System and method of storing data files at a remote storage facility

• US 7,702,781 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 1, LLC
• Original Assignee: TEOCO
• Inventors: Devolites, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yu, Xiang
• Application Number:
  US11/367,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20070208826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 715/248, 715/769
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1824 implemented using Network-attached Storage [NAS] architecture distributed or networked storage systems G06F3/067; protocols for distributed storage of data in a network H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A system may include a network, a remote storage facility coupled to the network, and a client coupled to the network. The client may be adapted to receive a store command for a data file, to prompt a user for a file name for the data file, and to receive a parameter selection. The parameter selection may include a transfer time. The client may be adapted to apply the parameter selection to the data file, to queue the data file in a queue for transmission to the remote storage facility, and to transfer the data file to the remote storage facility at the transfer time.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving by at least one computer, at a client device of a first entity, a selection by a user of a store as command at a graphical user interface (GUI) executing on said client device, the first entity being at least one of an individual, the user, or a company;

receiving by the at least one computer a selection of a data file on said client device by the user for transfer across a network for storage at a remote storage facility of a second entity, the user having an associated login account with the second entity, the second entity being at least one of a network service provider or an internet service provider (ISP);

prompting by the at least one computer the user for a file name for said data file at said GUI;

associating by the at least one computer said file name with said data file;

receiving by the at least one computer a parameter selection at said GUI, said parameter selection coupled to said account and coupled to a service level agreement (SLA) between the first entity and the second entity, said parameter selection comprising a scheduled transfer time, an encryption selection, and at least one of;

an administrative parameter, wherein said administrative parameter comprises a user selectable remote storage retention duration for said data file and at least one of a default parameter, a previously selected parameter, or a synchronize option;

indexing information;

a compression level;

or

a security level;

applying by the at least one computer said parameter selection to said data file;

identifying by the at least one computer said SLA;

determining by the at least one computer whether to transfer said data file based on enforcing said SLA;

queuing, if transfer is determined to be permitted, by the at least one computer said data file in a queue for scheduled upload transmission to said remote storage facility of the second entity at said scheduled transfer time; and

transferring, if transfer is determined to be permitted, by the at least one computer said data file to said remote storage facility at said transfer time automatically without user interaction based on said parameter selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said indexing information comprises adding metatag data to said data file to create a searchable data file.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said selection of at least one of said store as command or said data file comprises dragging and dropping of said data file to an icon on said GUI.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said SLA indicates a maximum size of data said first entity is permitted to store at said remote storage facility.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of transferring said data file further comprises encrypting by the at least one computer said data file according to at least one of said encryption level or said security level.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of transferring said data file further comprises at least one of compressing by the at least one computer said data file according to said compression level or transferring said data file wherein said data file was previously compressed, wherein said compression comprises at least one of MPEG, JPEG, TIFF, and/or PDF.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of transferring said data file further comprises initiating by the at least one computer a connection over said network.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving by the at least one computer a request from the user to retrieve said data file from said remote storage facility;

initiating by the at least one computer an authentication sequence between said client device and said remote storage facility; and

receiving by the at least one computer said data file from said remote storage facility to said client device.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving by the at least one computer a search request from the user for said remote storage facility;

initiating by the at least one computer a user authentication sequence;

providing by the at least one computer a prompt to said user;

receiving by the at least one computer search terms from said user; and

receiving by the at least one computer a results list of one or more data files corresponding to said search terms.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising providing by the at least one computer said results list of one or more data files to said user.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said results list of one or more data files is generated in response to the user entering at least one of a date, a word, a letter sequence, a number sequence, and/or a letter and number sequence at said client device.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising by the at least one computer, receiving from the user fee payment information for accessing or storing said data file stored at said remote storage facility.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing by the at least one computer fee information to the user for at least one of accessing or storing said data file at said remote storage facility.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said storage is provided as a service to the user by the second entity in exchange for a fee, wherein said fee comprises a periodic fee or an aperiodic fee.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said fee is charged to at least one of the user or a network service provider.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing by the at least one computer a request to said remote storage facility;

initiating by the at least one computer an authentication sequence; and

authenticating the user by the at least one computer.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said step of initiating an authentication sequence further comprises:

receiving by the at least one computer identification information from the user; and

providing by the at least one computer said identification information for comparison with stored identification information.

18. A system comprising:

a storage device at a first entity comprising at least one of a network service provider or an internet service provider (ISP);

a network coupled to said storage device that receives from a client device at a second entity coupled to said network, a data file via a scheduled upload transmission scheduled by a user of the client device through a store as command, the scheduled upload transmission determined to be permitted based on enforcement of an identified service level agreement (SLA) between the first entity and the second entity, the user having an associated login account with the first entity, the second entity comprising at least one of an individual, the user, or a company;

wherein the storage device stores said data file according to a parameter selection coupled to said account and coupled to the SLA ; and

wherein said parameter selection comprises a scheduled transfer time, an encryption selection and at least one;

an administrative parameter, wherein said administrative parameter comprises a user selectable remote storage retention duration for said data file and at least one of a default parameter, a previously selected parameter, or a synchronize option;

indexing information;

a compression level;

or

a security level.

