System and method for manipulating and managing computer archive files
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an archive management application that operates within a host application to provide access to an archive and/or allow access to and/or modification of files in an archive using the host application's interface, instead of operating as a separate standalone archive management application. In an embodiment of the present invention, a file archiving system may include a user interface component, a file management component and a compression/extraction engine component. The user interface component may include an enhanced user interface of a host application that provides an interface for a user. The file management component may include a central directory that provides a representation of the contents of an archive. The compression/extraction engine component may include a file size module and/or a security module. The file size module may be used to compress and/or decompress a file in an archive. The security module may be used to encrypt, decrypt, digitally sign and/or authenticate a file in an archive.
1 . A method for accessing a .Zip archive, said method including:
receiving access data from a user seeking to gain access to a Zip archive;
comparing said access data to security information stored in a repository to determine an access control decision; and
providing access to said Zip archive based on said access control decision.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said repository is located outside of said archive.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein said repository is located inside of said archive.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein said security information includes a digital certificate.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein said security information includes a password.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein said security information includes a plurality of passwords.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein said security information includes a private key.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein said security information includes a public key.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein said security information includes a contingency key.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein said security information includes a segmented key.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein said security information includes biometric data.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein said repository resides on a computing device.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein said repository resides on a portable storage device.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein said repository is a shared repository.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol is used to access said shared repository.
16 . The method of claim 1 wherein access to said archive is restricted to users providing access data matching said security information.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein said data includes a user token.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein said user token is a Universal Serial Bus token.
19 . The method of claim 16 wherein said data includes a portable token.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein said portable token is a portable Smart Card.
21 . The method of claim 16 wherein said data includes biometric data.
22 . The method of claim 16 wherein said data includes a password.
23 . The method of claim 16 wherein said data includes a Personal Identification Number code.
24 . The method of claim 1 wherein said repository includes security information for a plurality of .Zip archives.
25 . The method of claim 1 wherein said repository is accessible by a plurality of computing devices.
26 . The method of claim 1 wherein said repository is accessible from a remote location.
27 . The method of claim 1 wherein said repository is accessible from a plurality of locations.
28 . The method of claim 1 wherein said security information includes key material.
29 . A method for accessing a .Zip archive, said method including:
receiving a request to access a Zip archive, said request including access data;
comparing said access data to security information stored in a repository to determine an access control decision; and
providing access to said .Zip archive based on said access control decision.
30 . A method for determining an access control decision for a .Zip archive:
receiving an access request from a user seeking to access a .Zip archive, said access request including access data;
comparing said access data to security information stored in a repository; and
determining an access control decision based on said comparing.
31 . A method for controlling access to a .Zip archive, said method including:
associating security information with a Zip archive;
storing said security information in a repository outside of said .Zip archive. receiving an access request for said .Zip archive, said access request including access data;
comparing said access data to said security information stored in said repository; and
providing access to said .Zip archive when said access data matches said security information.
32 . A method for controlling access to a archive, said method including:
providing access to a host application;
forming an enhanced host application by combining said host application with an archive management application;
receiving a request to access an archive, said request including access data;
using said enhanced host application to compare said access data to security information stored in a repository to determine an access control decision; and
providing access to said archive based on said access control decision using said enhanced host application.