UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE ENCRYPTED INTERNET FILE SYSTEM FOR WIRED AND WIRELESS COMPUTING DEVICES SUPPLANTING SYNCHRONIZATION, BACKUP AND EMAIL FILE ATTACHMENT

• US 20110184998A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Catherine M. Newman, Samuel L. Palahnuk
• Original Assignee: Catherine M. Newman, Samuel L. Palahnuk
• Inventors: Palahnuk, Samuel L., Newman, Catherine M.
• Application Number:
  US13/010,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20110184998A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/827
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6263 during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

This Internet based file system allows various wired and wireless computation devices such as personal computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, cell phones, and any other Internet connected devices to manage their files in their native method, however, the invention inserts itself into the operating system and creates a caching and encrypting system that maintains the files on an Internet server.

All registered devices share the same files, supplanting the need for file and data synchronization, and backing up files. Many users may belong to this service, a user of the system may “share” any or all of their files (data) with any other user of the system, allowing instant access to that user, which supplants the need for email attachments, large file-sending websites or the sending physical media.

Invention also includes the ability to stop data to devices when they'"'"'re lost or stolen, data inheritance, restoring lost data and moving data from the Internet server onto physical storage mediums.

Claims

1. A computer file management system for the storage, sharing, delivering and aggregating of files via Internet cloud storage to multiple computing devices, comprising:

a file interceptor which transparently intercepts normal operating system file operations;

a master file manager which maintains an encrypted link to the cloud-based web server via wired or wireless Internet connection;

a file manager file handler which queues files for background transmission back and forth from the device and the cloud-based web server, caches the files, or hands control of the file back to the device'"'"'s normal operating system;

a command handler which executes special commands which are unique to this system but outside the normal capabilities of the device'"'"'s OS;

a file maintainer which manages hard disk or RAM caches and the background sending and receiving of files;

a connect manager which sends or receives files via the encrypted Internet link to the cloud-based web server and manages connect, disconnect and incomplete file send situations;

a server data manager which stores and retrieves the user'"'"'s data on the cloud-based server storage devices, and depending on the frequency of data access, stores that data in slow or fast storage devices;

a shutdown postponer which alerts the user if their work has not yet been sent to the web-based cloud server if that user attempts to shut down the device;

a file determiner which manages the additional file data required by this system but is not normal to the device'"'"'s OS;

a local user interface which allows access to the special features and parameters of the system;

a web based user interface allows access to special features and the files themselves via Internet web browser.

2. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein files managed by the system appear to be stored locally, yet are actually stored as a single file on a cloud-based Internet server, and can be accessed by any device running the computer file management system.

3. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 2, wherein files managed by the system can be accessed and manipulated by anyone using the system provided they are given permission by the file'"'"'s creator, thus creating the same result as sending a file via email attachment.

4. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 2, wherein all files on a device running the system are stored on a cloud-based Internet server, from most to least accessed, creating a complete system backup over time.

5. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 4, wherein all files eventually being stored on the cloud-based Internet server can, upon command by the user, be restored in full or in part, acting as a backup restore function for any device.

6. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein all files are intercepted, evaluated, and stored on a computer file management system and thusly contact information from various devices, computer programs and online services can be aggregated to create one master set of contacts which transparently appear on all user devices.

7. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein all files are intercepted, evaluated, and stored on a computer file management system and thusly calendar information from various devices, computer programs and online services can be aggregated to create one master calendar which transparently appears on all user devices.

8. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 1 which, when activated by the user, can halt the process of transferring data back and forth from the device to the cloud-based Internet server, thus protecting that data from unauthorized access.

9. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 8 which, having halted the process of transferring data back and forth from the device to the cloud-based Internet server upon a user command, can additionally display a warning message to the thief, and/or completely stop the device from operating thus rendering it useless.

10. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 1 which can copy the data stored on the cloud based Internet server onto discrete physical media in order to allow it to be accessed when no Internet connection is available.

11. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 1, which detects various conditions thus automatically changing its user authentication parameters so that authorized users require little or no authentication, and likely thieves are required to provide extensive authorization.

12. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 4 which, after restoring data to new device, or one which has suffered data loss, will locate and initiate software tools to allow the user to access that data without requiring them to re-install the original applications used to create those files.

13. A computer file management system as set forth in claim 1, which offers a second layer of encryption and file storage security on the cloud-based Internet server which allows the apparent local storage of highly confidential information normally not trusted to a computer device which is easily stolen or lost.

14. A method for utilizing a user interface presented on the individual device'"'"'s operating system allowing access to special features and parameters of the system.

15. A method for accessing the user'"'"'s files stored on the web based Internet server, and the special features and parameters of the system via a website available on any Internet connected device via web browser.