Automatic connection to an online service provider from a backup system

• US 7,844,445 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Storage Appliance Corp.
• Original Assignee: Storage Appliance Corp.
• Inventors: Collins, Ian, Li, Eric, Chowdhary, Yousuf, Brunet, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Kamini S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Calle; Angel J
• Application Number:
  US11/801,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 703/23
• US Class Current: 703/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1461 Backup scheduling policy
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00

Abstract

A software application is provided for a user to select a backed up data file and specify a task to be performed by an online service provider on the selected file. The application automatically connects to the online service provider and uploads the selected file for the online service provider to perform the task. Tasks that can be performed include printing, sharing, viewing, playing and archiving the selected file. Task preferences, user settings and user information can also be specified by the user and uploaded to the online service provider. Automatic connection to the online service provider can be via default setting, selected file type, or specified task. Alternatively, the user can designate which service provider is to perform the task. Payment for the task can be accomplished via bundled credits or by other payment mechanisms.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a response to an inquiry from a data source, the response identifying a flash memory of a USB flash drive as being an auto-launch device type, the response being provided through a USB interface of the USB flash drive to the data source;

providing a backup application from the flash memory of the USB flash drive to the data source, the backup application configured to selectively copy data files stored on the data source to a networked storage thereby creating a set of backed up data files, wherein providing the backup application includes

receiving auto-launch device type commands from the data source, translating the auto-launch device type commands to flash memory device type commands, and sending the flash memory device type commands to the flash memory, and

receiving flash memory device type responses from the flash memory, translating the flash memory device type responses into auto-launch device type responses, and sending the auto-launch device type responses to the data source;

providing a GUI for a user to select a data file from amongst the set of backed up data files, and specify a task for an online service provider;

receiving a user selection of a data file from amongst the set of backed up data files;

receiving a task specification for the online service provider;

automatically connecting to the online service provider; and

uploading the selected backed up data file to the automatically connected online service provider.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising uploading the task specification to the online service provider.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein uploading the task specification includes uploading a task preference.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the GUI occurs automatically after the set of backed up data files has been created.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the task specification includes receiving a specification to print the selected backed up data file.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the task specification includes receiving a specification to share the selected backed up data file.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the task specification includes receiving a specification to play the selected backed up data file.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the task specification includes receiving a specification to view the selected backed up data file.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the task specification includes receiving a specification to archive the selected backed up data file.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the task specification includes receiving a task preference.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically connecting to the online service provider includes receiving a trigger to connect.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically connecting to the online service provider includes identifying the online service provider.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein identifying the online service provider includes obtaining the online service provider from the specification of the task.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein identifying the online service provider includes using a default setting.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein identifying the online service provider includes following a rule.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically connecting to the online service provider includes logging on to the online service provider.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein logging on to the online service provider includes providing default user credentials to the online service provider.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising uploading user information to the online service provider.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising uploading a user setting to the online service provider.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing payment information to the online service provider.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein providing payment information to the online service provider includes applying bundled credits.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a confirmation of task completion from the online service provider.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving advertising from the online service provider.

24. A computer readable medium having stored thereupon computing instructions executable by a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

providing a response to an inquiry from a data source, the response identifying a flash memory of a USB flash drive as being an auto-launch device type, the response being provided through a USB interface of the USB flash drive to the data source;

providing a backup application from the flash memory of the USB flash drive to the data source, the backup application configured to selectively copy data files stored on the data source to a networked storage thereby creating a set of backed up data files, wherein providing the backup application includes

receiving auto-launch device type commands from the data source, translating the auto-launch device type commands to flash memory device type commands, and sending the flash memory device type commands to the flash memory, and

receiving flash memory device type responses from the flash memory, translating the flash memory device type responses into auto-launch device type responses, and sending the auto-launch device type responses to the data source;

providing a GUI for selection of a backed up data file from amongst the set of backed up data files, and for specification of a task for an online service provider;

receiving a selection of a backed up data file from amongst the set of backed up data files;

receiving a task specification for the online service provider;

automatically connecting to the online service provider; and

uploading the selected data file to the automatically connected online service provider.

25. The computer readable medium having stored thereupon computing instructions to perform a method of claim 24 the method further comprising uploading the task specification to the online service provider.

26. The computer readable medium having stored thereupon computing instructions to perform a method of claim 24 wherein receiving the task specification includes receiving a task preference.

27. The computer readable medium having stored thereupon computing instructions to perform a method of claim 24 wherein automatically connecting to the online service provider includes identifying the online service provider.

28. The computer readable medium having stored thereupon computing instructions to perform a method of claim 24 wherein automatically connecting to the online service provider includes providing default user credentials to the online service provider.

29. The computer readable medium having stored thereupon computing instructions to perform a method of claim 24 the method further comprising providing payment information to the online service provider by applying bundled credits.