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 C

111111

1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
US006952724B2

(54)

United States Patent

(10)

Prust

(12)

(45)

NETWORK-BASED REMOTE DATA
STORAGE SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE
ACCESS INTERFACES

(75)

Inventor:

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

(73)

Assignee: Mitch Prust, Saint Paul, MN (US)

( *)

Notice:

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.c. 154(b) by 18 days.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

(21)

Appl. No.: 10/797,757

(22)

Filed:

Mar. 9, 2004

EP
WO

wo

0881587 A3
WO 94/18634
WO 98/24025

6/2002
8/1994
6/1998

OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Blakely, Jose Universal Data Access with OLE DB, IEEE ©
1997.*
Potel et al. "Comet Explodes on Jupiter-and the Web"
IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications Nov. 1994.*
"Client Application for Integrating a Development Environment with a Web Distributed Authoring (WEBDAV)
Server", Research Disclosure, Kenneth Mason Publications,
Hampshire, GB, NR, 420, page(s) 578-579, XP000888651,
ISSN: 0374-4353, Apr. 1999.
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.

Prior Publication Data

(65)

Patent No.:
US 6,952,724 B2
Date of Patent:
*Oct. 4, 2005

(Continued)

US 2004/0210644 A1 Oct. 21, 2004

Related U.S. Application Data
(63)
(51)
(52)
(58)

Continuation of application No. 09/501,039, filed on Feb. 9,
2000, now Pat. No. 6,735,623.

Int. CI? ........................ G06F 15/16; G06F 15/173
U.S. CI. ....................... 709/219; 709/206; 709/225;
709/229
Field of Search ................................. 709/217-219,
709/204-207, 223-229
References Cited

(56)

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,634,052 A
5,659,746 A
5,671,279 A

* 5/1997 Morris .......................... 707/1
8/1997 Bankert et al.

* 9/1997 Elgamal ..................... 713/151
(Continued)

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
EP

0881587 A2

Primary Examiner-William C. Vaughn, Jr.
Assistant Examiner-Joseph E. Avellino
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shumaker & Sieffert, PA
(57)

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.
3 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets

12/1998

803 ~

ABSTRACT

800 ~
User accesses the remote storage servers via a global
computer network, such as the Internet, and request a
corresponding virtual storage area.

805
r-

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

807

809

~ upon approval, aUIomaIlcallY atocate a remote storage area IO
the user and stores the user information in metadata
database. Inform user of approval as well as necessary
access information.

..

Upon allocation, users can access the respective remote
storage area via a variety of access interfaces.

US 6,952,724 B2
Page 2

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,748,735
5,748,896
5,781,901
5,937,160
6,018,774
6,044,205
6,072,982
6,189,043
6,216,168
6,240,447
6,256,666
6,289,382
6,308,164
6,311,213
6,327,608
6,356,863
6,356,941
6,363,384
6,366,987
6,393,466
6,397,261
6,424,996
6,442,242
6,449,688
6,453,325
6,466,978
6,519,612
6,714,968
6,735,623
2003/0088696

A
A
A
A
A
A
A
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B2
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
A1

* 5/1998 Ganesan ..................... 713/165
5/1998 Daly et al.

* 7/1998 Kuzma ........................ 707/10

*
*

*
*

*

8/1999
1/2000
3/2000
6/2000
2/2001
4/2001
5/2001
7/2001
9/2001
10/2001
10/2001
12/2001
3/2002
3/2002
3/2002
4/2002
5/2002
5/2002
7/2002
8/2002
9/2002
9/2002
10/2002
2/2003
3/2004
5/2004
5/2003

Davis et al.
Mayle et al.
Reed et al.
Haddad
Buyukkoc et al. .......... 709/241
Dev et al.
Banga et al. ............... 709/217
Singhal
Bowman-Amuah
Nummelin et al.
Dawson et al.
Dillingham
Sayle
Cohen
Cookmeyer, II et al.
Tzelnic et al.
Hickman et al.
Eldridge et al.
Killcommons et al. ..... 709/206
McAllister et al. ........ 379/67.1
Peters et al.
Cabrera et al.
Mukherjee et al.
Howard et al.
Prust
Prust
McCanne ................... 709/205

OlliER PUBLICATIONS
WebDAV: A Panacea for Collaborative Authoring?, Sussman, D., Siemens Corporate Research, Apr.-Jun. 1999, pp.
76-79.

