Remote access and retrieval of electronic files

• US 7,197,537 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DataCloud Technologies, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEURAUTER, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US10/109,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20030187955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/206, 707/205
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99956 File allocation

Abstract

A system and methods for remotely accessing, retrieving, and transmitting data offering remote data management control and verification of data delivery is provided. In an illustrative implementation, the present invention comprises a computing application operating on at least one computer server that cooperates with at least one communications network to which participating users have access. The exemplary computing application coordinates the delivery of desired data its corresponding data directory structure information to participating users over the communications network. The present invention further provides notification of delivery of data to intended targets using the communications network.

Claims

1. A system for providing remote control of data directory structures across at least one communications network, comprising:

a computer server, said computer server coupled to said communications network;

a remote data directory structure management computing application, said remote data directory structure management computing application operating on said computer server to process received requests for remote data directory management of desired data residing in directory structures by participating users and authenticating and honoring said requests, the remote data directory management computing application providing control to participating users over the communications network of data directory structures and associated data, wherein said control over the communications network of data directory structures comprises the ability to modify and create new data directory structures, and request data to email to a selected email address; and

a profile data store comprising information relating to the data and data directory structures accessible to each of the participating users and email address delivery information for each of the participating users, wherein the profile data store is queried for the data directory structures accessible to each of the participating users, wherein a single directory structure from among a plurality of the data directory structures associated with the profile data store is selected by each of the participating users for modification, and wherein the email address delivery information comprises a delivery confirmation email address and the selected email address, the remote data directory structure management computing application determining if user requested data is accessible based on the information in the profile data store and, if so, delivering the user requested data to the selected email address and sending a confirmation of the delivery to the delivery confirmation email address.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one client computing device, said communications device operably coupled to said communications network to transmit and receive data.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said client computing device comprises a wireless computing device.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said wireless computing device comprises any of:

a mobile telephone, a pager, a wireless access protocol (WAP) device, a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA), a pocket-PC, and a wirelessly enable personal computer.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said communications network comprises any of:

a wireless LAN, a fixed wire LAN, a wireless WAN, a fixed wire WAN, a wireless intranet, a fixed wire intranet, a wireless extranet, a fixed wire extranet, a wireless peer-to-peer network, a fixed wire peer-to-peer network, a central office, a public switch telephone network (PSTN), a voice provider communications network, the Internet, and the wireless Internet.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein said communications network comprises a combination of any of:

a wireless LAN, a fixed wire LAN, a wireless WAN, a fixed wire WAN, a wireless intranet, a fixed wire intranet, a wireless extranet, a fixed wire extranet, a wireless peer-to-peer network, a fixed wire peer-to-peer network, a central office, a public switch telephone network (PSTN), a voice provider communications network, the Internet, and the wireless Internet.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer server comprises a Web server.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one data store, said data store housing data used to realize remote access and management.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said at least one data store comprises any of:

a user ID data store, a data files data store, and the profile data store.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said at least one data store comprises a combination of any of:

the user ID data store, the data files data store, and the profile data store.

11. A method for providing remote data directory structure management across at least one communications network comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one request by a computing application operating on a computer server over said communications network for remote management of data directory structures from participating users offered through a computing device coupled to said communications network, wherein the remote management of data directory structures comprises the ability to modify and create data directory structures;

authenticating said request to determine if said participating users have access to data found in the requested data directory structures;

processing said request if said request is authenticated to provide said remote management control over said desired data of said data directory structures by providing data directory structure information if deemed accessible from data stored in a profile store relating to the data and data directory structures accessible to each of the participating users, wherein the profile data store is queried for the data directory structures accessible to each of the participating users, wherein a single directory structure from among a plurality of the data directory structures associated with the profile data store is selected by each of the participating users for modification, and retrieving email address delivery information from the profile data store that comprises email address delivery information for the participating users, and delivering the data to the selected email address associated with the requesting user;

delivering said desired data and management control over said desired data to identified delivery targets by said computing application over said communications network, said identified delivery targets identified by said computing application from inputs offered by said participating users;

generating at least one notification of the delivery of said desired data to said identified delivery targets upon the delivery of said desired data to said identified delivery targets; and

delivering said notification to the participating user providing the request for the desired data.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said authenticating step comprises the step of comparing participating user authentication information with a data list of predetermined authentication information to ensure that the participating user is allowed access to said desired data.

13. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions to perform the steps recited in claim 11.

14. A system providing remote management of data directory structures across at least one communications network comprising:

at least one computer server, said computer server operably coupled to said communications network;

at least one client computing device, said client computing device operably coupled to said communications network;

a computing application, said computing application having processing rules to process requests for remote management of data directory structures, said requests originating from said at least one client computing device and comprising a request for desired data found in a corresponding data directory structure, wherein the computing application provides control over data directory structures to participating users, wherein the control comprises the ability to create and modify data directory structures and request data to email to a selected email address; and

a profile data store comprising information relating to the data and data directory structures accessible to each of the participating users and email address delivery information for each of the participating users, wherein the profile data store is queried for the data directory structures accessible to each of the participating users, wherein a single directory structure from among a plurality of the data directory structures associated with the profile data store is selected by each of the participating users for modification, and wherein the email address delivery information comprises a delivery confirmation email address and the selected email address, the computing application determining if user requested data is accessible based on the information in the profile data store and, if so, delivering the user requested data to the selected email address and sending a confirmation of the delivery to the delivery confirmation email address.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said communications network comprises a combination of any of:

a wireless LAN, a fixed wire LAN, a wireless WAN, a fixed wire WAN, a wireless intranet, a fixed wire intranet, a wireless extranet, a fixed wire extranet, a wireless peer-to-peer network, a fixed wire peer-to-peer network, a central office, a public switch telephone network (PSTN), a voice provider communications network, the Internet, and the wireless Internet.

