International Business Machines Corporation

Arnold O Vimba

Sanjay Gupta

Ghassan Chidiac

Giancarlo Palleschi

Jeff Nordyke

Matthew Rosenthal

Michael P Zarnick

Evan E Roubiecek

Kim Betros

A method, system and computer program product for controlling access to data files stored in a repository is disclosed. The invention entails a determination of the requested file's availability and the authorization and authentication of the requester. A requester may specify the format in which they wish to receive the data file, and facilities are provided for translating the requested file to the requested format if the file is not stored in the requested format. Advantageously, the invention provides a repository for retaining responses to requests so as to minimize successive requests against the repository for the same data file. Moreover, in such instances wherein a requested data file requires a format translation, a facility is provided for determining the correct stored file format to use as the input for the format translation. Such a determination may be based upon criteria such as minimizing data lost as a result of the translation or minimizing processing required in performing the translation.

Method, system and program product for determining a file format for use in a translation operation

A method, system and computer program product for controlling access to data files stored in a repository is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request for a data file from a requester. The request specifies a data format preference for receiving the data file. The requested data format is different than either of a data format used to create the data file and a data format in which the data file is stored at the time of the request. The method also includes determining if the requester is authorized to access the requested data file and translating the requested data file from a stored data format into the requested data format responsive to receiving the request if the stored format differs from the requested format. The method further includes making the translated data file accessible to the requester if it is determined that the requester is authorized.

Providing authorized access and request-initiated translation of data files

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Ridgewood, NJ, United States of America

Arnold O Vimba