Titanide Ventures, LLC v. Google, Inc.

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against Google, Inc. ( Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 0540-3506749.), filed by Titanide Ventures, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit A - U.S. Patent Number 6,714,968, # 3 Exhibit B - U.S. Patent Number 6,735,623, # 4 Exhibit C - U.S. Patent Number 6,952,724)(Hill, Jack)

EXHIBIT A

111111

1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
US006714968Bl

(54)

United States Patent

(10)

Prust

(12)

(45)

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEAMLESS
ACCESS TO A REMOTE STORAGE SERVER
UTILIZING MULTIPLE ACCESS
INTERFACES EXECUTING ON THE
REMOTE SERVER

(75)

Inventor:

(73)

Assignee: Mitch Prust, St. Paul, MN (US)

( *)

Notice:

(21)

Appl. No.: 09/501,041

(22)

Filed:

(51)

Int. CI? ....................... G06F 15/16; G06F 15/173;
G06F 9/00
U.S. CI. ....................... 709/219; 709/217; 709/203;
709/225; 709/328
Field of Search ................................. 709/217-219,
709/328,214,203

(52)
(58)

Mitch Prust, 16244 Ramsey Blvd.
NW., Ramsey, MN (US) 55303

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.c. 154(b) by 0 days.

Feb. 9, 2000

(56)

References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,748,896
6,216,168
6,289,382
6,311,213
6,356,863
6,356,941
6,366,987
6,393,466
6,449,688
6,453,325
6,466,978

A
B1
B1
B2
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1

* 5/1998 Daly et al. .................. 709/223
* 4/2001 Dev et al. ................... 709/245
9/2001 Bowman-Amuah

* 10/2001 Dawson et al. ............. 709/217
3/2002 Sayle

* 3/2002 Cohen ........................ 709/219
* 4/2002 Tzelnic et al. .............. 711/162
5/2002 Hickman et al.

* 9/2002 Peters et al. ................ 709/233
* 9/2002 Cabrera et al. ............. 707/204
* 10/2002 Mukherjee et al. ......... 709/225

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

wo

WO 94/18634

WO

Patent No.:
US 6,714,968 Bl
Date of Patent:
Mar. 30, 2004

WO 98/24025

OTHER PUBLICATIONS
XP-000888651, Client Application for Integrating a Development Environment with a Web Distributed Authoring
(WebDAV) Server, Research Disclosure, Disclosed by International Business Machines Corporation, 2 pages (Apr.
1999).
International Search Report from Application No. PCT/US
01/04352 mailed Oct. 9,2003 (4 pages).
Goals for a configuration management network protocol,
Whitehead, E.J., System Configuration Management, 9th
International Symposium. SCM-9, Proceedings, Toulouse,
France Sep. 5-7, 1999, ISBN: 3-540-66484-X, 18 pages.
WebDAV: A Panacea for Collaborative Authoring?, Sussman, D., Siemens Corporate Research, Apr.-Jun. 1999, pp.
76-79.
(List continued on next page.)

Primary Examiner-David Wiley
Assistant Examiner-Joseph E. Avellino
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shumaker & Sieffert, P.A.
(57)

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.
25 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets

8/1994

800 '...

803 ~

~----------------------

805

User accesses the remote storage servers via a global
computer network, such as the Internet, and request a
corresponding virtual storage area.
~----

t

-------------------

Prompt the user for information such as a username,
password, and billing address.

807

809

6/1998

a~ocate

Upon approval, automahcally
a remote storage area 0
the user and stores the user information in metadata
database. Inform user of approval as well as necessary
~____________--'a""c""c"'e"'ss"-"'in';'fo"'-r'-"m"'at"'io""'n. ~ ___________-----'
Upon allocation, users can access the respective remote
storage area via a variety of access interfaces.

