File management apparatus, method, and program product thereof for sending a file-saving related notice that indicates the contents of the saved file

1. A file management apparatus which manages files recorded in an electronic memory device, comprising:

a timer section;

a save-period monitoring section which monitors a coming to a preset end of a save period for each file in accordance with timing by the timer section, wherein the file is deleted at the end of the save period;

a notice-destination setting section which associates each file with a selected one of a plurality of notice destinations whereby each file is linked to at least one notice destination;

a partial-file making section which makes a single partial file composed of partial contents of a single file, wherein the file comprises a plurality of pages, and the partial file consists of a single page of the respective file, wherein the single page is one of a page of the file that has been accessed most frequently, or a page of the file that has been most recently renewed;

a notifying section which notifies an associated one of said plurality of notice destinations during the save-period of a fact that there is a linked file of which the save period is coming to the preset end; and

a partial-file attaching section which attaches a partial file of the file to a notice by the notifying section.

2. A file management apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a save-period setting section which sets a save period of each file; and

wherein said notice-destination setting section sets a notice destination of each file.

3. A file management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the partial-file making section makes a partial file out of one of plural pages included in a file.

4. A file management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the partial-file making section makes a partial file out of a preview image of a file.

5. A file management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the partial-file making section makes a partial file out of a thumbnail image of a file.

6. A file management apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a partial-file-type setting section which sets which type of a partial file is attached to a notice among one of plural pages included in a file, a preview image of a file, and a thumbnail image of a file,

wherein the partial-file making section makes a partial file in accordance with setting done by the partial-file-type setting section.

7. A file management apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a partial-file-type-setting changing section which changes setting done by the partial-file-type setting section in case volume of a partial file exceeds maximum volume,

wherein in case setting done by the partial-file-type setting section is changed, the partial-file making section remakes a partial file in accordance with setting after change, and

in case a partial file is remade, the partial-file attaching section attaches a remade partial file to a notice by the notifying section.

8. A file management apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a notice-method setting section which sets notice method to a notice destination,

wherein the notifying section conducts notice to a notice destination in accordance with notice method set by the notice-method setting section.

9. A file management apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a notice-timing setting section which sets notice timing by the notifying section;

a save-period re-setting section which gives a notice destination an opportunity to re-set a file-save period when a notice by the notifying section reaches the notice destination; and

an automatic-deletion setting section which sets whether or not a file be deleted automatically in accordance with a reply to a notice by the notifying section.

10. A file management apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a scanner and a printer.

11. A computer implemented file management method for managing files comprising:

a notice-destination setting step for selectively associating each of a plurality of files to be recorded in a recording apparatus with a corresponding one of a plurality of notice destinations whereby each of said plurality of files is linked to a corresponding one of said plurality of notice destinations;

a save period checking step for checking whether or not a preset end of a save period comes with respect to a file which has been recorded in a recording apparatus and of which save period has been set, wherein the file is deleted at the end of the save period;

a partial-file making step for making a single partial file composed of partial contents of a single file for which an end of a save period comes, wherein the file comprises a plurality of pages, and the partial file consists of a single page of the respective file, wherein the single page is one of a page of the file that has been accessed most frequently, or a page of the file that has been most recently renewed; and

a notifying step for notifying an associated one of said plurality of notice destinations of a fact that there is a linked file of which save period is coming to the preset end and for sending a partial file of the file to the one notice destination during the save period.

12. The computer implemented file management method according to claim 11 further comprising:

a save-period setting step for setting a save period of each file to be recorded in a recording apparatus; and

wherein said notice-destination setting step sets a notice destination of each file to be recorded in a recording apparatus.

13. The computer implemented file management method according to claim 11 further comprising a partial-file-type setting step for setting which type of partial file is used as a partial file among one of plural pages included in a file, a preview image of a file, and a thumbnail image of a file,

wherein in the partial-file making step, a partial file is made in accordance with setting at the partial-file-type setting step.