16. A method allowing for the remote access, management, and delivery notification of data across a communications network comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one request for remote access, management, and delivery notification for desired data found in a data directory structure from a client computing device operably coupled to said communications network by a computing application operating on a computer server that is operably coupled to said communications network;

processing said at least one request for said remote access, management, and delivery notification for said desired data to ensure that said client computing device is allowed remote access, management, and delivery notification for said desired data;

providing control over the data directory structures to the client computing device, wherein the control comprises the ability to create and modify data directory structures;

receiving from the client computing device instructions indicative of which data in the communicated data directory structure is intended for delivery;

determining if the data is accessible for the user based on information stored in a profile data store relating to the data and data directory structures accessible to participating users, wherein the profile data store is queried for the data directory structures accessible to the participating users and wherein a single directory structure from among a plurality of the data directory structures associated with the profile data store is selected by the participating users for modification;

retrieving email address delivery information from the profile data store that comprises email address delivery information for the participating users;

delivering said desired data to at least one intended delivery target at an associated email address, said intended delivery target identified by said computing application from inputs received from said client computing device;

generating a verification of delivery upon said delivery of said desired to said at least one intended delivery target for delivery to said client computing device; and

delivering said notification to said client computing device.

17. A method for providing remote access to data, comprising:

receiving a request for remote access to data, said request comprising information on identifying a user;

authenticating that the user identification information corresponds to a valid user;

identifying data accessible to said valid user based on information stored in a profile data store relating to the data and data directory structures accessible to the valid user and communicating which data is accessible to said valid user by communicating a data directory structure representative of where data resides in at least one data directory, wherein the profile data store is queried for the data directory structures accessible to the valid user, wherein a single directory structure from among a plurality of the data directory structures associated with the profile data store is selected by the valid user for modification, wherein the user is provided control over the data directory structure, and wherein the control comprises the ability to create and modify data directory structures;

retrieving email address delivery information from the profile data store that comprises email address delivery information for the valid user;

forwarding a response comprising an identification of data that is accessible to the valid user at an associated email address;

receiving a request to forward a data file to a third party;

preparing an electronic message with the data file attached thereto;

transmitting the electronic message to the third party; and

forwarding an electronic message verifying that the data file was transmitted.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving a request comprises receiving a request comprising a user identification and password.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the steps of authenticating the user identification information comprises querying a data store containing valid user information.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of identifying data accessible to the valid user comprises querying a data store for information accessible to the valid user.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of forwarding a response comprises forwarding information identifying at least one of a data file and a data directory.

22. A system for providing remote access to data comprising:

a memory for storing computer readable instructions; and

computer executable instructions for performing the following steps;

receiving a request for remote access to data, said request comprising information on identifying a user;

authenticating that the user identification information corresponds to a valid user;

identifying data accessible to said valid user based on information stored in a profile data store relating to the data and data directory structures accessible to the valid user and communicating which data is accessible to said valid user by communicating a data directory structure representative of where data resides in at least one data directory, wherein the profile data store is queried for the data directory structures accessible to said valid user, wherein a single directory structure from among a plurality of the data directory structures associated with the profile data store is selected by said valid user for modification, wherein the user is provided control over the data directory structure, and wherein the control comprises the ability to create and modify data directory structures;

retrieving email address delivery information from the profile data store that comprises email address delivery information for the valid user;

forwarding a response comprising an identification of data that is accessible to the valid user at an associated email address;

receiving a request to forward a data file to a third party;

preparing an electronic message with the data file attached thereto;

transmitting the electronic message to the third party; and

forwarding an electronic message verifying that the data file was transmitted.

23. A computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions stored thereon to perform the steps of:

receiving a request to forward data to a requesting user;

selecting a data directory structure from a plurality of available data directory structures associated with a profile data store for modification by the requesting user, wherein the profile data store is queried for the data directory structures accessible to the requesting user;

selecting data from a plurality of available data residing in the selected data directory structure;

selecting the requesting user from a plurality of participating users;

selecting a target delivery device from a list of delivery devices associated with the selected requesting user;

preparing an electronic message with the data attached thereto;

transmitting the electronic message with the data file attached thereto to the selected target delivery device; and

forwarding an electronic message to the requesting user verifying that the data file was transmitted.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising computer-executable instructions for delivering the selected data to the selected user at the selected delivery device.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising computer-executable instructions for selecting a notification device from a plurality of notification devices.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising computer-executable instructions for providing a notification to the selected notification device.