RWFS: Design and implementation of file system executing access control based on user's location

Abstract

In this research, we designed and implemented Real-World File System (RWFS), which can manage files as if we can put them onto or pick them up from the places of the real world. RWFS regards the places of the real world as directories of the file system by associating a directory with a place. We create directories called Real-World Directory (RWD) which forms a hierarchical structure to reflect the natural property of places. In addition to the conventional access rights of read, write, and execute as implemented in other file systems, RWFS accommodates utilizing location information of the target user in access rights; RWFS can decide whether or not the user can access to a particular file or directory based on the user's location. Therefore, accessible files for a user change depending on the user's location. This mechanism enables creating information that can be read or written by users who physically stay at a particular place. We evaluated this system by measuring turnaround time to operate the file system together with simulation.