System and method for selective access to restricted electronic documents

摘要

A system and method for selective sharing of restricted electronic documents. A requesting client generates query data representing a search for one or more documents stored on a document management system. The query data is then analyzed by an indexing engine and a repository containing a plurality of documents is searched. Documents meeting the query data are located and a list of the documents is returned to the requesting client. The client selects a document from the list and a determination is made whether the document is a restricted access document. When the document is restricted in access, the document management system forwards a request from the requesting client to a custodian client associated with the restricted document. The custodian client is then able to selectively allow access to the document, without the requesting client learning the identity of the custodian or the contents of the restricted document.