US 6,714,968 BI
Page 2

OlliER PUBLICATIONS
World Wide Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning:
Web DAV, Whitehead, E.l., WebDAV Information, Feb.
1999, pp. 1-2.
Requirements for Distributed Authoring and Versioning on
the World Wide Web, Slein, l.A.; Vitali, F.; Whitehead, lr.,
E.l.; Durand, D.G.; Standard View VI. 5, No.1, Mar. 1997,
ISSN: 1067-9936, pp. 17-24.
How to implement Web-based groupware systems based on
WebDAV, Dridi, F.; Neumann, G., Enabling Technologies:
Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises, lun. 1999, Proceedings IEEE 8 th , ISBN: 0-7695-0365-9, pp. 114-119.
U.S. patent application entitled, "Remote Storage Area
Having Multiple Access Interfaces," Ser. No. 09/500,868,
filed Feb. 9, 2000.

http://www.webdav.org-WebDAV Resources.
http://www.backup.com-@Backup®.
http://www.bitlocker.com-Bitlocker.
http://www.datahubonline.com-datahubonline.com.
http://www.diskonnet.com-DiskOnNet.com.
http://www.docspace.com-Critical Path Inc.
http://www.driveway.com-Driveway Corporation.
http://itools.mac.com-Apple-iTools.
http://www.filemonkey.com-File Monkey Software Development Services.
http://www.freedrive.com-FreeDrive. Inc.
http://www.xinet.com-Xinet. Inc.

* cited by examiner

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On adding contents to folder this folder
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US 6,714,968 Bl

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User accesses the remote storage servers via a global
computer network, such as the Internet, and request a
corresponding virtual storage area.

805
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password, and billing address.

807

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the user and stores the user information in metadata
database. Inform user of approval as well as necessary
access information.

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storage area via a variety of access interfaces.

FIG.8

US 6,714,968 B1
1

2

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEAMLESS
ACCESS TO A REMOTE STORAGE SERVER
UTILIZING MULTIPLE ACCESS
INTERFACES EXECUTING ON THE
REMOTE SERVER

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention
are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the description and
drawings, and from the claims.

5

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
TECHNI CAL FIELD

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an exemplary hardware and
operating environment of a suitable computer for use with
This invention relates to storage of digital data, and more 10
embodiments of the invention;
particularly to a data storage system that provides access to
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a computing system
a remote storage area.
in which a storage server provides seamless access to remote
storage areas;
BACKGROUND
FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface displayed by one
The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks that 15
embodiment of an operating system for directly accessing a
spans over 100 countries and connects millions of computremote storage area using standard file management routines
ers. Reports indicate that the Internet is growing faster than
provided by the operating system;
all preceding information technologies including radio and
FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface displayed by another
television. Remote data storage over the Internet is one of
the fastest growing facets of the Internet. Numerous com- 20 embodiment of an operating system for directly accessing a
remote storage area;
panies provide a wide range of an Internet data storage
FIG. 5 illustrates an example operating system script
services for remotely storing and managing data files. Many
written in AppleScript for the Macintosh® operating system
of these services, however, have limited modes for accessing
that automatically copies a file from a local directory to a
the data files. For example, many require that a user load
proprietary software on his computer in order to communi- 25 similarly named remote directory located within a storage
area;
cate data files to the remote storage. Other services only
support access via a web browser or similar communication
FIG. 6 illustrates a window displayed by a conventional
utility.
web browser when a user accesses a virtual storage area;
FIG. 7 illustrates a window displayed by a conventional
SUMMARY
30 electronic mail software application when a user mails one
or more data files to a corresponding storage area; and
The present invention is directed to a data storage system
FIG. 8 is a flow chart that provides a high-level overview
and method capable of providing a variety of access methof how the storage system allocates remote storage areas.
ods. In particular, the a system and method in accordance
with the present invention can be configured to easily and 35
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
seamlessly interact with a user's computer without requiring
proprietary software.
As explained in detail below, the system and method can
be configured to provide seamless access to a plurality of
remote storage areas. Authorized users can access data files
from anywhere in the world via a global computer network
such as the Internet or a private wide-area network. In one
embodiment, access to the virtual storage area is fully
integrated with an operating system executing on a client's
computer for seamless access using standard file management routines provided by the operating system. In addition,
utilities, such as the Macintosh® Sherlock® search tool, can
seamlessly search the remote storage areas.
In one embodiment, the data storage system includes a
plurality of storage servers coupled to a plurality of storage
devices. The storage devices provide a plurality of virtual
storage areas, each storage area assigned to a user. According to the invention, the assigned user can seamlessly access
the assigned virtual storage area using a client computer
communicatively coupled to the storage servers via a global
computer network such as the Internet. An operating system
executing on the computer includes a set of application
programming interface (API) routines for managing local
data files. The operating system provides access to the
storage areas over the global computer network using the file
management API routines provided by the operating system.
In order to store data files, the operating system encrypts the
data files and communicates the data files to the storage
server for storage within the storage area. When the user or
a software application requests access to a data file, the
operating system issues requests to the storage server to
retrieve one or more data files from the storage area.

