File management apparatus

Abstract

A file management apparatus, connected to a client terminal via a network, includes a file receiving unit that receives a file transmitted from the client terminal; an image processing unit that generates bitmap data and thumbnail data according to the file; a file storage unit that stores therein each of the bitmap data and the thumbnail data in association with the file; a receiving unit that receives a file retrieval instruction transmitted from the client terminal; a determining unit that determines a type of the client terminal or a type of application that runs on the client terminal, based on the file retrieval instruction; and an output unit that outputs one of the file, the bitmap data, and the thumbnail data stored in the file storage unit according to a result of determination.

1 . A file management apparatus connected to a client terminal via a network, the file management apparatus comprising:
 a file receiving unit that receives a file transmitted from the client terminal;   an image processing unit that generates bitmap data and thumbnail data according to the file received by the file receiving unit;   a file storage unit that stores therein each of the bitmap data and the thumbnail data generated by the image processing unit, in association with the file;   a receiving unit that receives a file retrieval instruction transmitted from the client terminal;   a determining unit that determines a type of the client terminal or a type of application that runs on the client terminal, based on the file retrieval instruction received by the receiving unit; and   an output unit that outputs one of the file, the bitmap data, and the thumbnail data stored in the file storage unit according to a result of determination performed by the determining unit.   
     
     
         2 . The file management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the determining unit determines that the application that runs on the client terminal is a slide-show tool, the output unit outputs the thumbnail data to the client terminal.   
     
     
         3 . The file management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the determining unit determines that the client terminal is a mobile phone terminal, the output unit outputs Flash data to the client terminal.   
     
     
         4 . The file management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the determining unit determines that the application that runs on the client terminal is an Web browser, the output unit outputs HTML data to the client terminal.