World Wide Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning:
WebDAV, Whitehead, E.J., WebDAV Information, Feb.
1999, pp. 1-2.
How to implement Web-based groupware systems based on
WebDAV, Dridi, F.; Neumann, G., Enabling Technologies:
Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises, Jun. 1999, Proceedings IEEE 8 th , ISBN: 0-7695--0365-9, pp. 114-119.
Requirements for Distributed Authoring and Versioning on
the World Wide Web, Slein, J.A.; Vitali, F.; Whitehead, Jr.,
E.J.; Durand, D.G.; Standard View VI. 5, No.1, Mar. 1997,
ISSN: 1067-9936, pp. 17-24.
Open Door Networks Introduces New Products for Appleshare Servers, pp. 1-2, Sep. 1997.
ShareWay IP 2.0, pp. 1-2, Feb. 1997.
Open Door Network Products Enhance MAC OS 8, p. 1,
Aug. 1997.
U.S. Patent Application entitled, "Remote Storage Area
Having Multiple Access Interfaces," U.S. Appl. No. 09/500,
868, filed Feb. 9, 2000.
http://www.webdav.org-WebDAV Resources, pp. 1-3.
http://www.backup.com-@Backup®. p. 1.
http://www.bitlocker.com-Bitlocker. p. 1.
http://datahubonline.com-datahubonline.com, p. 1.
http://www.diskonneLcom-DiskOnNeLcom, p. 1.
http://www.docspace.com-Critical Path Inc., p. 1.
http://www.driveway.com-Driveway Corporation, p. 1.
http://www.itools.mac.com-Apple-iTools. p. 1.
http://www.filemonkey.com-File Monkey Software Development Series, p. 1.
http://www.freedrive.com-FreeDrive. Inc., p. 1.
http://www.xineLcom-Xinet, Inc., p. 1.

* cited by examiner

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US 6,952,724 B2

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US 6,952,724 B2

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Sheet 5 of 8

US 6,952,724 B2

500~
App"leScript Example:
On adding contents to folder this folder
Set folder- content to the contents of
this folder
Set the selected_SiLO_directory to the
comments of this folder
Tell application "SilO access layer"

Activate
Upload folder_content to the
selected_Si L0 _directory
End tell

FIG.5

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US 6,952,724 B2

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Oct. 4, 2005

Sheet 8 of 8

US 6,952,724 B2

8001.
User accesses the remote storage servers via a global
computer network, such as the Internet, and request a
corresponding virtual storage area.

805
"-

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

807

809

~ Upon approval, automatically a~ocate a remote storage area to
the user and stores the user information in metadata
database. Inform user of approval as well as necessary
access information.

~

Upon allocation, users can access the respective remote
storage area via a variety of access interfaces.

