Patent ID: 7949770
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A data management server that manages data usable by multiple terminal devices, comprising: a storage device in which separate storage areas are respectively allocated for individual users of the terminal devices; a determination unit that determines which of the terminal devices is in a state of being able to access the data management server; and an access management unit, which is responsive to a request from a first terminal device of a first user to access a second separate storage area of the storage device associated with a second user, to permit the first terminal device of the first user to access the data stored in the second separate storage area associated with the second user, if the determination unit determines that a second terminal device of the second user associated with the second separate storage area is in a state of being able to access the data management server, and to deny the first terminal device of the first user access to the data stored in the second separate storage area if the second terminal device of the second user associated with the second separate storage area is not in a state of being able to access the data management server, wherein the separate storage areas of the storage device are comprised centrally in the data management server separate from respective locations of the terminal devices of the users.