Arthur L Fenaroli

US Patent:

61226319, Sep 19, 2000

Filed:

Mar 28, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/825303

Inventors:

Robert R. Berbec - New York NY
John L. Brady - Apex NC
James M. Caffrey - Woodstock NY
Joanne T. Crimi - Highland NY
Arthur P. Fenaroli - Rhinebeck NY
Matthew C. Iatridis - Woodstock NY
Gary S. Puchkoff - Poughkeepsie NY
Roberto J. Sanchez - Poughkeepsie NY
Madeline R. Whalen - Hyde Park NY
Joseph A. Williams - Cary NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1314

US Classification:

707 9

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for providing dynamically controlling access to files in a client/server system. A client wanting access to a file first requests a token from an object server. The object server generates the token as a function of the file name and ephemeral information and provides the token to both the client and the file system. Upon receiving the token from the object server, the client presents an access request to the file system, using the token rather than the file name as an identifier. The file system compares the received identifier with the file names in the specified directory as well as with a list of valid tokens that it maintains. If the identifier corresponds to a valid token for a file in the directory, the access request is granted. Otherwise, the access request is denied. The procedure is transparent to the client, which uses the token in the same manner as it would use a regular file name.