MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH A DOCUMENT STORAGE FILE OWNER

• US 20100011448A1
• 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 8,005,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

Systems and methods of the present invention allow a file owner to upload and store a file to a File Storage Area. The file owner may synchronize a periodic clock to a time-based approval period during which the file owner may grant permissions to access the file. A file owner interface may store contact information for the file owner, and ping the information, substituting alternate contact information as necessary, alerting the file owner of any failure of the contact information prior to expiration of the time-based approval period. After expiration of the time-based approval period, grant of file permissions may be automatically approved.

Claims

1. A method performed by at least one microprocessor executing a plurality of instructions stored on at least one computer-readable media, the method comprising the steps of:

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

b) verifying, via the Hosting Server, a First Contact for an Owner of the File associated with an unsolicited file transfer to a Predetermined Recipient after expiration of a Predetermined Time Period; and

c) alerting the Owner via a Second Contact if the First Contact fails, via a Client Computer, cell phone or PDA.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the First Contact is a primary email address.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the Second Contact is a cell phone or PDA contact.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the Second Contact is a secondary email address.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the Second Contact is an instant message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the Second Contact is a website alert.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the Second Contact is a voice message.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the Second Contact is a text message.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a Control Panel for storing the First Contact and Second Contact for the Owner of the File.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the Control Panel comprises means to select the Predetermined Time Period.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the Control Panel comprises a Countdown to expiration of the Predetermined Time Period.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the Countdown to expiration of the Predetermined Time Period comprises means to confirm the file transfer through a Stored Contact for the Owner.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the means to confirm the file transfer through a Stored Contact for the Owner comprises dividing the Countdown to expiration of the Predetermined Time Period into a selected number of times to contact the Owner.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the means to confirm the file transfer through a Stored Contact for the Owner comprises a confirmation sent to the Stored Contact for the Owner at regular intervals.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the means to confirm the file transfer through a Stored Contact for the Owner comprises a confirmation sent to the Stored Contact for the Owner immediately before the file transfer to confirm or cancel the file transfer.

16. A method comprising the steps of:

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

b) verifying, via the Hosting Server, a First Contact for an Owner of the File, the First Contact associated with an unsolicited file transfer to a Predetermined Recipient after expiration of a Predetermined Time Period and selected from the group consisting of a primary email address, a secondary email address, an instant message, a website alert, a voice message, a phone contact and a text message;

c) alerting the Owner via a Second Contact using a Client, a cell phone or a PDA if the First Contact fails, the Second Contact selected from the group consisting of a primary email address, a secondary email address, an instant message, a website alert, a voice message, a phone contact and a text message; and

d) confirming or cancelling the unsolicited file transfer based on a response from the Owner of the File to confirmation or canellation requests sent to the file Owner based on a number of times to confirm or cancel, a regular interval or a confirmation or cancellation sent immediately before expiration of the Predetermined Time Period.

17. A system comprising:

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

b) a Client, cell phone or PDA used as a First Contact or a Second Contact;

c) a primary email address associated with an unsolicited file transfer to a Predetermined Recipient after expiration of a Predetermined Time Period, the primary email address used as the First Contact;

d) a secondary email address, instant message, website alert, voice message, phone contact or text message used as a Second Contact on a Client, cell phone or PDA; and

e) a Control Panel for establishing the First Contact and Second Contact and confirming or cancelling the unsolicited file transfer to the Predetermined Recipient after expiration of the Predetermined Time Period.