Computer networks for providing peer to peer remote data storage and collaboration

• US 20050125536A1
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Mirra, Inc. (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Bucher, Tim
• Granted Patent: US 7,363,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• 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

Computer networks for brokering the transmission of data between remote computers 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. 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.

2. The computer network of claim 1, 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.

3. The computer network of claim 2, wherein the at least one appliance is operably connected to the service via a wired connection.

4. The computer network of claim 1, 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.

5. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the service brokers requests from the at least one computer to store data of the at least one computer on a remote computer by:

receiving a request from the at least one computer for permission to store a segment of the data at the remote computer, the request identifying the remote computer;

transmitting the request to the remote computer; and

receiving data representing the permission from the remote computer, the data representing the permission indicating that the remote computer has granted the permission.

6. The computer network of claim 5, wherein the service brokers data transmissions in which the data is transferred from the at least one computer to the remote computer by:

receiving segment of data from the at least one computer; and

transmitting the segment of the data to the remote computer for storage thereon only after receiving the data representing the permission.

7. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the data is encrypted prior to being the data is transferred from the at least one computer to the remote computer, such that the data is inaccessible by the user of the remote computer.

8. The computer network of claim 1, wherein:

the data represents a backup version of specified data; and

the computer network permits the at least one computer to access the backup version of the specified data after the backup version has been transferred from the at least one computer to the remote computer.

9. The computer network of claim 1, wherein:

the service transfers data between the at least one computer and the remote computer so as to permit data collaboration between users of the at least one computer and the remote computer; and

the service further is capable of transmitting a modified version of the data from the remote computer to the at least one computer.

10. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the service further:

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

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