Information processing method and apparatus for securely sharing personalized information

Abstract

There is disclosed an apparatus capable of suitably deleting information of, e.g., an operation environment that is personalized in a given apparatus and handled in another apparatus and remains in it, thereby improving the operability and security. An information processing apparatus receives personalized information set in another information processing apparatus and stores the personalized information. A user who requests access to the stored personalized information is authenticated. A user who has passed authentication can obtain an operation environment based on the personalized information. Upon logout of the user or after the elapse of a predetermined time after access, the stored personalized information is erased.

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising: 
 a reception unit adapted to receive operation environment information set in another information processing apparatus;    a storage unit adapted to store the operation environment information;    an authentication unit adapted to authenticate a user who requests access to the stored operation environment information;    a setting unit adapted to set an operation environment based on the operation environment information if authentication is successful; and    an erase unit adapted to erase the operation environment information from said storage unit on the basis of a condition after setting by said setting unit.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said erase unit erases the operation environment information from said storage unit at one of timings at logout of the user, after access of the user, and after an elapse of a set time.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the operation environment information is set by the user in said other information processing apparatus.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the operation environment information contains information for access permission from a specific information processing apparatus to said other information processing apparatus.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said setting unit displays 
 an operation environment set window by using the operation environment information in case of access by a user who has passed authentication by said authentication unit, and    an initial window to newly set an operation environment in case of access by a user who has not passed authentication by said authentication unit.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a processing unit adapted to execute one of copying, box processing, and sending in an operation environment based on the operation environment information.  
   
   
       7 . An information processing apparatus that transmits operation environment information to another information processing apparatus, comprising: 
 an authentication unit adapted to authenticate a user;    a selection unit adapted to select said other information processing apparatus to be permitted to access the information if authentication is successful;    an information setting unit adapted to set details of operation environment information access to which should be permitted for said selected other information processing apparatus;    an erase condition setting unit adapted to set a condition to erase the operation environment information; and    a transmission unit adapted to transmit the operation environment information to said other information processing apparatus selected by said selection unit.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said erase condition setting unit set one of timings at logout of the user, after access of the user, and after an elapse of a set time.  
   
   
       9 . A method of causing a plurality of information processing apparatuses to share an operation environment, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving operation environment information set in another information processing apparatus;    storing the operation environment information;    authenticating a user who requests access to the stored operation environment information;    setting an operation environment based on the operation environment information if authentication is successful; and    erasing the operation environment information stored in the storing step, on the basis of a condition after setting in the setting step.    
   
   
       10 . A method of causing a plurality of information processing apparatuses to share operation environment information, comprising the steps of: 
 authenticating a user;    selecting an information processing apparatus to be permitted to access managed operation environment information if authentication is successful;    setting details of operation environment information access to which should be permitted for the selected other information processing apparatus;    setting a condition to erase the operation environment information; and    transmitting the operation environment information to the information processing apparatus selected in the selecting step.    
   
   
       11 . A program which causes an information processing apparatus to execute a method of  claim 9.