FIG.8

US 6,952,724 B2
1

2

FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface displayed by one
embodiment of an operating system for directly accessing a
remote storage area using standard file management routines
ACCESS INTERFACES
provided by the operating system;
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. 5
FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface displayed by another
No. 09/501,039, filed on Feb. 9, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No.
embodiment of an operating system for directly accessing a
6,735,623, the entire content of which is incorporated herein
remote storage area;
by reference.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example operating system script
written in AppleScript for the Macintosh® operating system
TECHNI CAL FIELD
10 that automatically copies a file from a local directory to a
similarly named remote directory located within a storage
This invention relates to storage of digital data, and more
area;
particularly to a data storage system that provides access to
a remote storage area.
FIG. 6 illustrates a window displayed by a conventional
web browser when a user accesses a virtual storage area;
15
BACKGROUND
FIG. 7 illustrates a window displayed by a conventional
The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks that
electronic mail software application when a user mails one
spans over 100 countries and connects millions of computor more data files to a corresponding storage area;
ers. Reports indicate that the Internet is growing faster than
FIG. 8 is a flow chart 800 providing a high-level overview
all preceding information technologies including radio and 20 of one mode of operation in which storage network 220
television. Remote data storage over the Internet is one of
allocates storage areas.
the fastest growing facets of the Internet. Numerous comDETAILED DESCRIPTION
panies provide a wide range of an Internet data storage
services for remotely storing and managing data files. Many
In the following detail description, references are made to
of these services, however, have limited modes for accessing 25 the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodithe data files. For example, many require that a user load
ments in which the invention may be practiced. Electrical,
proprietary software on his computer in order to communimechanical, programmatic and structural changes may be
cate data files to the remote storage. Other services only
made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit
support access via a web browser or similar communication
and scope of the present invention. The following detailed
utility.
30 description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense
and the scope of the present invention is defined by the
SUMMARY
claims.
The present invention is directed to a data storage system
The detailed description is divided into three sections. The
and method capable of providing a variety of access methfirst section provides definitions for various terms used
ods. In one embodiment, a data storage system includes a 35 throughout the detailed description. The second section
plurality of storage servers coupled to a plurality of storage
describes an exemplary hardware and operating environdevices. The storage devices provide a plurality of virtual
ment in conjunction with which embodiments of the invenstorage areas and each virtual storage area is assigned to a
tion can be practiced. Finally, the third section describes
user. According to the invention, the assigned user can easily
various systems, methods, potential benefits and alternative
access the assigned virtual storage area using a client 40 embodiments of the invention.
computer communicatively coupled to the storage servers
Definitions
via a global computer network such as the Internet. More
specifically, in order to store data files within the remote
File Transport Protocol (FTP)-A networking protocol spevirtual storage area, the user sends an electronic mail mescifically for transporting files from one computer on the
sage that includes the data file as well as user information 45
network to another.
and target data file information. The storage server parses the
HyperText Markup Language (HTML)-an authoring lanelectronic mail message and stores the data file within the
guage that defines the syntax and semantics used to create
storage area according to the target data file information. In
documents on the World Wide Web.
addition, the user can request one or more data files from the
Internet-a worldwide collection of networks that spans
storage area and electronically mail the data files to the user. 50
hundreds of countries and connects millions of computIn this manner, authorized users can easily store date files to
ers.
or retrieve data files from his or her remote storage area from
Internet Protocol (IP)-A low level communications protoanywhere in the world via a global computer network such
col that specifies the format of individual communication
as the Internet or a private wide-area network. The details of
packets and an addressing scheme.
one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in 55 Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)-A highthe accompanying drawings and the description below.
volume storage device having multiple storage drives and
Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will
fault recovery procedures.
be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
Server Message Block (SMB)-a message format used by to
claims.
share files, directories and devices.
60 Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)-a higher-level netDESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
work communication protocol that establishes a virtual
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an exemplary hardware and
connection between a destination and a source.
operating environment of a suitable computer for use with
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/
embodiments of the invention;
IP)-the suite of network communications protocols
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a computing system 65
including both TCP and IP.
in which a storage server provides seamless access to remote
Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) is a
storage areas;
set of extensions to the Hypertext Transfer Protocol

NETWORK-BASED REMOTE DATA
STORAGE SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE

US 6,952,724 B2

3
(HTTP) that seeks to make the World Wide Web a
collaborative, write able medium.
World Wide Web (WWW)-A system of Internet servers
that support documents specially formatted in the HTML
language that supports links to other documents, as well
as graphics, audio, and video files.

