A digital document system in which a digital document in a communication
network is shared between a plurality of stations, said system
comprising: a first station (101A) having a first digital document
(DD1) comprising a thumbnail data item (TH1) and an original data item
(HR1); a second station (102A) having a second digital document (DD2)
comprising a thumbnail data item (TH2); and a center station (100A)
comprising: calculating means for calculating signatures of the
thumbnail data items (TH1, TH2) of the first and second digital documents
(DD1, DD2); comparing means for comparing the calculated signatures of
the thumbnail data items (TH1, TH2); and transmitting means for
transmitting information for accessing the original data item (HR1) of
the first digital document (DD1) to the second station (102A) according
to a result of the comparison.