40

45

50

55

60

65

In the following detailed description, references are made
to the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific
embodiments in which the invention may be practiced.
Electrical, mechanical, programmatic and structural changes
may be made to the embodiments without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following
detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense and the scope of the present invention is defined by the
claims.
The detailed description is divided into three sections. The
first section provides definitions for various terms used
throughout the detailed description. The second section
describes an exemplary hardware and operating environment in conjunction with which embodiments of the invention can be practiced. Finally, the third section describes
various systems, methods, potential benefits and alternative
embodiments of the invention.
Definitions
File Transport Protocol (FTP)-A networking protocol specifically for transporting files from one computer on the
network to another.
HyperText Markup Language (HTML)-an authoring language that defines the syntax and semantics used to create
documents on the World Wide Web.
Internet-a worldwide collection of networks that spans
hundreds of countries and connects millions of computers.
Internet Protocol (IP)-A low level communications protocol that specifies the format of individual communication
packets and an addressing scheme.

US 6,714,968 B1

3

4

A user enters commands and information into the comRedundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)-A highputer 100 by using a keyboard 40 and/or pointing device,
volume storage device having multiple storage drives and
such as a mouse 42, which are connected to bus 118 via
fault recovery procedures.
Server Message Block (SMB)-a message format used by to
input/output ports 128. Other types of pointing devices (not
5 shown in FIG. 1) include track pads, track balls, joy sticks,
share files, directories and devices.
data gloves, head trackers, and other devices suitable for
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)-a higher-level network communication protocol that establishes a virtual
positioning a cursor on the video display 124.
connection between a destination and a source.
As shown in FIG. 1, the computer 100 also includes a
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)modem 129. Although illustrated in FIG. 1 as external to the
the suite of network communications protocols including 10 computer 100, those of ordinary skill in the art will quickly
both TCP and IP.
recognize that the modem 129 may also be internal to the
Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) is a
computer 100. The modem 129 is typically used to comset of extensions to the Hypertext Transfer Protocol
municate over wide area networks (not shown), such as the
(HTTP) that seeks to make the World Wide Web a
global Internet. Modem 129 may be connected to a network
collaborative, write able medium.
15 using either a wired or wireless connection.
World Wide Web (WWW-Asystem of Internet servers that
Software applications 136 and data are typically stored
support documents specially formatted in the HTML
via one of the memory storage devices, which may include
language that supports links to other documents, as well
the hard disk 120, floppy disk 151, CD-ROM 152 and are
as graphics, audio, and video files.
copied to RAM 115 for execution. In one embodiment,
20 however, software applications 136 are stored in ROM 114
An Exemplary Operating Environment
and are copied to RAM 115 for execution or are executed
directly from ROM 114.
FIG. 1 illustrates a computer 100 suitable for supporting
the operation of an embodiment of the present invention. As
In general, the operating system 135 executes software
shown in FIG. 1, the computer 100 includes a processor 112 25 applications 136 and carries out instructions issued by the
that in one embodiment belongs to the PENTIUM® family
user. For example, when the user wants to load a software
of microprocessors manufactured by the Intel Corporation of
application 136, the operating system 135 interprets the
Santa Clara, Calif. However, it should be understood that the
