Patent ID: 7849099

Claim:
A method of managing document data stored in a memory, the method comprising the steps of: setting, based on a check-out instruction of a first user, update processing of document data stored in the memory in an exclusive state with respect to a second user other than the first user; generating a check-in password required to cancel the exclusive state and storing the generated check-in password in the memory, where the check-in password is not related to first or second user login; informing the first user of the check-in password generated in the generating step; and canceling the exclusive state in case a check-in instruction without the check-in password is entered by the first user and also in case a check-in instruction with the check-in password is entered by the second user who has received the check-in password from the first user, wherein the exclusive state is not canceled when a check-in instruction without the check-in password is entered by the second user.