Background service process for local collection of data in an electronic discovery system

• US 8,549,327 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Mayer, Michael J., Miller, Emerson D., Andersen, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEBERT, THEODORE E
• Application Number:
  US12/731,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 711/161, 711/162
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for a local collection tool that is configured to run as an authorized background service process. As such, the local collection tool of the present invention is capable of being executed in the absence of the device user'"'"'s credentials. As a result, local collection can be accomplished without the user being present or covertly without the user'"'"'s knowledge of collection process. Moreover, the back-up file generated by the collection tool may include encrypted data, which can automatically be decrypted by the collection entity through application of a master key.

Claims

1. A method for collecting data locally stored in an electronic discovery system, the method comprising:

deploying, via a computing device processor, a collection tool at a first computing device within the electronic discovery system;

executing, via a computing device processor, the collection tool at the first computing device, wherein the collection tool is configured to run as an authorized background service process, and wherein the collection tool is configured to automatically be executed in response to deployment of the collection tool at the first computing device;

generating, via the computing device processor, in response to execution of the collection tool, a backup file that includes files stored locally at the first computing device and a catalog of the files included in the backup file;

communicating, from the first computing device to a network device, the catalog;

sequentially uploading, via the computing device processor, each of the files in the backup file to a collection server, wherein a rate of transmission of the uploading is varied based on a determination as to whether a user is actively using the first computing device; and

communicating, from the collection server to the network device, an indication each time one of the files has been successfully uploaded, wherein receipt of the indication by the network device provides for a mark to be made in the catalog indicating that the file has been successfully collected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein executing further comprises executing, via the computing device processor, the collection tool configured to run absent computer device-user credentials.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein executing further comprises executing, via the computing device processor, the collection tool configured with data access security authorization for collection of data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating further comprises generating a backup file that includes encrypted files stored locally at the first computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising, decrypting, via a computing device processor, the encrypted files at the collection server once the files have been successfully uploaded.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein decrypting further comprises decrypting the encrypted files at the collection server by automated application of a master key.

7. An apparatus configured for electronic discovery collection of data stored locally, the apparatus comprising:

a computing platform including a memory and a processor; and

a collection tool stored in the memory, executable by the processor as an authorized background service process and configured to;

deploy at a first computing device;

direct the computing platform to automatically execute in response to deployment of the collection tool at the first computing device, wherein the collection tool is configured to execute as an authorized background service process;

direct the computing platform to generate a backup file that includes files stored locally at the first computing device and a catalog of the files included in the backup file;

direct the computing platform to communicate the catalog to a network device;

direct the computing platform to sequentially upload each of the files in the backup file to a collection server, wherein a rate of transmission of the upload is varied based on a determination as to whether a user is actively using the first computing device,

wherein each time one of the files has been successfully uploaded at the collection server an indication is communicated to the network device that prompts a mark to be made in the catalog indicating that the file has been successfully collected.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the collection tool is further configured and authorized to be automatically executable by the processor absent computer device-user credentials.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the collection tool is further configured to direct the computing platform to generate the backup file of files using data access security authorization.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the collection tool is further configured to generate a backup file that includes encrypted files stored locally at the first computing device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the collection tool is further configured to sequentially upload the files to the collection server, wherein decryption of the encrypted files occurs at the collection server.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the collection tool is further configured to sequentially upload each of the files to the collection server, wherein decryption of the encrypted file occurs at the collection server by automated application of a master key.

13. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to deploy a collection tool at a first computing device;

a second set of codes for causing a computer to execute the collection tool, wherein the collection tool is configured to run as an authorized background service process, and wherein the collection tool is configured to automatically execute in response to deployment of the collection tool at the first computing device;

a third set of codes for causing a computer to generate, in response to execution of the collection tool, a backup file that includes files stored locally and a catalog of the files included in the backup file;

a fourth set of codes for causing a computer to communicate the catalog to a network device;

a fifth set of codes for causing a computer to sequentially uploading, via the computing device processor, each of the files in the backup file to a collection server, wherein a rate of transmission of the uploading is varied based on a determination as to whether a user is actively using the first computing device; and

a sixth set of codes for causing a computer to communication indication each time one of the files has been successfully uploaded, wherein receipt of the indication by the network device provides for a mark to be made in the catalog indicating that the file has been successfully collected.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the second set of codes is further configured and authorized to execute the collection tool absent computer device-user credentials.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the second third set of codes is further configured to cause the computer to execute the collection tool using data access security authorization.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the third set of codes is further configured to cause the computer to generate the backup file that includes encrypted files stored locally.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the fifth set of codes is further configured to cause the computer to sequentially upload each of the files in the backup file to the collection server, wherein decryption of the encrypted files within the backup files occurs at the collection server.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the fifth set of codes is further configured to cause the computer to sequentially upload each of the files in the backup file to the collection server, wherein decryption of the encrypted files within the backup file occurs at the collection server by automated application of a master key.