Data Backup and Transfer System, Method and Computer Program Product

• US 20170302652A1
• Filed: 06/30/2017
• Published: 10/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vdata, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JustService.net LLC
• Inventors: FIDUCCI, Thomas E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,476,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

A backup system having a plurality of accounts for copying selected data between one or more account user computers and a system computer where an account user'"'"'s computer connects to the system computer via the Internet. Selected data is copied between the account user'"'"'s computer and the system computer including, documents, media files, and email in any file type or format. Additionally, the system is compatible with all types of computers, including personal data assistants and mobile telephones, and all types of operating systems. All of the software to operate the system is resident on the system computer with no hardware or to software required on the account user computer beyond a conventional web browser. The system also includes a scheduler, a contacts manager, a reminder generator and file transfer system for third-party users.

Claims

1. A data storage system comprising:

a virtual server connected to a communications network, the virtual server to;

verify user access information for a particular user storage account of one or more user storage accounts maintained by the virtual server;

connect to a client device associated with the verified user access information over the communications network;

transmit to the client device for display, information identifying system functions of the virtual server;

transmit to the client device for display, information relating to the one or more files associated with the particular user storage account; and

upload a first user-selected file selected from the one or more files associated with the particular user storage account by accessing a particular system function of the system functions of the virtual server that initiates a transfer of the first user-selected file from the client device to the virtual server.

2. The data storage system of claim 1, wherein the virtual server is further configured to download a second user-selected file associated with the particular user account from the virtual server to the client device.

3. The data storage system of claim 1, the information relating to the one or more files includes a first virtual representation of files stored at the client device that is associated with the particular user storage account and a second virtual representation of files stored at the virtual server that is associated with the particular user storage account.

4. The data storage system of claim 3, wherein the first virtual representation and the second virtual representation are displayed in a single browser window on the client device.

5. The data storage system of claim 2, wherein the virtual server is further configured to:

generate a third party user account;

associate the second user-selected file with the third party user account;

enable communication, using the communications network, between the virtual server with a client device corresponding to the third party user account;

verify the third party user account; and

upload the second user selected file from the virtual server to the client device corresponding to the third party user account.

16. The data storage system of claim 1, wherein the virtual server is further configured to generate a graphical-user interface comprising one or more selectable components that correspond to the system functions of the virtual server.

6. A method for data storage comprising:

verifying, using a virtual server implemented on a processing device, user access information for a particular user storage account of one or more user storage accounts maintained by the virtual server;

connecting to a client device associated with the verified user access information over a communications network;

transmitting to the client device for display, information identifying a particular system function of the virtual server that initiates file transfer;

transmitting to the client device for display, information relating to the one or more files associated with the particular user storage account; and

uploading a first user-selected file selected from the one or more files associated with the particular user storage account by accessing the particular system function of the system function of the virtual server to initiate a transfer of the first user-selected file from the client device to the virtual server.

7. The data storage method of claim 6, further comprising downloading a second user-selected file associated with the particular user account from the virtual server to the client device.

8. The data storage method of claim 6, wherein the information relating to the one or more files includes a first virtual representation of files stored at the client device that is associated with the particular user storage account and a second virtual representation of files stored at the virtual server that is associated with the particular user storage account.

9. The data storage method of claim 7, wherein the first virtual representation and the second virtual representation are displayed in a single browser window on the client device.

10. The data storage method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating a third party user account;

associating the second user-selected file with the third party user account;

enabling communication, using the communications network, between the virtual server and a client device corresponding to the third party user account;

verifying the third party user account; and

uploading the second user selected file from the virtual server to the client device corresponding to the third party user account.

17. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating a graphical-user interface displaying one or more selectable components that correspond to the system functions of the virtual server.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for data storage, the instructions, executable by a processor, comprising:

verifying user access information for a particular user storage account of one or more user storage accounts maintained by the virtual server;

connecting to a client device associated with the verified user access information over a communications network;

transmitting to the client device for display, information identifying system functions of the virtual server;

transmitting to the client device for display, information relating to the one or more files associated with the particular user storage account; and

uploading a first user-selected file selected from the one or more files associated with the particular user storage account by accessing a particular system function of the system functions of the virtual server that initiates a transfer of the first user-selected file from the client device to the virtual server.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising downloading a second user-selected file associated with the particular user account from the virtual server to the client device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the information relating to the one or more files includes a first virtual representation of files stored at the client device that is associated with the particular user storage account and a second virtual representation of files stored at the virtual server that is associated with the particular user storage account.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the first virtual representation and the second virtual representation are displayed in a single browser window.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

generating a third party user account;

associating the second user-selected file with the third party user account;

enabling communication, using the communications network, between the virtual server and a client device corresponding to the third party user account;

verifying the third party user account; and

uploading the second user selected file from the virtual server to the client device corresponding to the third party user account.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein further comprising generating a graphical-user interface comprising one or more selectable components that correspond to the system functions of the virtual server.