Approach for deleting electronic documents on network devices using document retention policies
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for deleting electronic documents, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- at a network device, receiving a signal indicating that a retention policy audit should be conducted;
in response to the signal, performing the retention policy audit on the network device by retrieving document retention policy data that specifies one or more deletion criteria for each of a plurality of electronic document classifications, wherein the deletion criteria include a time duration for each of the plurality of electronic document classifications, identifying, from the plurality of electronic document classifications, one or more electronic document classifications for which the corresponding one or more deletion criteria are satisfied, causing the deletion of one or more electronic documents associated with the identified one or more electronic document classifications, and generating audit report data that indicates results of performing the retention policy audit; and
if a determination is made that an electronic document associated with the identified one or more electronic document classifications is stored on a removable medium that is not currently accessible, then attempting to cause the removable medium to be made accessible, and if the removable medium can be made accessible, then causing the electronic document to be deleted from the removable medium, and updating the audit report data to indicate that the electronic document was deleted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An approach is provided for deleting electronic documents using a document retention policy that specifies one or more deletion criteria for documents belonging to each of a plurality of document classifications. The document retention policy is defined by document retention policy data that is managed by a document retention policy manager. The document retention policy manager disseminates the document retention policy data to network elements over a communications network. The document retention policy manager determines whether a retention policy audit should be performed and if so, signals the network elements to conduct a retention policy audit. The network elements are configured to conduct the retention policy audit by deleting electronic documents in accordance with the document retention policy. Automatic or manual loading or auto-destruction code may be used to handle deleting electronic documents from removable media.
89 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for deleting electronic documents, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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at a network device, receiving a signal indicating that a retention policy audit should be conducted;
in response to the signal, performing the retention policy audit on the network device by retrieving document retention policy data that specifies one or more deletion criteria for each of a plurality of electronic document classifications, wherein the deletion criteria include a time duration for each of the plurality of electronic document classifications, identifying, from the plurality of electronic document classifications, one or more electronic document classifications for which the corresponding one or more deletion criteria are satisfied, causing the deletion of one or more electronic documents associated with the identified one or more electronic document classifications, and generating audit report data that indicates results of performing the retention policy audit; and
if a determination is made that an electronic document associated with the identified one or more electronic document classifications is stored on a removable medium that is not currently accessible, then attempting to cause the removable medium to be made accessible, and if the removable medium can be made accessible, then causing the electronic document to be deleted from the removable medium, and updating the audit report data to indicate that the electronic document was deleted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A computer-readable medium for deleting electronic documents, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause:
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at a network device, receiving a signal indicating that a retention policy audit should be conducted;
in response to the signal, performing the retention policy audit on the network device by retrieving document retention policy data that specifies one or more deletion criteria for each of a plurality of electronic document classifications, wherein the deletion criteria include a time duration for each of the plurality of electronic document classifications, identifying, from the plurality of electronic document classifications, one or more electronic document classifications for which the corresponding one or more deletion criteria are satisfied, causing the deletion of one or more electronic documents associated with the identified one or more electronic document classifications, and generating audit report data that indicates results of performing the retention policy audit; and
if a determination is made that an electronic document associated with the identified one or more electronic document classifications is stored on a removable medium that is not currently accessible, then attempting to cause the removable medium to be made accessible, and if the removable medium can be made accessible, then causing the electronic document to be deleted from the removable medium, and updating the audit report data to indicate that the electronic document was deleted. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for deleting electronic documents, the apparatus configured to:
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at a network device, receiving a signal indicating that a retention policy audit should be conducted;
in response to the signal, performing the retention policy audit on the network device by retrieving document retention policy data that specifies one or more deletion criteria for each of a plurality of electronic document classifications, wherein the deletion criteria include a time duration for each of the plurality of electronic document classifications, identifying, from the plurality of electronic document classifications, one or more electronic document classifications for which the corresponding one or more deletion criteria are satisfied, causing the deletion of one or more electronic documents associated with the identified one or more electronic document classifications, and generating audit report data that indicates results of performing the retention policy audit; and
if a determination is made that an electronic document associated with the identified one or more electronic document classifications is stored on a removable medium that is not currently accessible, then attempting to cause the removable medium to be made accessible, and if the removable medium can be made accessible, then causing the electronic document to be deleted from the removable medium, and updating the audit report data to indicate that the electronic document was deleted. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A computer-implemented method for deleting electronic documents, the computer-implemented method comprising:
in response to detecting an operation to store an electronic document on a removable medium, determining an electronic document classification associated with the electronic document from a plurality of electronic document classifications, determining, based upon document retention policy data that specifies one or more deletion criteria for the electronic document classification, a time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, generating time data that indicates the time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, causing the electronic document to be stored on the removable medium, causing the time data to be stored on the removable medium, generating a set of one or more instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause the deletion of the electronic document from the removable medium on or after the time indicated by the time data, and causing the set of one or more instructions to be stored on the removable medium. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable medium for deleting electronic documents, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause:
in response to detecting an operation to store an electronic document on a removable medium, determining an electronic document classification associated with the electronic document from a plurality of electronic document classifications, determining, based upon document retention policy data that specifies one or more deletion criteria for the electronic document classification, a time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, generating time data that indicates the time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, causing the electronic document to be stored on the removable medium, causing the time data to be stored on the removable medium, generating a set of one or more instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause the deletion of the electronic document from the removable medium on or after the time indicated by the time data, and causing the set of one or more instructions to be stored on the removable medium. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for deleting electronic documents, the apparatus configured to:
in response to detecting an operation to store an electronic document on a removable medium, determining an electronic document classification associated with the electronic document from a plurality of electronic document classifications, determining, based upon document retention policy data that specifies one or more deletion criteria for the electronic document classification, a time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, generating time data that indicates the time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, causing the electronic document to be stored on the removable medium, causing the time data to be stored on the removable medium, generating a set of one or more instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause the deletion of the electronic document from the removable medium on or after the time indicated by the time data, and causing the set of one or more instructions to be stored on the removable medium. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer-implemented method for deleting electronic documents, the computer-implemented method comprising:
in response to detecting an operation to attach an electronic document to an email, determining an electronic document classification associated with the electronic document from a plurality of electronic document classifications, determining, based upon document retention policy data that specifies one or more deletion criteria for the electronic document classification, a time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, generating time data that indicates the time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, causing the electronic document to be attached to the email, causing the time data to be included with the email, generating a set of one or more instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause the deletion of the electronic document on or after the time indicated by the time data, and causing the set of one or more instructions to be included with the email. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer-readable medium for deleting electronic documents, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause:
in response to detecting an operation to attach an electronic document to an email, determining an electronic document classification associated with the electronic document from a plurality of electronic document classifications, determining, based upon document retention policy data that specifies one or more deletion criteria for the electronic document classification, a time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, generating time data that indicates the time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, causing the electronic document to be attached to the email, causing the time data to be included with the email, generating a set of one or more instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause the deletion of the electronic document on or after the time indicated by the time data, and causing the set of one or more instructions to be included with the email. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for deleting electronic documents, the apparatus configured to:
in response to detecting an operation to attach an electronic document to an email, determining an electronic document classification associated with the electronic document from a plurality of electronic document classifications, determining, based upon document retention policy data that specifies one or more deletion criteria for the electronic document classification, a time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, generating time data that indicates the time at which the one or more deletion criteria will be satisfied, causing the electronic document to be attached to the email, causing the time data to be included with the email, generating a set of one or more instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause the deletion of the electronic document from the removable medium on or after the time indicated by the time data, and causing the set of one or more instructions to be included with the email. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
Specification