System and method for cross platform document sharing

Abstract

This invention discloses a novel system and method for automatically managing the movement of document files from a first document storage sub-system to a second document storage sub-system, tracking such movement and applying security policies before the movement is completed.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method executed by a computer system for automatically managing the movement of document files from a first document file storage system comprised of a first computer to a second document file storage system external to the first comprised of a second computer comprising:
 opening a file open type dialog on a user interface displayed by a computer operated by a user operatively connected to the first computer comprising the first document file storage system;   receiving a first set of at least one parameter defining metadata associated with the document file and storing the received at least one parameter in a data structure corresponding to the document file, the data structure residing on the first document file storage system;   automatically generating a second set of at least one parameters defining metadata associated with the document file;   transmitting to the second document file storage system the second set of at least one parameters;   storing the document file on the second document file storage system; and   updating the data structure residing on the first document file storage system corresponding to the document file with data representing an identity of the second file document storage system.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising storing in the data structure on the first document file storage system data representing a mapping of attributes of a first organization paradigm associated with the first document file storage system to attributes of a second organization paradigm associated with the second document file storage system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising updating the data structure associated with the document file with data representing an identity of a user operating the first computer and inputting the first parameter set. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising updating the data structure associated with the document file with data representing a time value when the storage on the second document file storage system occurred. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising storing a copy of the document file on a storage location internal to the first document file storage system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the opening of the file open type dialog is initiated by intercepting a first file open type process of a first program application and re-directing control of the system to a second program that executes a second file open type process. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising operating a document security policy check process against the file prior to transmitting the document file to the second storage system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, based on the result of the security policy check process, converting the document file from a first format to a second format. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, based on the result of the security policy check process, removing hidden metadata or comment data from the document file. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, based on the result of the security policy check process, modifying the document file to remove or obscure confidential information. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, based on the result of the security policy check process, preventing the storage of the document file on the external system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the security policy check is comprised of inspecting the metadata attributes of the document file. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the security policy check includes inspecting a context derived from the first document file storage system that prohibits the file from being transmitted outside the perimeter of the first document file storage system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the storing of the document on the second document file storage system includes of transmitting data embodying the document file. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the storing of the document on the second document file storage system includes transmitting data representing a logical pointer to the document file. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second file open type dialog is executed by an Internet browser operating a plug-in program. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second file open type dialog is executed by an Internet browser operating an extension. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second file open type dialog is executed by replacing or modifying an operating system file selection dialog process resident on the first computer. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving data input that selects the document file;   intercepting the process after selection of the document file has been input;   running a security protocol program on the selected document file; and   based on the security protocol program result, passing the file or a pointer to the file to the file open dialog process.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising copying the document file represented by the data input that selects the document file to a temporary location in the first document file storage system and performing the running a security protocol step on the stored copy of the document file.