DOCUMENT STORAGE ACCESS ON AN UNSOLICITED TRANSFER BASIS

• US 20100011416A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company LLC (GoDaddy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Go Daddy Group Incorporated (GoDaddy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wagner, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database

Abstract

Systems and methods of the present invention allow a file owner to upload and store a file to a File Storage Area. Through a series of communications, a file owner may provide an intended file recipient access to the file without a request by a file requester. The file owner may grant permissions to access the file and notify the intended file recipient of the results.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

a) hosting a File within an Online File Folder on a Hosting Server;

b) accepting authorization, via the Hosting Server, from an Owner of the File for an unsolicited file transfer of the File to a Predetermined Recipient after expiration of a Predetermined Time Period; and

c) granting the Predetermined Recipient access to the File automatically, via the Hosting Server, after expiration of the Predetermined Time Period.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a Control Panel for selecting, viewing and editing the status of the File.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the Control Panel accepts authorization from the Owner for the file transfer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the Control Panel provides for immediate file transfer.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the Control Panel comprises means for designating the file transfer as owner initiated or requiring a request from a requester.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the Control Panel comprises means for selecting the Predetermined Time Period.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the Control Panel comprises means to send an Email to the Predetermined Recipient after the Predetermined Time Period.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the email comprises a Link to the File, the Link containing metadata used to grant the Predetermined Recipient access to the File.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the Email comprises instructions for the Link.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the Email comprises an Attachment to the Email, the Attachment comprising the File.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the Email comprises an Attachment to the Email, the Attachment comprising the File and any other files in a folder or a designated portion of the Online File Folder containing the File.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the Attachment includes a Video Goodbye.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of granting the Predetermined Recipient access to the File comprises the step of providing the Predetermined Recipient with a unique login to the Online File Folder.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the Predetermined Recipient transfers the File to a Client via File Transfer Protocol after unique login to the Online File Folder.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the Predetermined Recipient drags and drops the file to a Client to transfer the intended File.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the Predetermined Recipient accesses only a set of intended available and visible files after unique login to the Online File Folder.

17. A method comprising the steps of:

a) hosting a File within an Online File Folder on a Hosting Computer;

b) accepting authorization, via the Hosting Server, from an Owner of the File for an unsolicited file transfer, via an Email from an Email Account, to a Predetermined Recipient immediately or after expiration of a Predetermined Time Period, the Predetermined Time Period having been selected by the Predetermined Recipient; and

c) granting the Predetermined Recipient access to the File automatically, via the Hosting Server, after expiration of the Predetermined Time Period via a Link within the Email, an Attachment to the Email or a unique login to the Online File Folder which allows the Predetermined Recipient to drag and drop the File or other intended available and visible files to a Client via FTP after the unique login.

18. A system comprising:

a) a Hosting Server hosting an Online File Folder which contains a File;

b) a Control Panel containing an Email Account for an unsolicited transfer of the File by an Owner of the File to a Predetermined Recipient;

c) an Email sent from the Email Account after expiration of a Predetermined Time Period containing a Link, a unique login or an Attachment providing access to the File; and

d) means for the Predetermined Recipient to drag and drop the File or intended available and visible files to a Client via FTP after the unique login.