19. A computer program product (CPP) embodied on a computer readable medium, the CPP comprising:

a GUI application, said GUI comprising;

instructions for enabling at least one computer to receive a user selected store as command to queue a scheduled upload, and automatically transmit, according to a parameter selection coupled to a service level agreement (SLA) between a first entity and a second entity, a data file on said client device to a remote storage facility at the second entity at a user selectable transfer time for storage at the remote storage facility if transmission is determined to be permitted based on identification and enforcement of the SLA, the first entity being at least one of an individual, the user, or a company, and the second entity being at least one of a network service provider or an internet service provider;

instructions for enabling the at least one computer to apply to said data file the parameter selection, the parameter selection comprising a scheduled transfer time, an encryption selection, and at least one of;

an administrative parameter, wherein said administrative parameter comprises a user selectable remote storage retention duration for said data file and at least one of a default parameter, a previously selected parameter, or a synchronize option;

indexing information;

a compression level;

or

a security level.

20. The GUI of claim 19, wherein said GUI application is further adapted to comprises instructions for enabling the at least one computer to access said data file from said remote storage facility.

21. A method comprising:

receiving by at least one computer at a storage facility service provider of a first entity, a scheduled upload transmission of a data file, based on a parameter selection, from a remote client device of—

a second entity resulting from a store as request from a user, the user having an account associated with the first entity, the scheduled upload transmission determined to be permitted based on enforcement of an identified service level agreement (SLA) between the first entity and the second entity, the storage facility and the remote client device coupled to one another via at least one of;

a network service provider or an internet service provider (ISP), the second entity being at least one of an individual, the user, or a company,

wherein said parameter selection is coupled to said account and coupled to the SLA, wherein said parameter selection comprises a scheduled transfer time, an encryption selection and at least one of;

an administrative parameter, wherein said administrative parameter comprises a user selectable remote storage retention duration for said data file and at least one of a default parameter, a previously selected parameter, or a synchronize option;

indexing information;

a compression level;

or

a security level; and

storing by the at least one computer said data file on a storage device of said storage facility service provider based on said parameter selection.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said receiving comprises:

identifying by the at least one computer said service level agreement (SLA); and

determining by the at least one computer whether to receive said data file based on enforcing said SLA.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein said SLA indicates a maximum size of data said second entity is permitted to store at said storage facility service provider.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein said storing further comprises encrypting and storing by the at least one computer said data file according to at least one of said encryption level or said security level.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said encrypting comprises at least one of:

authentication, password, public/private key (PKI) encryption, hash codes, verification, personal identification number (PIN) or password-enabled encryption.

26. The method according to claim 21 wherein said receiving further comprises at least one of compressing said data file according to said compression level or receiving said data file wherein said data file was previously compressed, wherein said compression comprises at least one of MPEG, JPEG, TIFF, PDF, an audio format compression, a video format compression or a data format compression.

27. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

receiving by the at least one computer a request at said storage facility service provider to retrieve said data file;

initiating by the at least one computer an authentication sequence between said client device and said storage facility service provider; and

transferring by the at least one computer said data file from said storage facility service provider to said client device.

28. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

receiving by the at least one computer a search request at said storage facility service provider;

initiating by the at least one computer a user authentication sequence;

providing by the at least one computer a prompt to said client device;

receiving by the at least one computer search terms from said client device; and

generating by the at least one computer a results list of one or more data files corresponding to said search terms.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising providing by the at least one computer said results list of one or more data files to said client device.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein said results list of one or more data files is generated in response to the user entering at least one of a date, a word, a letter sequence, a number sequence, and/or a letter and number sequence at said client device.

31. The method according to claim 21, further comprising receiving from, the remote client device by the at least one computer, fee payment information for accessing or storing said data file stored at said storage facility service provider.

32. The method according to claim 21, further comprising providing by the at least one computer fee information to the user for at least one of accessing or storing said data file at said storage facility service provider.

33. The method according to 21, wherein said storage is provided as a service to the user by the first entity in exchange for a fee, wherein said fee comprises a periodic fee or an aperiodic fee.

34. The method according to 33, wherein said fee is charged to at least one of the user or a network service provider.

35. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

receiving by the at least one computer a request at said storage facility service provider;

initiating by the at least one computer an authentication sequence; and

authenticating by the at least one computer the user.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein said step of initiating an authentication sequence further comprises:

receiving by the at least one computer identification information from the remote client device; and

comparing by the at least one computer said identification information with stored identification information.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein identification information comprises at least one of:

password, user information, personal identification number (PIN), verification information, or authentication information.

38. A system comprising:

means for receiving by at least one computer at a storage facility service provider of a first entity, a scheduled upload transmission of a data file, based on a parameter selection, from a remote client device of second entity resulting from a store as request from a user, the user having an account associated with the first entity, the scheduled upload transmission determined to be permitted based on enforcement of an identified service level agreement (SLA) between the first entity and the second entity, the storage facility and the remote client device coupled to one another via at least one of;

a network service provider or an internet service provider (ISP), the second entity being at least one of an individual, the user, or a company,

wherein said parameter selection is coupled to said account and coupled to the SLA, wherein said parameter selection comprises a scheduled transfer time, an encryption selection and at least one of;

an administrative parameter, wherein said administrative parameter comprises a user selectable remote storage retention duration for said data file and at least one of a default parameter, a previously selected parameter, or a synchronize option;

indexing information;

a compression level;

or

a security level; and

means for storing by the at least one computer said data file on a storage device of said storage facility service provider based on said parameter selection.