Method of managing files in webdav server-embedded image forming apparatus, and image forming system that performs the method

A Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) server-embedded image forming apparatus connectable to a WebDAV client, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• a storage unit to store at least one file;
• a communication interface unit to receive a connection request from the WebDAV client that manages at least one of a directory and the file stored in the storage unit, and receiving login information from the WebDAV client;
• an authentication unit to authenticate the received login information of the WebDAV client;
• a WebDAV server to execute the WebDAV command that is received from the authenticated WebDAV client and controls the file, with respect to at least one of the file and the directory;
• and
• a control unit to execute a process corresponding to the WebDAV command requested by the WebDAV client.

A Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) client-embedded host device connectable to a WebDAV server-embedded image forming apparatus, the host device comprising:

• a WebDAV client to request a connection to the WebDAV server of the image forming apparatus;
• a communication interface unit to transmit login information to the image forming apparatus connected according to the request, to receive a result of authentication from the image forming apparatus, and to receive a list of document boxes corresponding to the login information and a list of WebDAV commands supported by the WebDAV server, according to the result of authentication;
• a user interface unit to receive a selection signal to select at least one file stored in one document box stored in one document box selected from the received list of document boxes and to select one WebDAV command from the received list of WebDAV commands;
• and
• a control unit to request the image forming apparatus to execute a process of managing the selected file according to the selected WebDAV command,
• wherein the communication interface unit transmits information about the selected file, and the selected WebDAV command to the image forming apparatus.

A file management system to manage data files communicated over a network including an HTTP application layer, comprising:

• a WebDAV server to control storage of data files in response to a WebDAV server command;
• an image forming apparatus in communication with the WebDAV server to process data files in response to a WebDAV processing command;
• and
• a host device in communication with the image forming apparatus via the network and including a WebDAV client to generate at least one of a WebDAV server signal including an HTTP data file extension indicating a WebDAV server command and a WebDAV processing signal including an HTTP data file extension indicating a WebDAV processing command.

A file management system to manage data files communicated over a network including an HTTP application layer, comprising:

• a WebDAV server to execute a WebDAV command that is received from an authenticated WebDAV client and controls at least one data file;
• an image forming apparatus including a WebDAV control unit in communication with the WebDAV server to execute a process corresponding to the WebDAV command;
• and
• a host device including a WebDAV client to request a connection to the WebDAV server of the image forming apparatus to select the data file to be process by the image forming apparatus,
• wherein the WebDAV control unit requests the image forming apparatus to execute a process of managing a selected file according to the selected WebDAV command.