System and method for managing and charging for data storage devices

• US 7,711,656 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Singh, Harpreet, Stephenson, Ken, Kodimer, Marianne, Seifi, Mustafa
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung; Allen J
• Application Number:
  US11/183,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 705/400
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

A system and method for data service management of electronic files. A user selects the file or files to be stored on a remote storage device. The user is also able to selectively scan to archive, or storage, a document or other data. The user then selects the appropriate payment option. The user is presented with the total cost of the service, and upon acceptance, the selected service is performed. The details of the transaction are archived and the user is billed for the service. The fees charged are based on the number of pages of the document, file, or other data stored. The fees are charged at the commencement of the services, rather than each day. The fees are also based on the location form which the services are accessed based on selected criteria of such location. Renewal of the storage duration includes fees are those fees charged when the document, file, or other data was first stored.

Claims

1. A data service management system for electronic files comprising:

a processor and memory associated therewith;

communication means, the communication means including receiving means adapted for receiving at least one electronic data file via at least one selected physical location selected from a plurality thereof;

means adapted for receiving request data, wherein request data specifies a desired data storage operation in connection with the at least one electronic data file;

means adapted for receiving, at a central location, location data corresponding to a geographical location of each of a plurality of remote document input locations, including the at least one selected physical location, from which plurality of remote document input locations the at least one electronic data file is communicated via the communication means;

means adapted for receiving location cost data corresponding to a fee structure for electronic document storage, wherein location cost data corresponds to the location data associated with each received electronic data file and a number of pages associated therewith;

means adapted for receiving duration data corresponding to a duration of storage for the electronic data file;

calculation means adapted for calculating fee cost data representative of a fee associated with the desired data storage operation specified by the request data, a received location cost data, duration data, and cost per page;

the communication means further including means adapted for communication of the fee cost data to an associated user;

the communication means further including means adapted for receiving order data denoting acceptance by the user of the fee cost data for performing the desired data storage operation;

means adapted for commencing the desired data storage operation at the central location corresponding to received location data in accordance with the request data;

means adapted for assessing a charge for storage of the at least one electronic data file at the central location in accordance with the fee cost data;

means adapted for generating a notification relative to termination of the data storage operation, the notification including a cost associated with an extension of the duration; and

means adapted for extending the duration in accordance with a response received from a generated notification.

2. The data service management system for electronic files of claim 1 wherein the communication means further includes means for receiving, from the associated user, selection data representative of a selected payment method for the charge associated with the desired operation.

3. The data service management system for electronic files of claim 2 wherein the selected payment method is chosen from the group of payment options consisting of a credit card, a debit card, a funds transfer, a pre-paid account debit, a coupon submission and a promotional offering.

4. A method for data service management of electronic files comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one electronic data file at least one selected physical location selected from a plurality thereof;

receiving request data, wherein request data specifies a desired data storage operation in connection with the at least one electronic data file;

receiving, at a central location, location data corresponding to a geographic location of each of a plurality of remote document input locations, including the at least one selected physical location, from which plurality of remote document input locations the at least one electronic data file is communicated;

receiving location cost data corresponding to a fee structure for electronic document storage, wherein location cost data corresponds to the location data associated with each received electronic data file and a number of pages associated therewith;

receiving duration data corresponding to a duration of storage from the electronic data file;

calculating, using an associated processor operating in connection with instructions disposed in an associated memory, fee cost data representative of a fee associated with the desired data storage operation specified by the request data, received location cost data, duration data, and cost per page;

communicating the fee cost data to an associated user;

receiving order data denoting acceptance by the user of the fee cost data for performing the desired data storage operation;

commencing the desired data storage operation at the central location corresponding to received location data in accordance with the request data;

assessing a charge for storage of the at least one electronic data file at the central location in accordance with the fee cost data;

generating a notification relative to termination of the data storage operation, the notification including a cost associated with an extension of the duration; and

extending the duration in accordance with a response received from a generated notification.

5. The method for data service management of electronic files of claim 4, further comprising the step of receiving, from the associated user, selection data representative of a selected payment method for the charge associated with the desired operation.

6. The method for data service management of electronic files of claim 5, wherein the selected payment method is chosen from the group of payment options consisting of a credit card, a debit card, a funds transfer, a pre-paid account debit, a coupon submission and a promotional offering.

7. A computer-implemented method for data service management of electronic files comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one electronic data file at least one selected physical location;

receiving request data, wherein request data specifies a desired data storage operation in connection with the at least one electronic data file selected from a plurality thereof;

receiving, at a central location, location data corresponding to a geographic location of each of a plurality of remote document input locations, including the at least one selected physical location, from which plurality of remote document input locations the at least one electronic data file is communicated;

receiving location cost data corresponding to a fee structure for electronic document storage, wherein location cost data corresponds to the location data associated with each received electronic data file and a number of pages associated therewith;

receiving duration data corresponding to a duration of storage for the electronic data file;

calculating, using an associated processor operating in connection with instructions disposed in an associated memory, fee cost data representative of a fee associated with the desired data storage operation specified by the request data, received location cost data, duration data, and cost per page;

communicating the cost data to an associated user;

receiving order data denoting acceptance by the user of the fee cost data for performing the desired data storage operation;

commencing the desired data storage operation at the central location corresponding to received location data in accordance with the request data;

assessing a charge for storage of the at least one electronic data file at the central location in accordance with the fee cost data;

generating a notification relative to termination of the data storage operation, the notification including a cost associated with an extension of the duration; and

extending the duration in accordance with a response received from a generated notification.

8. The method for data service management of electronic files of claim 7, further comprising the step of receiving, from the associated user, selection data representative of a selected payment method for the charge associated with the desired operation.

9. The method for data service management of electronic files of claim 8, wherein the selected payment method is chosen from the group of payment options consisting of a credit card, a debit card, a funds transfer, a pre-paid account debit, a coupon submission and a promotional offering.

10. A system for data service management of electronic files comprising:

an input operable for receiving at least one electronic data file at least one selected physical location;

an input operable for receiving request data, wherein request data specifies a desired data storage operation in connection with the at least one electronic data file selected from a plurality thereof;

an input operable for receiving, at a central location, location data corresponding to a geographic location of each of a plurality of remote document input locations, including the at least one selected physical location, from which plurality of remote document input locations the at least one electronic data file is communicated;

an input operable for receiving location cost data corresponding to a fee structure for electronic document storage, wherein location cost data corresponds to the location data associated with each received electronic data file and a number of pages associated therewith;

an input operable for receiving duration data corresponding to a duration of storage for the electronic data file;

a processor operating in connection with instructions disposed in an associated memory, for calculating fee cost data representative of a fee associated with the desired data storage operation specified by the request data, received location cost data, duration data, and cost per page;

an output operable for communicating the cost data to an associated user;

an input operable for receiving order data denoting acceptance by the user of the fee cost data for performing the desired data storage operation;

the processor further operable for commencing the desired data storage operation at the central location corresponding to received location data in accordance with the request data;

the processor further operable for assessing a charge for storage of the at least one electronic data file at the central location in accordance with the fee cost data;

the processor further operable for generating a notification relative to termination of the data storage operation, the notification including a cost associated with an extension of the duration; and

the processor further operable for extending the duration in accordance with a response received from a generated notification.

11. The system for data service management of electronic files of claim 10, further comprising an input operable for receiving, from the associated user, selection data representative of a selected payment method for the charge associated with the desired operation.

12. The system for data service management of electronic files of claim 10, wherein the selected payment method is chosen from the group of payment options consisting of a credit card, a debit card, a funds transfer, a pre-paid account debit, a coupon submission and a promotional offering.