REMOTE IDENTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION OF STORAGE SYSTEMS

• US 20120166248A1
• Filed: 12/13/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TIC TAC Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: TIC TAC Technologies Limited
• Inventors: SILBERSTEIN, Yoav
• Application Number:
  US13/324,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20120166248A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services

Abstract

A system and method for generating a contract related to a data recovery. Storage components may be automatically examined by a module that may be automatically downloaded from a server, over a computer network. Hardware information and an identification parameter may be obtained and sent to a server. A contract may be generated based on information received by the server. A contract may be validated and data recovery service may be provided based on a validated contract.

Claims

1. An automated computer-implemented method of generating a contract, the method comprising:

examining storage components installed in a computing device to produce hardware information;

obtaining at least one identification parameter associated with a respective at least one storage component installed in the computing device, the identification parameter uniquely identifying the at least one storage component;

communicating the hardware information and the identification parameter to a server;

storing the hardware information and the identification parameter in a database; and

generating a contract based on the hardware information and based on the identification parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein examining hardware components comprises examining at least one of:

a hard disk drive, a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory and a universal serial bus (USB) storage component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein examining hardware components comprises examining an arrangement of content stored on a storage component and wherein the hardware information comprises parameters related an arrangement of content on a storage component installed in the computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein examining hardware components comprises obtaining information from a Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the contract is one of:

a service contract and an insurance policy.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the contract is related to a recovery of data stored on a storage component installed in the computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising assessing a risk related to a loss of data and wherein the contract is generated based on the risk.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving from a user an indication of an acceptance of a term included in the contract and storing the indication in the database.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving request for a service related to a storage component and an identification parameter; and

determining an existence of a service contract based on the received identification parameter; and

if a contract related to the storage component exists, providing a data recovery service related to data stored on the storage component.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising detecting a fault related to a storage component, recording the fault in the hardware information and suggesting an action related to the fault.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising:

encoding at least some of the hardware information and the identification parameter into a unique resource locator (URL);

using the URL to access a server;

analyzing, by the server, the URL to produce an analysis result and validating, based on the analysis result, the hardware information and the identification parameter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein examining hardware components, producing the hardware information and obtaining the at least one parameter are automatically performed by a module automatically downloaded, over a network, to the computing device.

13. A system including a server and a computing device,

wherein the computing device is to automatically download a module from the server, the module being operative to:

examine storage components installed in the computing device to produce hardware information,

obtain at least one identification parameter associated with a respective at least one storage component installed in the computing device, the identification parameter uniquely identifying the at least one storage component, and

communicate the hardware information and the identification parameter to the server; and

wherein the server is to;

store the hardware information and the identification parameter in a database, and

generate a contract based on the hardware information and based on the identification parameter.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein examining hardware components comprises examining at least one of:

a hard disk drive, a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory and a universal serial bus (USB) storage component.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein examining hardware components comprises examining an arrangement of content stored on a storage component and wherein the hardware information comprises parameters related an arrangement of content on a storage component installed in the computing device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein examining hardware components comprises obtaining information from a Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) component.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the contract is related to a recovery of data stored on a storage component installed in the computing device.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the module is to assess a risk related to a loss of data and wherein the contract is generated based on the risk.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the server is to:

receive request for a service related to a storage component and an identification parameter; and

determine an existence of a service contract based on the received identification parameter; and

if a contract related to the storage component exists, enable providing a data recovery service related to data stored on the storage component.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the module is to detect a fault related to a storage component, record the fault in the hardware information and suggest an action related to the fault.