Patent ID: 7966460
Filing Date: 2011-06-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An information usage control system including a first information usage control device and one or more second information usage control devices that each provides, upon receipt from a user managed by its own information usage control device a request for usage information for control target information, the user with the usage information for using the control target information, based on usage control information for controlling use of the control target information, wherein the first information usage control device comprises a memory that stores the usage control information which possibly contains permitted device information designating a second information usage control device permitted to use the control target information and usage condition information describing usage condition for the control target information, in relation to the permitted device information, so as to be associated with the control target information, a receiving unit that receives from a requester the request for the usage information for the control target information, an inquiry unit that inquires of the second information usage control device, when the requester is not a user managed by its own information usage control device, about whether or not the requester is managed by the second information usage control device, and a providing unit that provides the requester, when it is found, based on a response in response to the inquiry and the information stored in the memory, that the requester is a user managed by the second information usage control device designated by the permitted device information associated with the control target information, with the usage information for using the control target information, based on the usage condition information in relation to the permitted device information, and the second information usage control device comprises a response unit that sends the response in response to the inquiry from the first information usage control device to the first information usage control device.