instruction and causes the processor 112 to load software
invention can be implemented on computers based upon
application 136 into RAM 115 from either the hard disk 120
other microprocessors, such as the MIPS® family of microor the optical disk 152. Once software application 136 is
30
processors from the Silicon Graphics Corporation, the
loaded into the RAM 115, it can be used by the processor
POWERPC® family of microprocessors from both the
112. In case of large software applications 136, processor
Motorola Corporation and the IBM Corporation, the PRE112 loads various portions of program modules into RAM
CISION ARCHITECTURE® family of microprocessors
115 as needed.
from the Hewlett-Packard Company, the SPARC® family of
The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) 117 for the com35
microprocessors from the Sun Microsystems Corporation, or
puter 100 is stored in ROM 114 and is loaded into RAM 115
the ALPHA® family of microprocessors from the Compaq
upon booting. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the
Computer Corporation. Computer 100 represents any server,
BIOS 117 is a set of basic executable routines that have
personal computer, laptop or even a battery-powered,
conventionally helped to transfer information between the
pocket-sized, mobile computer known as a hand-held PC or 40 computing resources within the computer 100. Operating
personal digital assistant (PDA).
system 135 or other software applications 136 use these
Computer 100 includes system memory 113 (including
low-level service routines.
read only memory (ROM) 114 and random access memory
In one embodiment computer 100 includes a registry (not
(RAM) 115), which is connected to the processor 112 by a
shown) which is a system database that holds configuration
system data/address bus 116. ROM 114 represents any 45 information for computer 100. For example, Windows® 95
device that is primarily read-only including electrically
and Windows® NT by Microsoft maintain the registry in
erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM),
two hidden files, called USER.DAT and SYSTEM.DAT,
flash memory, etc. RAM 115 represents any random access
located on a permanent storage device such as an internal
memory such as Synchronous Dynamic Random Access
disk.
Memory.
50
Methods and Systems of the Invention
Within the computer 100, input/output bus 118 is connected to the data/address bus 116 via bus controller 119. In
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of
one embodiment, input/output bus 118 is implemented as a
a computing environment 200 that provides seamless access
standard Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. The
to remote storage areas. In the illustrated embodiment, client
bus controller 119 examines all signals from the processor 55 computers 205 are communicatively coupled to remote
112 to route the signals to the appropriate bus. Signals
storage network 220 via storage servers 210 and global
between the processor 112 and the system memory 113 are
computer network 215 such as the Internet. Storage network
merely passed through the bus controller 119. However,
220 represents one or more interconnected storage devices,
signals from the processor 112 intended for devices other
such as a RAID, for storing data files. The storage network
than system memory 113 are routed onto the input/output 60 220 defines a pool of virtual storage areas 225 that can be
bus 118.
individually assignable to different users. Initially, a user
accesses storage servers 210 via global computer network
Various devices are connected to the input/output bus 118
including hard disk drive 120, floppy drive 121 that is used
and requests a virtual storage area 225. For each request,
storage server 210 prompts the user for information such as
to read floppy disk 151, and optical drive 122, such as a
CD-ROM drive that is used to read an optical disk 152. The 65 a username, password, billing address, etc. Upon approval,
video display 124 or other kind of display device is constorage network 220 allocates a storage area 225 to the user
such that, as described in detail below, the user can seamnected to the input/output bus 118 via a video adapter 125.

