Attached file management system, program, information storage medium, and method of managing attached file

An attached file management system for managing information related to an attached file attached to electronic information transmitted and received by a plurality of terminal units, the system comprising:

• intermediation means which intermediates transmission and reception of the electronic information;
• file management means which determines whether electronic information transmitted by a terminal unit contains file-related information including storage location information of a file, and:
• if the file-related information is contained in the electronic information, the file management means updates server storage information stored in a predetermined storage area based on the file-related information;
• and
• if electronic information transmitted by the terminal unit contains the file-related information, server information generation means which generates, based on the server storage information, access information including storage location information of the file and identification information of the file stored in the storage area and serving to access the file,
• wherein the intermediation means transmits the access information to at least one of the terminal unit and at least one other of the plurality of terminal units.

A program for managing an attached file attached to electronic information transmitted and received by a plurality of terminal units, which is a computer-readable program, and causes a computer to function as means comprising:

• intermediation means which intermediates transmission and reception of the electronic information;
• server storage means which stores a plurality of files and server storage information indicating identification information of the relevant files and storage location information in a predetermined storage area;
• file management means which determines whether electronic information transmitted by a terminal unit contains a file and:
• if the file is contained in the electronic information, the file management means determines whether the information exists in the storage area based on the server storage information;
• and
• if the file is not contained in the electronic information, the file management means stores the file in the storage area and updates the server storage information;
• and
• if electronic information transmitted by the terminal unit contains the file, server information generation means which generates, based on the server storage information, access information including storage location information of the file and identification information of the file stored in the storage area and serving to access the file,
• wherein the intermediation means transmits the access information to at least one of the terminal unit and at least one other of the plurality of terminal units.

A program for managing information related to an attached file attached to electronic information, which is a computer-readable program, and causes a computer to function as means comprising:

• intermediation means which intermediates transmission and reception of the electronic information;
• file management means which determines whether electronic information transmitted by a terminal unit contains file-related information including storage location information of a file and:
• if the file-related information is contained in the electronic information, the file management means updates server storage information stored in a predetermined storage area based on the file-related information;
• and
• if electronic information transmitted by the terminal unit contains the file-related information, server information generation means which generates, based on the server storage information, access information including storage location information of the file and identification information of the file stored in the storage area and serves for accessing the file,
• wherein the intermediation means transmits the access information to at least one of the terminal unit and at least one other of the plurality of terminal units.

A method of managing an attached file, which serves to manage information related to an attached file attached to electronic information transmitted and received by a plurality of terminal units, the method including steps in which:

• a transmission-source terminal unit transmits electronic information to a server,
• the server performing the steps of:
• determining whether electronic information transmitted by a terminal unit contains a file, and:
• if the file is contained in the electronic information, determining whether the file exists in a predetermined storage area;
• and
• if the file is not contained in the electronic information, storing the file and server storage information indicating identification information and storage location information of the file in a predetermined storage area;
• if electronic information transmitted by the terminal unit contains the file, generating, based on the server storage information, access information including storage location information of the file and identification information stored in the storage area and serving to access the file;
• and
• transmitting the access information at least to one of the terminal unit and at least one other of the plurality of terminal units.

A method of managing an attached file, which serves to manage information related to an attached file attached to electronic information transmitted and received by a plurality of terminal units, the method including steps in which:

• a transmission-source terminal unit transmits electronic information to a server,
• the server performing the steps of:
• determining whether electronic information transmitted by a terminal unit contains file-related information including storage location information of a file;
• if the file-related information is contained in the electronic information, updating the server storage information stored in a predetermined storage area based on the file-related information;
• and
• generating, based on the server storage information, access information including storage location information of the file and identification information of the file stored in the storage area and serving to access the file;
• and
• transmitting the access information at least to one of the terminal unit and at least one other of the plurality of terminal units.