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Data Repository and Method for Promoting Network Storage of Data

  • US 20100185855A1
  • Filed: 03/30/2010
  • Published: 07/22/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for client programs communicating over a network with a data repository, to store encrypted data items in the data repository, wherein the client programs encrypt the data items but do not retain information needed to decrypt the data items, the method comprising:

  • generating a public key and a private key;

    transmitting only the public key to a first client program running on a first client machine;

    creating a data key, by the first client program;

    encrypting a data item, by the first client program, using the data key as the encryption key;

    depositing the encrypted data item in the data repository, in response to a request by the first client program;

    encrypting the data key, by the first client program, using the public key as the encryption key;

    storing the encrypted data key in association with the data item, in response to a request by the first client program;

    erasing unencrypted information about the data key from storage on the first client machine;

    erasing unencrypted information about the data item from storage on the first client machine;

    retrieving the encrypted data key from the data repository, in response to a request by a second client program running on a second client machine that is different than the first client machine and that has access to the private key;

    wherein the private key is needed to decrypt data encoded using the public key; and

    wherein once both erasing steps have been completed, there is no information stored on the first client machine that would enable the unencrypted data item to be recovered, either from the first client machine or from the data repository.

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