File-distribution apparatus and recording medium having file-distribution authorization program recorded therein
View Patent ↗A file-distribution apparatus includes a file-distribution unit configured to distribute an image file received from an image-forming device to a terminal device, a source-reference-information storage unit configured to store source-reference authorization information, and a security-management unit configured to determine whether a source-apparatus identifier corresponding to the image file is included in the source-reference information, and thus permits distribution of the image file if the determination is affirmative, and denies distribution of the image file if the determination is negative.
1. A file-distribution apparatus comprising:
a file-distribution unit configured to distribute to a terminal device an image file and related information received from an image-forming device, wherein the related information includes an authorized-source-user identifier corresponding to the image file and a plurality of file-related elements, wherein the plurality of file-related elements include a file name, an image format, a user ID, a group ID, a source-apparatus identifier, a date when the image file was created, and a time when the image file was created;
a source-reference-information storage unit configured to store source-reference-authorization information, wherein the source-reference-authorization information includes the authorized-source-user identifier corresponding to the image file; and
a security-management unit configured to (i) determine whether the source-apparatus identifier in the related information is included in the source-reference-authorization information, (ii) permit distribution of the image file if the determination is affirmative, and (iii) disable the distribution of the image file if the determination is negative;
a file-allocation-information storage unit configured to store file-allocation information, wherein the file-allocation information includes file-association conditions associated with file-allocation destination addresses and a logical expression of at least one of the plurality of file-related elements; and
a file-allocation-destination determining unit configured to determine a particular allocation-destination address of the received image file on the basis of the related information and the file-allocation information,
wherein, if the file-related information meets the logical expression, the file-distribution unit distributes the file in accordance with the determined particular allocation-destination address corresponding to the logical expression.
2. The file-distribution apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the authorized-source-user identifier includes a public key,
wherein a file that includes the related information and to which a digital signature is attached is received from the image-forming device, and
wherein the security-management unit verifies the digital signature of the file and, if the verification is not passed, deletes the image file without distributing the image file.
3. The file-distribution apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein a file that includes the related information and that is encrypted is received from the image-forming apparatus, and
wherein the file-distribution apparatus further comprises a decryption unit configured to decrypt the file.
4. The file-distribution apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the image-forming apparatus periodically updates the identifier of the apparatus serving as a source, the file-distribution apparatus further comprising:
a source-reference-information update unit configured to update the source-apparatus identifier in the source-reference information in response to the update by the image-forming apparatus.
5. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium in which a file distribution program is recorded, the program, in response to execution by a computing device, causing a computing device to function as:
a file-distribution unit configured to distribute to a terminal device an image file and related information received from an image-forming device, wherein the related information includes an authorized-source-user identifier corresponding to the image file and a plurality of file-related elements, wherein the plurality of file-related elements include a file name, an image format, a user ID, a group ID, a source-apparatus identifier, a date when the image file was created, and a time when the image file was created;
a source-reference-information storage unit configured to store source-reference-authorization information, wherein the source-reference-information includes the authorized-source-user identifier corresponding to the image file; and
a security-management unit configured to (i) determine whether the source-apparatus identifier in the related information is included in the source-reference-authorization information, (ii) permit distribution of the image file if the determination is affirmative, and (iii) disable the distribution of the image file if the determination is negative;
a file-allocation-information storage unit configured to store file-allocation information, wherein the file-allocation information includes file-association conditions associated with file-allocation destination addresses and a logical expression of at least one of the plurality of file-related elements; and
a file-allocation-destination determining unit configured to determine a particular allocation-destination address of the received image file on the basis of the related information and the file-allocation information,
wherein, if the file-related information meets the logical expression, the file-distribution unit distributes the file in accordance with the determined particular allocation-destination address corresponding to the logical expression.