System and Method for Storing and Retrieving Deleted Files

• US 20100205154A1
• Filed: 02/08/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gregory Beliczynski
• Original Assignee: Gregory Beliczynski
• Inventors: Beliczynski, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US12/367,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20100205154A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/665
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/162 Delete operations erasing in storage systems G06F3/0652

Abstract

A system and method for storing deleted files from a plurality of computers so that the deleted files are available to be retrieved from a single location. This includes identifying one or more files flagged for deletion by a user on a local computer, updating a database with metadata describing the user and the deleted files, uploading the files to a memory storage apparatus on a remote computer, and providing a way to view and download the files from the remote computer. The system and method also includes an external memory storage apparatus that automatically downloads and store the deleted files.

Claims

1. A method for storing a deleted file from one or more computers comprising the steps of:

a) identifying at least one file flagged for deletion by a user on a computer;

b) making a network connection to a remote computer;

c) storing the file on a memory storage apparatus on the remote computer; and

d) repeating steps (a) through (c) for subsequent files.

2. The method of claim (1), further comprising the steps of:

a) collecting metadata describing the user and the file flagged for deletion;

b) making a network connection to a remote computer; and

c) updating a database on the remote computer with the metadata, whereby associating the file with the user within the database.

3. The method of claim (2), wherein the metadata includes at least one unique identifier for the user and a filename with a full path to the file'"'"'s location on the remote computer'"'"'s memory storage apparatus.

4. The method of claim (1), further comprises a method for displaying at least one file stored on the remote computer comprising the steps of:

a) making a network connection to the remote computer;

b) identifying the user;

c) generating a list of files stored on the remote computer; and

d) presenting a user interface for viewing the list of files.

5. The method of claim (4), wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface.

6. The method of claim (4), wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface accessible from a web browser.

7. The method of claim (4), further comprises a method for retrieving at least one file from the list of files comprising the step of providing a means for downloading the file to a local memory storage apparatus.

8. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

a) identifying at least one file flagged for deletion by a user on a computer.

b) making a network connection to a remote computer;

c) storing the file on a memory storage apparatus on the remote computer; and

d) repeating steps (a) through (c) for subsequent files.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim (8), further comprising instructions for:

a) collecting metadata describing the user and the file flagged for deletion;

b) making a network connection to a remote computer; and

c) updating a database on the remote computer with the metadata, whereby associating the file with the user within the database.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim (8), wherein the metadata includes at least one unique identifier for the user and a filename with a full path to the file'"'"'s location on the remote computer'"'"'s memory storage apparatus.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim (8), further comprises instructions for displaying at least one file stored on the remote computer comprising the steps of:

a) making a network connection to the remote computer;

b) identifying the user;

c) generating a list of files stored on the remote computer; and

d) presenting a user interface for viewing the list of files.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim (11), wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim (11), wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface accessible from a web browser.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim (8), further comprises instructions for retrieving at least one file from the list of files comprising the step of providing a means for downloading the file to a local memory storage apparatus.

15. A computer system, comprising:

a) a processor; and

b) a program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform a method for storing a deleted file from one or more computers, comprising;

i. means for identifying at least one file flagged for deletion by a user on a computer;

ii. means for making a network connection to a remote computer;

iii. means for storing the file on a memory storage apparatus on the remote computer; and

iv. repeating steps (a) through (c) for subsequent files.

16. The computer system of claim (15), further comprising:

a) means for collecting metadata describing the user and the file flagged for deletion;

b) means for making a network connection to a remote computer; and

c) means for updating a database on the remote computer with the metadata, whereby associating the file with the user within the database.

17. The computer system of claim (15), wherein the metadata includes at least one unique identifier for the user and a filename with a full path to the file'"'"'s location on the remote computer'"'"'s memory storage apparatus.

18. The computer system of claim (15), further comprises a means for displaying at least one file comprising the steps of:

a) means for making a network connection to the remote computer;

b) means for identifying the user;

c) means for generating a list of files stored on the remote computer; and

d) means for presenting a user interface for viewing the generated list of files.

19. The computer system of claim (18), wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface.

20. The computer system of claim (18), wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface accessible from a web browser.

21. The computer system of claim (15), further comprises instructions for retrieving at least one file from the list of files comprising providing a means for downloading the file to a local memory storage apparatus.

22. An external memory storage apparatus for retrieving one or more deleted files stored on a remote computer, comprising:

a) a microcontroller;

b) means for storage;

c) means for making a network connection to a remote computer;

d) a program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by the microcontroller, performs a method for downloading one ore more files from a remote computer and storing the files to its means for storage; and

e) a housing means for housing (a) through (d).

23. The external memory storage system of claim (22), wherein the means for storage is a hard disk drive.

24. The external memory storage system of claim (22), wherein the means for storage is a solid state drive.

25. The external memory storage system of claim (22), wherein the means for connecting to a remote computer is a wired connection.

26. The external memory storage system of claim (22), wherein the means for connecting to a remote computer is a wireless connection.

27. The external memory storage system of claim (22), wherein the housing means is metal.

28. The external memory storage system of claim (22), wherein the housing means is plastic.