Storage-enabled facilities

• US 20100268744A1
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aultman, Joseph L. SR., Zimba, Stephan P., Olsson, Stefan, Slemmer, John Blake, Parsons, Chris, Nichols, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,102,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/802
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling network facilities with data storage capability. A data connection is established to a storage device. Customer-defined electronic data is communicated to the storage device via the data connection. At least some of the electronic data may be managed according to a service level agreement.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a remote data storage service to a subscriber;

receiving the subscriber'"'"'s electronic data;

storing the subscriber'"'"'s electronic data to a remote storage device located within a central office; and

allowing the subscriber to manage the subscriber'"'"'s electronic data on the remote storage device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising archiving the subscriber'"'"'s electronic data to another location.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising interconnecting the remote storage device to a network of shared, interconnected storage devices.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving a service agreement defining the remote data storage service.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing digital content within the central office.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising downloading the digital content to the subscriber.

7. A system, comprising:

a processor executing a software application that causes the processor to;

provide a remote data storage service to a subscriber;

receive the subscriber'"'"'s electronic data;

store the subscriber'"'"'s electronic data to a remote storage device located within a central office;

allow the subscriber to manage the subscriber'"'"'s electronic data on the remote storage device.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the software application causes the processor to receive a request for content.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the software application causes the processor to retrieve the requested content from a central storage.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the software application causes the processor to stream the requested content to the subscriber.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the software application causes the processor to match stored content to a profile describing the customer.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the software application causes the processor to notify the customer when the stored content matches the profile describing the customer.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the software application causes the processor to charge a fee when the stored content matches the profile describing the customer.

14. The system according to claim 7, wherein the software application causes the processor to charge a fee for storing the subscriber'"'"'s electronic data to the remote storage device located within the central office.

15. A method, comprising:

establishing a data connection to a remote storage device located within a central office of a local loop;

communicating customer-defined electronic data to the storage device over the data connection; and

allowing a customer to manage the customer-defined electronic data that is stored on the remote storage device.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising transferring the customer-defined electronic data to a different central office.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising receiving the customer'"'"'s selection of the central office that remotely stores the customer-defined electronic data.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising permitting access to other remote storage devices located in other central offices.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising storing the customer'"'"'s digital content to the storage device.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising interconnecting the remote storage device to a network of shared, interconnected storage devices.