Patent US6714968B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6714968B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for seamless access to a remote storage server utilizing multiple access interfaces executing on the remote server
Assignee: WAM!NET Inc
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Filing: 2000-02-09
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Granted: 2004-03-30
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Expires: 2020-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A data storage system is described that provides seamless access to remote data storage areas via a global computer network. The data storage system includes one or more storage servers coupled to one or more storage devices. The storage devices provide a plurality of virtual storage areas, where each virtual storage area is assigned to a user. Access to the virtual storage areas is fully integrated with an operating system executing on a client computer such that the user, or software applications executing on the client computer, can seamlessly access the corresponding virtual storage area using standard file management routines provided by the operating system. In addition, the invention provides a wide range of other remote access methods to the virtual data storage areas.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitch Prust
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/06; H04L67/10; H04L67/1097; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A data storage system comprising: a client computer; a storage server communicatively coupled to the client computer via a global computer network, wherein the storage server allocates a user-assignable remote storage area in response to a request received from the client computer over the global computer network; a plurality of software applications executing on the storage server to provide a plurality of different access interfaces for accessing the remote storage area; an operating system executing on the client computer and including application programming interface (API) routines that communicate with a first one of the access interfaces of the storage server to manage data files within the remote storage area as if the data files were local on the client computer; and a communication software application executing on the client computer to directly communicate with a second one of the access interfaces of the storage server to manage the data files within the remote storage area without invoking the API routines of the operating system executing on the client computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A data storage system comprising: a client computer; a storage server communicatively coupled to the client computer via a global computer network, wherein the storage server allocates a user-assignable remote storage area in response to a request received from the client computer over the global computer network; a plurality of software applications executing on the storage server to provide a plurality of different access interfaces for accessing the remote storage area; an operating system executing on the client computer and including application programming interface (API) routines that communicate with a first one of the access interfaces of the storage server to manage data files within the remote storage area as if the data files were local on the client computer; and a communication software application executing on the client computer to directly communicate with a second one of the access interfaces of the storage server to manage the data files within the remote storage area without invoking the API routines of the operating system executing on the client computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The data storage system of claim 1 , and wherein the operating system encrypts one or more data files and communicates the data files to the storage server for storage within the storage area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The data storage system of claim 1 , and wherein the operating system issues requests to the storage server to retrieve one or more data files from the storage area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The data storage system of claim 1 , and wherein the API routines include at least a file management routine to facilitate copying, deleting, moving and renaming data files.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The data storage system of claim 1 , and wherein the API routines include a routine to facilitate creating, deleting and renaming data file directories.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The data storage system of claim 1 , wherein the storage server and the computer communicate via the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The data storage system of claim 1 , wherein the API includes Apple File Services and the first one of the access interfaces of the storage server supports Apple Filing Protocol for accessing the data files within the remote storage area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The data storage system of claim 1 , wherein the communication software application comprises one of a web browser, a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) utility, a data storage backup utility, and an electronic mail software application.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The data storage system of claim 1 , wherein the API supports Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) and the first one of the access interfaces presented by the software applications executing on storage server supports WebDAV for accessing the data files within the remote storage area as if the data files were local.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The data storage system of claim 1 , wherein the API supports Server Message Block (SMB) protocol and the first one of the access interfaces presented by the software applications executing on the storage server supports SMB for accessing the remote storage area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
The data storage system of claim 1 , wherein the software applications executing on the storage server include an electronic mail application to receive an electronic mail message from the client computer that contains at least one attached data file, wherein the electronic mail application analyzes the electronic mail message to identify a target one of the remote storage areas, and store the attached data file within the identified target remote storage area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The data storage system of claim 11 , wherein the electronic mail message flu includes text and the electronic mail application parses the text to determine the target remote storage area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The data storage system of claim 11 , wherein the electronic mail application analyzes content of a subject field associated with the electronic mail message to determine the target remote storage area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The data storage system of claim 11 , wherein the electronic mail application both content of a subject field associated the electronic mail message and content of a destination address associated with the electronic mail message to determine the target remote storage area.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
220 words
A method for accessing data files from a computer having an operating system executing thereon, the method comprising: allocating one of a set of remote storage areas provided by a storage server to a user in response to a request received via a global computer network, wherein the storage server provides an operating environment for a plurality of software applications to present a plurality of different access interfaces for accessing the set of remote storage areas; receiving a file access request via one of: (1) an application programming interface (API) routine provided by an operating system of a client computer that communicates with a first one of the access interfaces presented by the software applications of the storage server to manage remote data files within the remote storage areas as if the data files were local on the client computer, and (2) a communication software application executing on the client computer that communicates with a second one of the access interfaces of the storage server to manage the data files within the remote storage area; communicating the access request to the storage server via the global computer network and the respective one of the different access interfaces presented by the software applications of the storage server; and accessing the data files with the remote storage server according to the request.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
220 words
A method for accessing data files from a computer having an operating system executing thereon, the method comprising: allocating one of a set of remote storage areas provided by a storage server to a user in response to a request received via a global computer network, wherein the storage server provides an operating environment for a plurality of software applications to present a plurality of different access interfaces for accessing the set of remote storage areas; receiving a file access request via one of: (1) an application programming interface (API) routine provided by an operating system of a client computer that communicates with a first one of the access interfaces presented by the software applications of the storage server to manage remote data files within the remote storage areas as if the data files were local on the client computer, and (2) a communication software application executing on the client computer that communicates with a second one of the access interfaces of the storage server to manage the data files within the remote storage area; communicating the access request to the storage server via the global computer network and the respective one of the different access interfaces presented by the software applications of the storage server; and accessing the data files with the remote storage server according to the request.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein communicating the access request to the storage server includes encrypting one or more data files and sending the data files to the storage server for storage within the storage area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein communicating the access request to the storage server includes issuing requests to the storage server to retrieve the remote data file from the storage area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein communicating the access request to the storage server includes communicating user information to the remote storage server.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein accessing the remote data file includes authenticating the user information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein authenticating the user information includes comparing the user information to a username and password, stored on the remote storage server.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein communicating the access request includes communicating via Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving a file request via the API routine includes receiving a file request via Apple File Services.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein accessing the remote data file includes executing a software application to invoke the API as if the remote data file where local.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein executing the software application includes executing the software application to browse for a data file.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the communication software application comprises one of a web browser, a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) utility, a data storage backup utility, and an electronic mail software application.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-03-30 | 2007-09-29 | 2008-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-30 | 2011-09-29 | 2012-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-30 | 2015-09-29 | 2016-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |