored in a hard disk of the user's local computer
`must simultaneously be managed, which is also quite
`troublesome. Thus, in order to acquire many permanent
`users, it is important to provide a user-friendly operation
`environment which will enable a user to handle Such files
`and folders intuitionally and visually.
`0011
`Furthermore, in Such a file receiving-and-managing
`Service, files having a size much larger than contents
`handled by usual Web sites are frequently uploaded and
`downloaded. Uploading and downloading of Such large files
`will take a lot of time and thus become irritating. Therefore,
`it is necessary to provide a StreSS-free operation environment
`in which a user can conduct an operation at ease, even at
`about 64 kbps, which is a communication Speed used by an
`average PC user.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0012. It is an object of this invention to provide a method
`for receiving, Storing and managing files, and a file-manag
`ing device used therefor which is provided with a user
`interface that can be operated intuitionally and Visually and
`thus being user-friendly and stress-free, and which enables
`received-and-Stored files to be shared among a plurality of
`users while maintaining Security.
`0013. One aspect of a method of managing electronic
`files according to the present invention uses a file-managing
`device and at least one member computer mutually con
`nected over the Internet. Here, the member computer is
`provided with a Web browser and is operated by a member.
`The file-managing device functions as a Web Server, Stores
`and manages a plurality of received-files entrusted and
`received from the member computer in an appropriate
`Storage resource, and manages member verification infor
`mation, Such as member IDS and therewith associated pass
`words, and received-file location information respectively
`for each member. The method comprises the following
`Steps: Step 1 wherein the file-managing device verifies
`whether if the member computer accessing the file-manag
`ing device is authorized to access by using the above
`mentioned member Verification information, and Sends file
`operating-Web-data and an associated program to the
`member computer after Verification; Step A wherein the
`file-operating-Web-data and the associated program, which
`are Sent to and working on the member computer, display a
`received file storage Structure diagram (RFSS diagram),
`which is configured according to the above-mentioned
`received-file location information for the present member,
`on a display of the member computer; Step B wherein the
`file-operating-Web-data and the associated program display
`a local file storage structure diagram (LFSS diagram) on the
`display of the member computer by checking an information
`Structure of an external Storage of the member computer;
`Step C wherein, when a user of the member computer Selects
`a certain file shown in the LFSS diagram, designates a folder
`shown in the RFSS diagram, and demands to upload the
`
`Adobe - Exhibit 1005, page 8
`
`

`

`US 2001/0028363 A1
`
`Oct. 11, 2001
`
`selected file to the designated folder, the file-operating-Web
`data and the associated program read out the Selected file
`from the external Storage, and Send the Selected file to the
`file-managing device along with an instruction to Store the
`Selected file in the designated folder of the present member;
`step D wherein, when the user of the member computer
`Selects a certain received-file in the RFSS diagram, desig
`nates a folder shown in the LFSS diagram, and demands to
`download the Selected received-file to the designated folder,
`the file-operating-Web-data and the associated program Send
`to the file-managing device a download instruction to Send
`the Selected received-file to the member computer; Step 2
`wherein, when the above-mentioned Step C is executed, the
`file-managing device receives the Selected file from the
`member computer, and Stores the file in the designated folder
`of the present member; step 3 wherein, when the above
`mentioned Step D is executed, the file-managing device
`receives the download instruction, reads out the Selected
`received-file from the Storage, and Sends the received-file to
`the member computer; Step 4 wherein, along with the
`above-mentioned Step 2, the file-managing device creates a
`preview image databased on the contents of the file received
`from the member computer; the preview image data
`expressed in a predetermined data format So that it has a data
`Size Smaller than the original file, Step 5 wherein the
`file-managing device associates the preview image data to
`the original file and Stores the preview image data in an
`appropriate Storage resource, Step E wherein, when the user
`of the member computer demands to view the contents of a
`specific file shown in the RFSS diagram, the file-operating
`Web-data and the associated program send an instruction to
`the file-managing device to Send the preview image data of
`the specified file to the member computer; step F wherein the
`file-operating-Web-data and the associated program receive
`the preview image data Sent from the file-managing device,
`and display the contents of the preview image data on the
`display of the member computer, and Step 6 wherein, when
`the above-mentioned Step E is executed, the file-managing
`device receives the instruction to Send the preview image
`data, reads out the preview image data for the Specified file,
`and Sends the data to the member computer.
`0.014. According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the method of managing electronic files may further
`comprise: Step G wherein, when the user of the member
`computer Specifies a file in the RFSS diagram and demands
`to permit the specified file to be viewed by others, the
`file-operating-Web-data and the associated program, work
`ing on the member computer, Send an instruction to the
`file-managing device to make the Specified file viewable to
`others, Step 7 wherein, when Step G is executed and the
`instruction is received, the file-managing device creates in
`the Storage resource a folder associated to a particular URL,
`copies the Specified file and the thereto-associated preview
`image data to the folder, and informs the member computer
`of the URL over the Internet; and step 8 wherein the
`file-managing device receives, from an apparatuS Such as the
`member computer or any other computer through the Inter
`net, a download-request to download a file or the thereto
`asSociated preview image data Stored in the folder located by
`the URL, and Sends the requested file or the preview image
`data to the apparatus that Sent the download-request.
`0.015 According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the method of managing electronic files may further
`comprise: Step 9 wherein, along with the execution of Step
`
`7, the file-managing device creates an access password when
`creating the folder associated to the URL, and associates the
`access password to the Specified file; and Step 10 wherein,
`along with the execution of Step 8, the file-managing device
`receives a password String from the apparatus when receiv
`ing the download-instruction, matches the password String
`with the access password, and permits the Specified file or
`the preview image data to be downloaded only when the
`password String has been Verified as the correct password.
`0016. According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the method of managing electronic files may further
`comprise: Step 11 wherein the file-managing device attaches
`a time-period-limiting information to the file copied to the
`folder at the URL, and permits downloading of the file only
`during the period of time determined by the time-period
`limiting information.
`0017 According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the method of managing electronic files may further
`comprise: Step 12 wherein the file-managing device
`receives, from the member computer over the Internet, a
`URL information concerning where a file desired to be
`downloaded is located, an information Specifying a date
`and-time at which the desired file is downloaded, and a
`folder-designation information concerning a designation of
`a folder existing in the Storage resource to which the desired
`file is downloaded; and Step 13 wherein, when the date-and
`time according to the date-and-time information arrives, the
`file-managing device downloads through the Internet the
`desired file stored at the URL to the folder designated by the
`folder-designation information.
`0018. According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the file-managing device may manage a share folder,
`for each member, which is a folder for storing files that are
`Viewable only to particular members, and the method may
`comprise: step H wherein, when the user of the member
`computer Selects a file in the RFSS diagram and Specifies
`another member to permit him to view the selected file, the
`file-operating-Web-data and the associated program work
`ing on the member computer Send to the file-managing
`device a member-specifying-data for Specifying the other
`member permitted to view the file; step 14 wherein, when
`the member-specifying-data is received upon execution of
`Step H, the file-managing device associates the other mem
`ber to the share folder; and step 15 wherein, when the
`above-mentioned Step C is executed and an instruction to
`Store a certain file in the Share folder is received, the
`file-managing device Stores the certain file in the Share
`folder, and Stores a copy of the certain file in an appropriate
`folder of the other member associated to the share folder.
`0019. According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the file-managing device may manage, for each mem
`ber, at least one type-accorded folder for exclusively storing
`files having a particular file-type, and the method may
`comprise: Step I wherein, when the user of the member
`computer Selects a file in the LFSS diagram, and demands
`the Selected file to be uploaded without designating a folder
`in the RFSS diagram, the file-operating-Web-data and the
`asSociated program working on the member computer make
`the member computer read out the selected file from the
`external Storage, and Send to the file-managing device an
`instruction to Store the Selected file in the appropriate
`type-accorded folder according to the file-type of the
`
`Adobe - Exhibit 1005, page 9
`
`

`

`US 2001/0028363 A1
`
`Oct. 11, 2001
`
`Selected file, and Step 16 wherein the file-managing device
`determines the file-type of the Selected file Sent according to
`the above-mentioned Step I, and Stores the file in the proper
`type-accorded folder according to its file-type.
`0020. According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the file-managing device may manage, for each mem
`ber, at least one type-accorded folder for exclusively storing
`files having a particular file-type, and the method may
`comprise: Step 17 wherein, when the above-mentioned Step
`C is executed and an instruction to Store a certain file in the
`share folder is received, the file-managing device Stores the
`file in the Share folder, and Stores a copy of the file in a
`proper type-accorded folder of the other member associated
`to the Share folder according to the file-type of the copied
`file.
`0021 According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the method of managing electronic files may comprise:
`Step 19 wherein, when the above-mentioned process I is
`executed and there is sent an instruction to upload a file
`without designating a folder, or, when the file-managing
`device determines that there is no type-accorded folder
`asSociated to the file-type of a file Sent along with an
`instruction to Store the file in the share folder according to
`the above-mentioned Step C, the file-managing device cre
`ates a new type-accorded folder associated to the file-type of
`the file, and Stores the file in the new type-accorded folder.
