| 摘要 |
A novel system, method and computer program product for accessing digital media files stored in a centralized media storage device (50, 52) via a server device (20) in communication with the media storage device (50, 52). The server (20) is operatively coupled via a network connection with at least two independent workstations. The method steps include providing, via the server (20), a directory structure on the storage device (50, 52) for hierarchically organizing digital data files; generating in the directory structure a User Directory that corresponding to each independent user that is capable of accessing the media files, and through which an independent user can store actual digital media files; moving actual stored digital media files from a User Directory to a Shared Directory location that is separate from said User Directory where the files are not directly accessible to any independent user; creating, for each digital media file moved into the Shared Directory, a corresponding link to the actual digital media file for one or more individual independent users, and placing said links inside each said corresponding User Directory, whereby, via the links, a user is permitted indirect access to all actual digital media files that are stored in the Shared Directory on the storage device (50, 52), while preventing direct access to the actual digital media files. There is additionally provided a tool for managing the centralized digital media storage system particularly enabling media and corresponding virtual files to be automatically manipulated, e.g., deleted, removed, transferred and synchronized, in response to user requests, all the while automatically retaining the file virtualization features as described. |
