Patent ID: 7836075
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A communication system, comprising: a network; a host device connected with the network; and a network storage device connected with the network, the network storage device performing data communication with the host device via the network, wherein the host device includes: a data file request command issuing unit configured to issue, to the network storage device, a data file request command for requesting a data file stored in the network storage device, wherein the data file request command includes an actual file name specifying the requested data file; a data file receiving unit configured to receive the requested data file sent from the network storage device; a data file storing unit configured to store the requested data file received by the data file receiving unit; an attribute file request command issuing unit configured to issue, to the network storage device, an attribute file request command for requesting an attribute file including original attribute information of the requested data file, wherein the attribute file request command includes a virtual file name containing the actual file name specifying the requested data file and an attribute request identifying character string for identifying the attribute file request command; an attribute file receiving unit configured to receive the attribute file sent from the network storage device; and an attribute updating unit configured to update attribute information of the requested data file stored in the data file storing unit with the original attribute information included in the attribute file received by the attribute file receiving unit, and wherein the network storage device includes: a data file sending unit configured to read out the data file requested with the data file request command and send the requested data file to the host device, in response to the data file request command issued by the data file request command issuing unit; an attribute file creating unit configured to read out the original attribute information from the requested data file stored in the network storage device and create the attribute file including the original attribute information, in response to the attribute file request command issued by the attribute file request command issuing unit; and an attribute file sending unit configured to send the attribute file created by the attribute file creating unit to the host device.