Data management apparatus, data management system, and method of data management

A multifunction peripheral apparatus capable of communication with an authentication server containing affiliation information specifying at least one group that each user belongs to, said multifunction peripheral apparatus comprising:

• a data file storage element for storing data files each in association with the right of access of groups to each data file;
• an authentication element for transferring and receiving data to and from said authentication server to perform user authentication;
• a receiving element for receiving an identification result from said authentication server, said identification result identifying one or more groups that a user authenticated by said authentication element belongs to based on said affiliation information;
• and
• an access permission element for granting to said authenticated user access to a data file to which any of said one or more groups has been granted access,
• wherein said access permission element grants to an authenticated user belonging to a plurality of groups access to a data file to which any of said plurality of groups has been granted access.

A multifunction peripheral apparatus capable of communication with a data storage apparatus storing data files each in association with the right of access of groups to each data file, and capable of communication with an authentication server containing affiliation information specifying at least one group that each user belongs to, said multifunction peripheral apparatus comprising:

• an authentication element for transferring and receiving data to and from said authentication server to perform user authentication;
• a receiving element for receiving an identification result from said authentication server, said identification result identifying one or more groups that a user authenticated by said authentication element belongs to based on said affiliation information;
• and
• an access permission element for granting to said authenticated user access to a data file to which any of said one or more groups has been granted access,
• wherein said access permission element grants to an authenticated user belonging to a plurality of groups access to a data file to which any of said plurality of groups has been granted access.

A method of data management, comprising the steps of:

• a) storing data files in at least one multifunction peripheral apparatus, each of said data files being stored in association with the right of access of groups to each data file;
• b) transferring and receiving data to and from an authentication server to perform user authentication;
• c) receiving an identification result from said authentication server, said identification result identifying one or more groups that a user authenticated in said step b) belongs to based on affiliation information, said affiliation information specifying at least one group that each user belongs to, said affiliation information being stored in said authentication server;
• and
• d) granting to said authenticated user access to a data file to which any of said one or more groups that said authenticated user belongs to has been granted access,
• wherein, in said step d), an authenticated user belonging to a plurality of groups is granted access to a data file to which any of said plurality of groups has been granted access.