Data backup, storage, transfer and retrieval system, method and computer program product

• US 8,195,776 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vdata, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JustService.net LLC
• Inventors: Fiducci, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/961,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20110161369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/184 implemented as replicated file system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6272 by registering files or documents with a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/80 Database-specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

A file storage and retrieval system, method and computer program product connects an account user'"'"'s computer to a remote, secure, redundant system computer via the Internet. The system operates to copy selected data between the account user'"'"'s computer and the system computer including, documents, music files, image files, and email in any file type or format. The system is compatible with all types of computers, including personal data assistants and mobile telephones, and all types of operating systems. The account user can view and download data from any computer, including PDA'"'"'s and mobile telephones. If the user'"'"'s computer fails for any reason, the copied data can be restored to a new or repaired computer or storage device. All of the software to operate the system is resident on the system computer with no hardware or software required on the account user computer beyond a conventional web browser. Further, the account user can access the storage and retrieval data from any computer from any location, such as home or office. The system also contains a scheduler, a contacts manager, a reminder generator and file transfer system for third-party users.

Claims

1. A data storage system for storing data files of multiple accounts on a system computer, the data files being retrievable at any account user computer having a display and storage device and operatively connected to the system computer via the Internet;

said data storage system comprising;

the system computer having a system storage device and means for storing and selectively retrieving data files for each respective account, the data files for each account being unique to that account, the system computer being operatively connected to the Internet;

means for the system computer to verify account user information for each account user computer seeking access to the system computer over the Internet;

means for the system computer to display on the account user computer display a list of unique data files on the system computer storage device for and only for the verified account and a list of data files stored on the user computer storage device;

means to instruct the account user computer to recognize the unique data files of the system storage device for the verified account as a local storage device for said account user computer;

means for transferring files from the account user computer storage device to the system computer storage device and transferring files from the system computer storage device to the account user computer storage device;

means for authorizing one or more subusers of the account, and file rights control means for limiting the permissions that such subusers have to the account where said file rights control means permissions may include designation of one or more specific account user computers from which the subuser may access the account, said system computer displaying on the account user computer display those said controlled access personal subaccount files and controlled access shared account files for said verified account; and

means for instructing the account user computer to cease recognizing the system storage device for the verified account as a local storage device for the account user computer after a logoff instruction is received by the system computer.

2. The system of claim 1 where said subaccounts are authorized and said file rights control means grants said permissions using a graphical interface.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an account activity screen that indicates the account subusers currently using the account and the account user computers from which said subusers are currently accessing the account.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a log means for tracking when and from what account user computers subusers have accessed the account.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a lockout means, which prevents further attempts to access an account following a predetermined number of failed access attempts.

6. The system of claim 1 where said designation of one or more specific account user computers may be made with a single entry of an input device.

7. The system of claim 6 where said file rights control means includes the ability to set a subuser'"'"'s access rights to a group of account files using a single entry of an input device to one of the following:

read-only, add only and change-and-delete.

8. The system of claim 1 where said file rights control means includes the ability to grant and withdraw authorization for specific users.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one auxiliary system storage device and a computer program for copying the contents of the system computer storage device to said auxiliary system storage device.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one scheduler with a least one event scheduled with at least one date and time;

said scheduler sending an alert regarding said at least one date at predetermined intervals prior to said date and said time.

11. A data storage system for storing data files for a plurality of accounts, said data files being retrievable at any computer capable of connecting to a system computer over a network;

said data storage system comprising;

said system computer operatively connected to the network and including a system storage device that can selectively write and access data for each of said plurality of accounts;

said plurality of accounts having a plurality of subaccounts, each of said subaccounts having file rights controlled access to personal subaccount files stored on the system storage device and each of said subaccounts having file rights controlled access to shared account files stored on the system storage device wherein said file rights controlled access includes capability for transferring files from a user computer to the system computer for each said account;

each said account having a primary account user that sets access levels to shared files and personal files for each of said subaccount users; and

an account user computer operatively connected to the network and including a display;

wherein said system computer verifies account user information for each account user computer seeking to access file storage on said system computer for said account, and said system computer displays on the account user computer display those said controlled access personal subaccount files and controlled access shared account files for said verified account.