Method and apparatus for indexing files

摘要

A process for automatically indexing the documents stored in a computer involving the step of executing at regular interval a periodical backup operation of the system files and the user's documents. The backup operation is based on a scanning of all the files for the purpose of computing a signature, and the same operation is advantageously used for elaborating an index of the user's document stored within the computer. Preferably, the invention is used in a network environment and the backup and indexing operations are carried out by a server which takes advantage of the internal synergy between the backup and the indexing operation for the purpose of elaborating a centralized index of the documents available in the network which documents could be retrieved from the database associated to the backup process. Access control rights are used for controlling the indexing process and for defining selective access to said documents.