14. The computer implemented file management method according to claim 13 further comprising:

a partial-file-type-setting changing step for accepting change of partial-file types in case volume of a partial file exceeds maximum volume; and

a partial-file remaking step for remaking a partial file in accordance with changed setting in case partial-file-type setting is changed at the partial-file-type-setting changing step,

wherein, in case a partial file is remade, a remade partial file is transmitted in the notifying step.

15. The computer implemented file management method according to claim 11 further comprising a notice-method setting step for setting notice method to a notice destination,

wherein in the notifying step, transmission of a notice and a partial file to a notice destination is conducted in accordance with notice method set at the notice-method setting step.

16. The computer implemented file management method according to claim 11 further comprising:

a notice-timing setting step for setting timing to execute the notifying step; and

an automatic-deletion setting step for setting whether or not a file be deleted automatically in accordance with a reply to a notice at the notifying step,

wherein, in the notifying step, an opportunity to re-set a file-save period is given to a notice destination.

17. The computer implemented file management method according to claim 11 , wherein one of plural of pages included in a file is used as a partial file in the partial-file making step.

18. The computer implemented file management method according to claim 11 , wherein a preview image of file is used as a partial file in the partial-file making step.

19. The computer implemented file management method according to claim 11 , wherein a thumbnail image of a file is used as a partial file in the partial-file making step.

20. A file management program product residing on a computer readable medium which makes a computer execute following:

a notice-destination setting process for selectively associating each of a plurality of files to be recorded with a corresponding one of a plurality of notice destinations whereby each of said plurality of files is linked to a corresponding one of said plurality of notice destinations;

a save period checking process for checking whether a preset end of a save period is approaching with respect to a file which has been recorded in a recording apparatus and of which save period has been set, wherein the file is deleted at the end of the save period;

a partial-file making process for making a single partial file composed of partial contents of a single file for which an end of a save period comes, wherein the file comprises a plurality of pages, and the partial file consists of a single page of the respective file, wherein the single page is one of a page of the file that has been accessed most frequently, or a page of the file that has been most recently renewed; and

a notifying process for notifying one of a plurality of notice destinations of a fact that there is a linked file of which the end of the save period is approaching and for sending a partial file of the file to the one notice destination during the save period.

21. A file management apparatus which manages files recorded in a recording apparatus, comprising:

a notice-destination setting section which associates each file with a selected one of a plurality of notice destinations whereby each file is linked to at least one notice destination;

a timer section;

a calculating section which calculates a notice date for each file in accordance with a preset save-period of each file whereby the notice date occurs during the save period, wherein the file is deleted at the end of the save period;

a notice-date monitoring section which monitors coming of a notice date for each file in accordance with timing by the timer section;

a partial-file making section which makes a single partial file composed of partial contents of a single file, wherein the file comprises a plurality of pages, and the partial file consists of a single page of the respective file, wherein the single page is one of a page of the file that has been accessed most frequently, or a page of the file that has been most recently renewed;

a notifying section which notifies corresponding linked notice destinations before a preset end of a save period for each file when there is a file of which a notice date comes; and

a partial-file attaching section which attaches a partial file of the file to a notice by the notifying section.

22. A computer implemented file management method for managing files, comprising:

a notice-destination setting step for selectively associating each of a plurality of files with a corresponding one of a plurality of notice destinations whereby each of said plurality of files is linked to a corresponding one of said plurality of notice destinations;

a notice-date setting step for setting a notice date of each of said files which have been recorded in a recording apparatus and of which a save period of a file is preset, wherein the file is deleted at the end of the save period;

a notice-date monitoring step for monitoring coming of a notice date for each file;

a partial-file making step for making a single partial file composed of partial contents of a single file of which a notice date comes, wherein the file comprises a plurality of pages, and the partial file consists of a single page of the respective file, wherein the single page is one of a page of the file that has been accessed most frequently, or a page of the file that has been most recently renewed; and

a notifying step for notifying corresponding linked notice destinations before a preset end of a save period for each file and for sending a partial file of the file to the corresponding linked notice destinations during the save period.