Method and Apparatus for Handling Files Containing Confidential or Sensitive Information
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsKulvir Singh Bhogal, Hung The Dinh, Teng Hu, Nizamudeen Ishmael, JR., Mandeep Singh Sidhu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing files in a data processing system. An attribute for a file is specified as having a special designation. The file with the attribute having the special designation is processed, by the operating system, in a different manner from other files when performing operations, such as, for example, copying the file to a removable media, printing the file, or sending the file over a network.
Claims19
-23. (canceled)
A data processing system for managing files, the data processing system comprising:
- a bus system;
- a communications unit connected to the bus system;
- a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions;
- and
- a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to determine whether a confidentiality attribute has been set for a file and a type of file access being requested in response to receiving a file access request from a user application;
- determine whether the type of file access being requested is one of a plurality of pre-specified access types in response to determining that the confidentiality attribute is set;
- and process the file access request using pre-specified confidentiality protection procedures associated with one of the plurality of pre-specified access types in response to determining that the type of file access being requested is the one of the plurality of pre-specified access types.
-26. (canceled)
The data processing system of claim 32, wherein the processing means comprises:
- displaying means for displaying a confidentiality designation.
The data processing system of claim 32, wherein the processing means comprises:
- ensuring means for ensuring the file is encrypted before allowing the file to be sent of the network.
The data processing system of claim 32, wherein the processing means comprises:
- including means for automatically including a confidentiality notice to an email to which the file is attached when sending the file over the network.
The data processing system of claim 32, wherein the processing means comprises:
- adding means for adding a designation to pages printed when printing the file.
The data processing system of claim 32, wherein the processing means comprises:
- displaying means for displaying a statement regarding handling of the file performing one of detaching the file from an email message, copying the file, deleting the file, and moving the file.
A data processing system for managing files, the data processing system comprising a processor capable of executing:
- determining means, responsive to receiving a request to access a file, for determining whether a confidentiality attribute has been set for the file and a type of file access being requested;
- processing means, responsive to determining that the confidentiality attribute is set, for determining whether the type of file access being requested is one of a plurality of pre-specified access types;
- and
- processing means, responsive to determining that the type of file access being requested is one of the plurality of pre-specified access types, for processing the request to access the file using pre-specified confidentiality protection procedures associated with the one of the plurality of pre-specified access types.
-48. (canceled)
A recordable-type medium having a computer program product for managing files, the computer program product comprising:
- first instructions, responsive to receiving a request to access a file, for determining whether a confidentiality attribute has been set for the file and a type of file access being requested;
- second instructions, responsive to determining that the confidentiality attribute is set, for determining whether the type of file access being requested is one of a plurality of pre-specified access types;
- and
- third instructions, responsive to determining that the type of file access being requested is one of the plurality of pre-specified access types, for processing the request to access the file using pre-specified confidentiality protection procedures associated with the one of the plurality of pre-specified access types.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.