`0022. According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the method of managing electronic files may comprise:
`step J wherein, when the user of the member computer
`creates a new folder in the RFSS diagram and demands to
`make the new folder a type-accorded folder by associating
`a file-type to the new folder, the file-operating-Web-data and
`the associated program working on the member computer
`Send an instruction to create a new type-accorded folder to
`the file-managing device; and Step 19 wherein the file
`managing device creates a new type-accorded file for exclu
`Sively storing files having a particular file-type according to
`the instruction Sent by execution of the above-mentioned
`Step J.
`0023. According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the method of managing electronic files may comprise:
`Step K wherein, when the user of the member computer
`creates a comment data having a particular format and
`demands to upload a file selected from the LFSS diagram
`along with the comment data, the file-operating-Web-data
`and the associated program working on the member com
`puter Send to the file-managing device the Selected file read
`out from the external Storage and the comment data; Step L
`wherein, when the user of the member computer Selects a
`file from the RFSS diagram and demands to view the
`contents of a comment of the Selected file, the file-operating
`Web-data and the associated program working on the mem
`ber computer Send an instruction to the file-managing device
`to send the comment data of the selected file to the member
`computer; step M wherein the file-operating-Web-data and
`the associated program working on the member computer
`receive the comment data Sent from the file-managing
`device and display the contents of the comment on the
`display of the member computer; step 20 wherein the
`file-managing device receives the file Sent by execution of
`the above-mentioned Step K, associates the comment data to
`the file from which the comment data originated, and Stores
`
`the comment data in an appropriate Storage resource; and
`Step 21 wherein, when the instruction to Send the comment
`data of the selected file is received from the member
`computer or other member computers executing the above
`mentioned Step L, the file-managing device reads out the
`comment data and sends the comment data to the member
`computer or the other member computers which Sent the
`instruction.
`0024. According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the method of managing electronic files may comprise:
`step N wherein, when the user of the member computer
`demands to associate the created comment data to a file
`designated in the RFSS diagram, the file-operating-Web
`data and the associated program working on the member
`computer Send to the file-managing device the comment data
`along with information for designating the file to which the
`comment data is associated; and Step 22 wherein the file
`managing device receives the comment data Sent by execu
`tion of the above-mentioned Step N, associates the comment
`data to the designated file, and Stores the comment data in an
`appropriate Storage resource.
`0025) Further, one aspect of a file-managing device
`according to the present invention is applicable to the
`above-mentioned method for managing electronic files.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0026. For a more complete understanding of the present
`invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made
`to the following description taken in conjunction with the
`accompanying drawings wherein:
`0027 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network structure in
`which a member computer and a file-managing device
`according to one embodiment of the present invention are
`connected;
`0028 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a
`displayed image of an operation page according to one
`embodiment of the present invention;
`0029 FIG. 3 describes an outline of a preview function
`according to one embodiment of the present invention,
`wherein
`0030 FIG. 3(A) is a flow chart showing a procedure in
`which a preview image data is created, and
`0031 FIG. 3(B) is a flow chart showing a procedure in
`which a preview image data is viewed;
`0032 FIG. 4 describes an outline of a function which
`enables other users to view a received-file according to one
`embodiment of the present invention, wherein
`0033 FIG. 4(A) is a flow chart describing a procedure
`for setting a URL where the file can be viewed, and
`0034 FIG.4(B) is a flow chart describing a procedure for
`showing the file to others,
`0035 FIG. 5 describes a function enabling other mem
`bers to view a received-file according to the “public
`method’, wherein
`0036 FIG. 5(A) is a flow chart describing a procedure
`for Storing a file in a share folder, and
`
`Adobe - Exhibit 1005, page 10
`
`

`

`US 2001/0028363 A1
`
`Oct. 11, 2001
`
`0037 FIG.5(B) is a flow chart describing a procedure for
`permitting view of the share folder; and
`0.038
`FIG. 6 describes a function enabling other mem
`bers to view a received-file according to the “transferring
`method’, wherein
`0039 FIG. 6(A) is a flow chart describing a procedure
`for Setting transferring conditions, and
`0040 FIG. 6(B) is a flow chart describing a procedure for
`permitting view of the transferred file.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`0041 One embodiment of a file-managing device and a
`file receiving-and-managing method mainly using the above
`device according to one embodiment of the present inven
`tion will be described below with reference to the attached
`drawings.
