Patent ID: 7412602

Claim:
A network file system for document images comprising: identification means adapted for securing identification information representative of an identity of each of a plurality of users via an associated thin client interface; means adapted for receiving request data from each user, via each associated thin client interface, representative of each user's request to open a selected data storage location; testing means adapted for testing received identification information from each of the plurality of users to determine approved users privileged to initiate a secure storage operation; security input means adapted for receiving from each approved user security information associated with a selected data storage operation in accordance with an output of the testing means; secure user input means adapted for receiving, from each approved user, secure identity information corresponding to identification of a subset of peer users selected by each user for allowing access to selected electronic documents, which subset corresponds to received security information; allocation means adapted for allocating data storage associated with each selected data storage location, wherein each data storage location is associated with each selecting user; means adapted for storing the identification information and the security information associatively with each selected data storage location; notification means adapted for notifying each of selected subset of users corresponding to each data storage location of the user security information and a location of the selected data storage location; means adapted for receiving document data comprised of a plurality of discrete electronic documents, each electronic document being representative of a document image; means adapted for storing each received document data into a data storage location corresponding to each user in a subset thereof; means adapted for receiving information signaling completion of a data storage operation; and means adapted for restricting access to the selected data storage location upon receipt of the information signaling completion of the data storage operation in accordance with the security information.