US 6,714,968 B1
5

6

agement operations supported by operating system 135 such
lessly access the corresponding virtual storage area via client
as copying, renaming, moving and deleting files and direccomputers 205. Metadata database 222 stores metadata
associated with the data files by the user. Storage server 210
tories. Similarly, applications 136 executing on client comand client computers 205 represent computing devices such
puter 205 access virtual storage area 225 through standard
5 file management routines provided by an application proas computer 100 described in FIG. 1.
gramming interface (API) of operating system 135. In one
According to various embodiments of the invention, a set
embodiment, operating system 135 of client computers 205
of communication software applications execute on storage
is the Macintosh operating system, such that the API
servers 210 and provide a set of interfaces such that client
includes the Apple File Services (APS), and storage servers
computers 205 can access virtual storage areas 225 using
anyone of several different methods. Each method offers 10 225 are support accessing remote data files within storage
area virtual 225 via the Apple Filing Protocol (APP) services
different advantages in control, performance and ease of use.
over TCP/IP.
For example, in one embodiment, access to the virtual
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment in which operating
storage areas 225 is fully integrated with operating system
system 135 is the Windows® operating system from
135 executing on each client computer 205. In this
embodiment, the user can directly access a virtual storage 15 Microsoft. Here, operating system 135 displays window 400
area 225 via the operating system's user interface. Software
that presents an integrated list of those files and directories
applications 136 executing on client computer 205 can
that are available locally as well as those available from
access the corresponding virtual storage area 225 through
virtual storage area 225. In this embodiment, operating
operating system 135 by calling standard file management
system 135 incorporates the 5MB protocol or the WebDAV
routines provided by operating system 135. In this 20 protocol in order to provide seamless access to virtual
embodiment, operating system 135 packetizes data files and
storage area 225.
metadata received from the management routines and comOne particular advantage of this embodiment is that
municates the data to storage servers 210 via network 215.
software applications 136 executing on computer 100 can
In this embodiment, operating system 135 handles all comaccess virtual storage area 225 without modification.
munication with storage servers 210 such that virtual storage 25 Because operating system 135 provides seamless access to
area 225 can be accessed as if it were local to client
virtual storage area 225 via conventional file management
computer 205.
routines, software applications 136 treat virtual storage area
225 as if it were a local storage volume. Another advantage
In another embodiment, the user can access virtual storage
is that the user can write scripts for operating system 135,
area 225 by invoking a communications application 136
such as a web browser or an FTPutility. In this embodiment, 30 such as an OSAX AppleScript for the Macintosh® operating
system, in order to control access to virtual storage area 225.
the communications application 136 handles communicaFIG. 5 illustrates an operating system script 500 written in
tion across network 215. The underlying communications
AppleScript that automatically copies a file from a local
between client computers 205 and storage servers 210 can
follow a variety of protocols. Typically, the communications
directory to a similarly named remote directory located
use TCP/IP as a base protocol and additionally use the HTTP 35 within virtual storage area 225.
protocol, the FTP protocol or even a proprietary data -backup
According to one aspect of the invention, the user can
protocol.
associate metadata with each data file as the data file is
The following sub-sections describe the various techuploaded to remote storage areas 225 in order to facilitate
niques by which, according to the invention, client comput- 40 the quick cataloging and quick retrieval of the data file.
ers 205 access virtual storage areas 225 via storage servers
Operating system 135 captures the metadata from the user
via an input form and communicates the metadata to storage
210 and global computer network 215.
servers 210.
Access via the Operating System
Direct Access From a Communication Software
According to the invention, in one embodiment, the user 45
Application
can access virtual storage area 225 via operating system 135
in the same manner by which the user accesses local storage
In some embodiments, the user can invoke conventional
devices 120, 121 and 122. In this embodiment, the user
communication applications and utilities such as a web
interacts with the user interface presented by operating
browser, an FTPutility, a data storage backup utility, or even
system 135 and manages virtual storage area 225 as if it 50 a conventional email software application, to access virtual
storage area. During this method of access, the communiwere a local storage volume. For example, by interacting
with operating system 135 the user can perform all common
cation software application 136 handles all communications
file management tasks including coping files between hard
with storage servers 210. The file management routines of
operating system 135 are not invoked. In addition, the
disk 120 and remote storage area 225, as well as renaming
and deleting data files. The user is able to browse directory 55 communication software 136 is responsible for capturing the
structures within virtual storage area 225 as if it were a local
metadata from the user and communicating the metadata to
storage servers 210 for storage within metadata database
storage volume. Indeed, in some embodiments, virtual stor222.
age area 225 may be represented as an icon on the desktop
of the user's computer.
FIG. 6 illustrates the user accessing one of the virtual
FIG. 3 illustrates window 300 as displayed by operating 60 storage areas 225 via a conventional web browser executing
system 135 for accessing a virtual storage area 225. In the
on client computer 205. The web browser displays window
illustrated embodiment, operating system 135 is the Macin600 that lists each directory within virtual storage area 225.
Storage servers 210 maintain a set of image icons for
tosh® operating system from Apple Computer, Inc. Window
300 presented by operating system 135 lists the directories
representing the stored data file according to file and creator
and files of virtual storage area 225 as if the directories and 65 type information or file extension. Storage servers 210 select
files were local. The user is able to browse the directories
and display an appropriate icon as a function of the file and
within virtual storage area 225 and perform the file mancreator information stored within virtual storage area 225.

