File editing system and shared file editing system with file content secrecy, file version management, and asynchronous editing

A shared file editing system, comprising:

• a file management server device for managing files, each file containing a plurality of block data and block identification information for each block data;
• a plurality of client devices, each client device making an access to the file management server device to obtain the block data corresponding to a desired version of a desired file managed by the file management server device, and editing the desired file formed by the block data obtained from the file management server device;
• and
• asynchronous editing support means for supporting asynchronous editing by said plurality of client devices, including:
• editing procedure generation means for generating editing procedure data indicating a procedure to obtain each editing made in the desired file by each client device;
• editing procedure conversion means for converting the editing procedure data for the desired version of the desired file generated by the editing procedure generation means into editing procedure data for a latest version of the desired file;
• and
• record management information generation means for generating record management information indicating a result of the editing made in the desired file by each client device, according to the editing procedure data for the latest version of the desired file obtained by the editing procedure conversion means, such that the file management server device manages the desired file according to the record management information and the block identification information for each block data.

A method of shared file editing in a shared file editing system formed by a file management server device and a plurality of client devices, comprising the steps of:

• managing files at the file management server device, each file containing a plurality of block data and block identification information for each block data;
• making an access to the file management server device to obtain the block data corresponding to a desired version of a desired file managed by the file management server device, at each client device;
• editing the desired file formed by the block data obtained from the file management server device, at each client device;
• generating editing procedure data indicating a procedure to obtain an editing made in the desired file by each client device at the editing step;
• converting the editing procedure data for the desired version of the desired file obtained at the editing procedure data generating step into editing procedure data for a latest version of the desired file;
• and
• generating record management information indicating a result of the editing made in the desired file by each client device at the editing step, according to the editing procedures data for the latest version of the desired file obtained by the converting step, such that the file management server device manages the desired file according to the record management information and the block identification information for each block data.