Patent ID: 8261364
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A network system comprising: a plurality of client terminals including a first client terminal and a second client terminal; an administration server; at least one storage device including a plurality of storage units; and a network to connect the client terminals, the administration server, and the storage device to each other, wherein each of the client terminals includes a first sending unit that sends a first request for user authentication to the administration server, the administration server includes a control unit that receives the first request from the first client terminal; determines whether the first request is for authentication of a specific user who is in a log-in state via the second client terminal; when the first request is not for the specific user, creates a password that is required for the first client terminal to access a specific one of the storage units, stores the password into a database, and sends information on the specific storage unit and the password to the first client terminal; and when the first request is for the specific user, performs either one of a first control or a second control, the first control including creating a new password; updating the database by replacing an old password that is required for the specific user to log-in to the network via the second client terminal with the new password; and sending information on the specific storage unit and the new password to the first client terminal, and the second control including determining that the first request is disapproval; and sending a result of disapproval to the first client terminal, and each of the client terminals further includes a second sending unit that sends a second request to access the specific storage unit to the storage device, the second request containing the password, the storage device includes a confirming unit that confirms, upon receiving the second request from any one of the first client terminal and the second client terminal, whether the password contained in the second request is authenticated by the administration server; and when the confirming unit confirmed that the password is authentic, an approval unit that approves the second request.