`0.042
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of an Internet-connected
`network including the file-managing device 1 according to
`one embodiment of the present invention. The file-managing
`device 1 is composed of one or a plurality of computers
`(Such as personal computers, work Stations or mainframes),
`and has basic functions of a Web Server. The file-managing
`device 1 communicates with member computers 3 over the
`Internet, and provides Service of receiving, Storing and
`managing files. The member computers 3 are computers
`which are operated by members who have signed-up to
`obtain the file receiving-and-managing Service, and are
`connected to the Internet. <<Sign-up Procedure>>
`0.043 A person who wishes to obtain the file receiving
`and-managing Service provided by the file-managing device
`1 must, in beforehand, Sign-up as a member through a
`“sign-up Web page”. A Web page (hereinafter referred to
`merely as “page') is a document or file written using
`languages such as HTML or XML which can be interpreted
`by Web browsers. The Sign-up page is a free-access page
`opened to the public provided by the Web server function (or
`the Web server) of the file-managing device 1. When the
`file-managing device 1 receives a request from a computer
`to access to the URL of the Sign-up page, the Web Server
`Sends the Sign-up page back to that computer. The perSon
`who is operating the computer enters information, Such as
`his individual information and password, to the Sign-up page
`displayed on his computer, and Sends the information back
`to the Web Server through appropriate operation. Upon
`receipt of the information, the Web server creates a member
`ID for that person, and stores the information from that
`person (i.e., the individual information and password) in an
`appropriate Storage device along with the member ID. (The
`information having been Stored is hereinafter referred to as
`“member information”.) Then, the Web server sends a
`message to inform the person that he has been registered as
`a member of the service, and to inform him of his member
`ID. <<Storage Resource>>
`0044) The file-managing device 1 comprises a large-scale
`Storage resource which is composed of external devices Such
`as hard-disks and DVD-RAMs. The file-managing device 1
`receives files from a member through the Internet (herein
`after referred to as “received-files”), classifies and stores the
`received-files in "folders' in the Storage resource, and man
`ages these files. In the present embodiment, a "file' is an
`
`entity of data recorded according to a certain rule, and has
`the same meaning as the term “file” used in MS-DOS
`(trademark) and UNIX (trademark). A “folder” is a location
`in which files and programs are Stored, and has the same
`meaning as the term “directory” in MS-DOS and UNIX. It
`is possible to further create (or nest) another folder within
`one folder. Each of the files and folderS Stored and managed
`in the Storage resource accompanies a file ID and folder ID,
`respectively. Further, a file accompanies a folder ID to which
`it is Stored, and each file and folder accompanies a member
`ID. Furthermore, each received-file and folder accompanies
`attribute data Such as file/folder name, the date in which the
`file/folder was created, date in which the file/folder was
`refreshed, data Size and data type. The file-managing device
`1 Systematically manages the location information of the
`received-files of each member according to the IDS accom
`panying each file and folder.
`0045 <<Usagedd
`0046) When a member wants to use the storage resource,
`the member operates his member computer 3 to access a
`“utilization page” which is provided by the Web server. The
`Web server sends the utilization page back to the member
`computer 3. The member computer 3 displays the utilization
`page through the Web browser and encourages the user (i.e.,
`member) to enter his member ID and password (hereinafter
`called “verification information”). Then, the verification
`information is sent back to the Web server. The Web server
`receives the verification information from the member com
`puter 3, and checks the Verification information against the
`above-described member information. If the person who
`Sent the verification information is determined to be an
`authorized member, the Web server sends an “operation
`page' to the member computer 3.
`0047 An "operation page” accompanies an associated
`program and file operating Web data. The "asSociated pro
`gram' is a program which can be executed in connection
`with a Web browser such as Java applet (trademark), Java
`Script (trademark), Java Servlet (trademark), VBScript
`(trademark), CGI (trademark) and so forth. The “file oper
`ating Web data' is data created by the file-managing device
`1 upon Sending the operation page, and it includes the
`above-described location information regarding the
`received-files and folders of the member and the accompa
`nying attribute data. The associated program and the file
`operating Web data realize the functions of the operation
`page.
`0048. The member computer 3 receives the operation
`page and displays the operation page on its Web browser as
`shown in FIG. 2. As in FIG. 2, the operation page includes
`a “received-file Storage Structure diagram'5 and a “local file
`Storage Structure diagram'7. The received-file Storage Struc
`ture diagram 5 (hereinafter referred to as RFSS diagram 5)
`visually shows the state of the directory structure of the
`member's folders and received-files managed by the file
`managing device 1. The local file Storage Structure diagram
`7 (herein referred to as LFSS diagram 7) visually shows the
`state of the directory structure of the folders and files stored
`in an external Storage drive, Such as a hard disk, which is
`locally connected to the member computer 3. The file
`operating Web data and the accompanying program creates
`these diagrams 5 and 7.
`0049 General