US 6,714,968 B1
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Window 600, therefore, closely resembles windows 300 and
each user and stores the respective user information in
400 as displayed by operating system 135. Using the
metadata database 222 (block 807). After a virtual storage
browser, the user can browse the directories within virtual
area 25 has been allocated, storage network 220 informs
each user of any necessary access information, such as a
storage area 225 and can perform many common file management operations including uploading, downloading and 5 password, so that the user can access the respective storage
deleting files, as well as creating and removing directories.
area 225 via the many access interfaces described above
(block 809).
FIG. 7 illustrates the user accessing virtual storage area
225 using a conventional electronic mail software applicaVarious embodiments have been described of a method
tion 136. Electronic mail software application 136 displays
and system for a data storage system that provides seamless
window 700 by which the user creates an email message 10 access to remote virtual data storage areas via a global
computer network. Access to the virtual storage area is fully
having user information 702 and target data file information
integrated with the operating system executing on the client
710. The user addresses the email to his or her email address
at storage servers 210. For uploading files, as displayed in
computer such that the user, or software applications executwindow 700, the user attaches one or more data files 705.
ing on the computer, can seamlessly access the correspondUpon receiving the email, storage server 210 parses the user 15 ing virtual storage area using standard file management
information 702 and the target data file information 710 in
routines provided by the operating system. In addition, the
order to extract one or more target directories. Thus, user
invention provides a wide range of other remote access
methods to the virtual data storage areas including access via
information 702 may take the form of a destination electronic mail address, while target data file information 710
electronic mail. This application is intended to cover any
may take the form of text in the subject field of an electronic 20 adaptation or variation of the present invention. It is
mail message. Storage server 210 stores attached files 705 to
intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and
the target directory within the appropriate virtual storage
equivalents thereof.
area 225 assigned to the user. In this manner, the user is able
What is claimed is:
to email one or more files directly into a specified directory
1. A data storage system comprising:
within virtual storage area 225 from any remote location via 25
a client computer;
network 215. In an alternative embodiment, the user does
a storage server communicatively coupled to the client
not attach a data file but includes within the electronic mail
computer via a global computer network, wherein the
message a universal resource locator (URL) that indicates
storage server allocates a user-assignable remote storwhere storage server 210 can retrieve the data file to be
age area in response to a request received from the
stored. In order to retrieve one or more data files from 30
client computer over the global computer network;
storage server 210, the user sends a similar email requesting
a plurality of software applications executing on the
one or more target data files. In response, storage server 210
storage server to provide a plurality of different access
sends the user a response electronic mail message with the
interfaces for accessing the remote storage area;
requested data files attached.
an operating system executing on the client computer and
35
including application programming interface (API)
Remote Processing via Centrally Hosted
routines that communicate with a first one of the access
Applications
interfaces of the storage server to manage data files
The above sections described how, according to the
within the remote storage area as if the data files were
invention, client computers 205 access virtual storage area 40
local on the client computer; and
225 for remote data storage. The invention, however, is not
a communication software application executing on the
limited to data storage. According to one aspect of the
client computer to directly communicate with a second
invention, client computers 205 communicate data files to
one of the access interfaces of the storage server to
storage servers 210 for remote processing by one or more
manage the data files within the remote storage area
applications executing on storage servers 210. For example, 45
without invoking the API routines of the operating
the communicated data files may be electronic images such
system executing on the client computer.
that applications executing on storage servers 210 perform
2. The data storage system of claim 1, and wherein the
color correction, color proofing and other prepress operaoperating system encrypts one or more data files and comtions. Other examples include data conversion, compression,
municates the data files to the storage server for storage
decompression, encryption and decryption. As such, a user 50 within the storage area.
is able to submit data files for remote processing by simply
3. The data storage system of claim 1, and wherein the
instructing operating system 135 to copy the data files to a
operating system issues requests to the storage server to
designated directory within virtual storage area 225. As
retrieve one or more data files from the storage area.
such, this operation can be performed by simply dragging
4. The data storage system of claim 1, and wherein the
and dropping the file onto the appropriate window presented 55 API routines include at least a file management routine to
by operating system 135.
facilitate copying, deleting, moving and renaming data files.
5. The data storage system of claim 1, and wherein the
Allocation of a Remote Storage Area
API routines include a routine to facilitate creating, deleting
and renaming data file directories.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart 800 that provides a high-level
overview of one mode of operation in which storage net- 60
6. The data storage system of claim 1, wherein the storage
server and the computer communicate via the Transmission
work 220 allocates remote storage areas 225. In block 803,
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
users access storage servers 210 via global computer network 215 and request a corresponding virtual storage area
7. The data storage system of claim 1, wherein the API
225. For each request, storage server 210 prompts the user
includes Apple File Services and the first one of the access
for information such as a username, password, billing 65 interfaces of the storage server supports Apple Filing Proaddress (block 805). Upon approval, storage network 220
tocol for accessing the data files within the remote storage
automatically allocates a corresponding storage area 225 for
area.

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8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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 5MB
for accessing the remote storage area.
11. 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.
12. The data storage system of claim 11, wherein the
electronic mail message fiu includes text and the electronic
mail application parses the text to determine the target
remote storage area.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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 commu-

nicates 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein communicating the
access request to the storage server includes communicating
user information to the remote storage server.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein accessing the remote
data file includes authenticating the user information.
20. 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.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein communicating the
access request includes communicating via Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP).
22. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving a file
request via the API routine includes receiving a file request
via Apple File Services.
23. 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.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein executing the
software application includes executing the software application to browse for a data file.
25. 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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