Data storage system

• US 20010056388A1
• Filed: 06/13/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Masahito
• Application Number:
  US09/878,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20010056388A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A data transmission apparatus charges a deposit for storing data in a data storage server. The data storage server pays back a deposit in response to an instruction of deleting data issued from a personal computer. The data transmission apparatus and data storage server are interconnected by a network. The deposit to be paid back is all the money amount of the deposit or the deposit reduced in accordance with a data storage period.

Claims

1. A data storage apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing data; and

refunding means for paying back a deposit charged for data storage by said storage means.

2. A data storage apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said refunding means pays back the deposit in response to an instruction of deleting the data stored in said storage means.

3. A data storage apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said refunding means pays back the deposit in accordance with a data storage period.

4. A data storage apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said storage means includes transmitting means for transmitting data via a network.

5. A charging apparatus comprising:

charging means for charging a deposit for storing data in a storage apparatus; and

transmitting means for transmitting data to the storage apparatus.

6. A charging apparatus according to

claim 5

, wherein said charging means charges the deposit in accordance with a data storage period.

7. A charging apparatus according to

claim 5

, wherein said transmitting means transmits data to the storage apparatus via a network.

8. A data storage apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing data; and

charging means for charging a deposit for storing data in said storage means.

9. A data storage apparatus according to

claim 8

, wherein said charging means charges the deposit in accordance with a data storage period.

10. A data storage apparatus according to

claim 8

, wherein said storage means includes transmitting means for transmitting data via a network.

11. A data storage method comprising steps of:

storing data; and

refunding a deposit charged for data storage.

12. A data storage method according to

claim 11

, wherein said refunding step pays back the deposit in response to an instruction of deleting the stored data.

13. A data storage method according to

claim 11

, wherein said refunding step pays back the deposit in accordance with a data storage period.

14. A data storage method according to

claim 11

, wherein said storing step includes a transmitting step of transmitting data via a network.

15. A charging method comprising steps of:

charging a deposit for storing data in a storage apparatus; and

transmitting data to the storage apparatus.

16. A charging method according to

claim 15

, wherein said charging step charges the deposit in accordance with a data storage period.

17. A charging method according to

claim 15

, wherein said transmitting step transmits data to the storage apparatus via a network.

18. A data storage method comprising steps of:

storing data; and

charging a deposit for storing data.

19. A data storage method according to

claim 18

, wherein said charging step charges the deposit in accordance with a data storage period.

20. A data storage method according to

claim 18

, wherein said storing step includes a transmitting step of transmitting data via a network.

21. A data storage program comprising steps of:

storing data; and

refunding a deposit charged for data storage.

22. A data storage program according to

claim 21

, wherein said refunding step pays back the deposit in response to an instruction of deleting the stored data.

23. A data storage program according to

claim 21

, wherein said refunding step pays back the deposit in accordance with a data storage period.

24. A data storage program according to

claim 21

, wherein said storing step includes a transmitting step of transmitting data via a network.

25. A charging program comprising steps of:

charging a deposit for storing data in a storage apparatus; and

transmitting data to the storage apparatus.

26. A charging program according to

claim 25

, wherein said charging step charges the deposit in accordance with a data storage period.

27. A charging method according to

claim 25

, wherein said transmitting step transmits data to the storage apparatus via a network.

28. A data storage program comprising steps of:

storing data; and

charging a deposit for storing data.

29. A data storage program according to

claim 28

, wherein said charging step charges the deposit in accordance with a data storage period.

30. A data storage program according to

claim 28

, wherein said storing step includes a transmitting step of transmitting data via a network.

31. A data storage service comprising steps of:

storing data; and

refunding a deposit charged for data storage.

32. A data storage service according to

claim 31

, wherein said refunding step pays back the deposit in response to an instruction of deleting the stored data.

33. A data storage service according to

claim 31

, wherein said refunding step pays back the deposit in accordance with a data storage period.

34. A data storage service according to

claim 31

, wherein said storing step includes a transmitting step of transmitting data via a network.

35. A data storage service comprising steps of:

storing data; and

charging a deposit for storing data.

36. A data storage service according to

claim 35

, wherein said charging step charges the deposit in accordance with a data storage period.

37. A data storage service according to

claim 35

, wherein said storing step includes a transmitting step of transmitting data via a network.