Peer to peer remote data storage and collaboration

• US 20040039829A1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Bucher, Tim
• Granted Patent: US 6,928,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

Remotely storing data between computers or devices across a wide area network for purposes of redundancy or collaboration. A service brokers the transfer of data between an initiating computer and a destination device, thereby establishing a peer-to-peer architecture by which data of the initiating computer can be stored remotely on the destination device. The process begins as the initiating computer issues a request for permission to store the data remotely on an identified destination device. The permission is granted if the initiating computer properly identifies the destination device using information, such as a network address or a password, that is privately communicated between the users of the destination device and the initiating computer. Accordingly, substantially any computer user having access to the Internet can achieve remote backup of data and remote collaboration of data with the assistance of a trusted third party who also is registered with the service.

Claims

1. In a server included in a network, a method of facilitating the transfer of data between an initiating computer included in the network and a destination device also included in the network, comprising the acts of:

receiving a request from the initiating computer for permission to store a segment of data at a destination device, the request identifying the destination device, wherein the destination device is remote with respect to the initiating computer;

transmitting the request to the destination device;

receiving data representing the permission from the destination device, the data representing the permission indicating that the destination device has granted the permission; and

only upon receiving the data representing the permission, transmitting the segment of the data to the destination device for storage thereon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the segment of data transmitted to the destination device is encrypted, such that the segment of data is inaccessible by a user of the destination device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the segment of data represents a backup version of the segment of data, the method further comprising the act of the initiating device accessing the segment of the data stored on the destination device so as to access the backup version.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of transmitting the segment of the data is performed so as to permit data collaboration between users of the initiating computer and the destination device, the method further comprising the acts of:

receiving an modified version of the segment of data from the destination device; and

transmitting the modified version to the initiating device so as to facilitate the data collaboration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request includes a password of the destination device, the password having been provided by a user of the destination device to a user of the initiating computer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the act of receiving data representing permission is performed in response to the destination device performing the acts of:

recognizing the password included in the request; and

automatically and without user input determining that the permission is to be granted based on the act of recognizing the password.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from an appliance associated with the initiating computer, the appliance brokering the request to the server on behalf of the initiating computer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of transmitting the request to the destination device comprises the act of comparing the identified destination device with a list of remote computing devices connected to the server.

9. In an initiating computer that is in communication with a service, the service being connected to one or more remote devices, a method for storing data at a remote device, comprising the acts of:

identifying a remote destination device on which to store a segment of data, wherein the remote destination device is registered with the service;

receiving, from the remote destination device, permission to store the segment of data; and

transferring the segment of data to the service, such that the segment of data is brokered to the remote device in a manner that the segment of data is dynamically updated at the remote device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the act of transmitting a request to store the segment of data at the remote device, wherein the request is transmitted initially to the service and then brokered to the remote device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the permission to store the segment of data is received after the destination device grants the permission in response to the request.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the permission and the transferred segment of data are locally brokered through a local appliance such that communication with the destination device is achieved.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of identifying a remote device is performed without presenting to a user of the initiating computer a list of remote devices that are registered with the service.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of identifying a remote device is performed by receiving at the initiating computer receiving information identifying the remote device from a user of the initiating computer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the information identifying the remote device comprises a password of the remote device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of transmitting a request to store the segment of data at the remote device, wherein the request includes the password.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the permission to store the segment of data is received after the destination device grants the permission in response to the request, and wherein the destination device grants permission upon recognizing the password included in the request.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising the act of encrypting the segment of data prior to transmitting the segment of data to the service, such that the segment of data stored on the destination device is inaccessible by a user of the destination device.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the storage of the segment of data permits remote data collaboration, the method further comprising the act of receiving a modified version of the segment of data from the destination device.

20. In a destination device that is in communication with a service, the service being connected to one or more remote computers, a method for receiving data from a remote computer, comprising the acts of:

receiving from the service a request to store a segment of data, wherein the request originated from a remote computer that is registered with the service;

transmitting permission to the service, such that the permission is brokered to the remote computer; and

receiving and storing a dynamically updated segment of data brokered by the service, wherein the dynamically updated segment of data originates from the remote computer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein communication with the remote computer is brokered through a local appliance.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the acts of:

prompting a user of the destination device to determine whether to grant the permission; and

receiving input from the user specifying that the permission has been granted.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the act of prompting the user comprises the act of informing to the user of the destination device the identity of the remote computer.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the segment of data is encrypted prior to being received by the destination device, such that the data is inaccessible by the user of the destination device.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the request received from the service includes a password of the destination device, the password having been provided by a user of the remote computer.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the acts of:

recognizing the password included in the request; and

automatically and without user input determining that the permission is to be granted based on the act of recognizing the password.

27. A computer network enabling the remote storage of data, comprising:

a plurality of computers, wherein at least one of the computers is remotely located from the other computers;

at least one appliance, wherein each appliance is operably connected to at least one computer and acts as a local broker for the at least one computer; and

a service that is operably connected to the at least one appliance, wherein the service;

brokers requests from the at least one computer to store data of the at least one computer on a remote computer; and

brokers data transmissions in which the data is transferred from the at least one computer to the remote computer.

28. The computer network of claim 27, wherein the at least one appliance has a wireless connection with one or more local computers of the plurality of computers so as to form a local group.

29. The computer network of claim 28, wherein the at least one appliance is operably connected to the service via a wired connection.

30. The computer network of claim 27, wherein the each of the plurality of computers includes a software module that is configured to provide an interface between the particular computer and an associated appliance.