Patent ID: 8438185

Claim:
A file storage apparatus, which provides a file system to a client and provides a workspace to a user and comprises at least one computer: a storage medium configured to store a file; a memory configured to store: file management information, which includes a first access right of the user to the file on the file system; workspace access right information, which includes a second access right of the user to the workspace; workspace file utilization information, which includes a utilization condition of the file on the workspace; account management information, which includes a first account authorized to read the file and a second account authorized to read and edit the file; and workspace file management information, which includes a third access right of the user to the file on the workspace; and a controller, which is configured to: manage, using the at least one computer, the first access right of the user to the file on the file system; process, using the at least one computer, a first access to the file on the file system based on the first access right of the user by referring to the file management information; create, using the at least one computer, the third access right of the workspace file management information based on the first access right of the file management information, the second access right of the workspace access right information and the utilization condition of the file on the workspace file utilization information; when the user accesses the file via the workspace, process, using the at least one computer, a second access to the workspace based on the second access right of the workspace access right information; identify, using the at least one computer, the third access right of the user to the file on the workspace based on the workspace file management information; switch, using the at least one computer, the second access right of the user to the identified third access right; and process, using the at least one computer, an access to the file on the workspace by the identified third access right.