4

global Internet. Modem 129 may be connected to a network
using either a wired or wireless connection.
Software applications 136 and data are typically stored
via one of the memory storage devices, which may include
5 the hard disk 120, floppy disk 151, CD-ROM 152 and are
copied to RAM 115 for execution. In one embodiment,
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 10
In general, the operating system 135 executes software
shown in FIG. 1, the computer 100 includes a processor 112
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 15 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
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 20 115 as needed.
from the Hewlett-Packard Company, the SPARC® family of
The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) 117 for the commicroprocessors 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, 25 conventionally helped to transfer information between the
pocket-sized, mobile computer known as a hand-held PC or
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
30
(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
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 35 disk.
Memory.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF THE
Within the computer 100, input/output bus 118 is conINVENTION
nected to the data/address bus 116 via bus controller 119. In
one embodiment, input/output bus 118 is implemented as a 40
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of
standard Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. The
a computing environment 200 that provides seamless access
bus controller 119 examines all signals from the processor
to remote storage areas. In the illustrated embodiment, client
112 to route the signals to the appropriate bus. Signals
computers 205 are communicatively coupled to remote
between the processor 112 and the system memory 113 are
storage network 220 via storage servers 210 and global
merely passed through the bus controller 119. However, 45 computer network 215 such as the Internet. Storage network
signals from the processor 112 intended for devices other
220 represents one or more interconnected storage devices,
than system memory 113 are routed onto the input/output
such as a RAID, for storing data files. The storage network
bus 118.
220 defines a pool of virtual storage areas 225 that can be
Various devices are connected to the input/output bus 118
individually assignable to different users. Initially, a user
including hard disk drive 120, floppy drive 121 that is used 50 accesses storage servers 210 via global computer network
to read floppy disk 151, and optical drive 122, such as a
and requests a virtual storage area 225. For each request,
CD-ROM drive that is used to read an optical disk 152. The
storage server 210 prompts the user for information such as
video display 124 or other kind of display device is cona username, password, billing address, etc. Upon approval,
nected to the input/output bus 118 via a video adapter 125.
storage network 220 allocates a storage area 225 to the user
A user enters commands and information into the com- 55 such that, as described in detail below, the user can seamputer 100 by using a keyboard 40 and/or pointing device,
lessly access the corresponding virtual storage area via client
such as a mouse 42, which are connected to bus 118 via
computers 205. Metadata database 222 stores metadata
input/output ports 128. Other types of pointing devices (not
associated with the data files by the user. Storage server 210
shown in FIG. 1) include track pads, track balls, joy sticks,
and client computers 205 represent computing devices such
data gloves, head trackers, and other devices suitable for 60 as computer 100 described in FIG. 1.
positioning a cursor on the video display 124.
According to various embodiments of the invention, a set
As shown in FIG. 1, the computer 100 also includes a
of communication software applications execute on storage
modem 129. Although illustrated in FIG. 1 as external to the
servers 210 and provide a set of interfaces such that client
computer 100, those of ordinary skill in the art will quickly
computers 205 can access virtual storage areas 225 using
recognize that the modem 129 may also be internal to the 65 anyone of several different methods. Each method offers
different advantages in control, performance and ease of use.
computer 100. The modem 129 is typically used to communicate over wide area networks (not shown), such as the
For example, in one embodiment, access to the virtual

US 6,952,724 B2
5

6

storage areas 225 is fully integrated with operating system
Microsoft. Here, operating system 135 displays window 400
135 executing on each client computer 205. In this
that presents an integrated list of those files and directories
embodiment, the user can directly access a virtual storage
that are available locally as well as those available from
area 225 via the operating system's user interface. Software
virtual storage area 225. In this embodiment, operating
applications 136 executing on client computer 205 can 5 system 135 incorporates the 5MB protocol or the WebDAV
access the corresponding virtual storage area 225 through
protocol in order to provide seamless access to virtual
operating system 135 by calling standard file management
storage area 225.
routines provided by operating system 135. In this
One particular advantage of this embodiment is that
embodiment, operating system 135 packetizes data files and
software applications 136 executing on computer 100 can
metadata received from the management routines and com- 10 access virtual storage area 225 without modification.
municates the data to storage servers 210 via network 215.
Because operating system 135 provides seamless access to
In this embodiment, operating system 135 handles all comvirtual storage area 225 via conventional file management
munication with storage servers 210 such that virtual storage
routines, software applications 136 treat virtual storage area
area 225 can be accessed as if it were local to client
225 as if it were a local storage volume. Another advantage
computer 205.
15 is that the user can write scripts for operating system 135,
In another embodiment, the user can access virtual storage
such as an OSAX AppleScript for the Macintosh® operating
area 225 by invoking a communications application 136
system, in order to control access to virtual storage area 225.
such as a web browser or an FTPutility. In this embodiment,
FIG. 5 illustrates an operating system script 500 written in
the communications application 136 handles communicaAppleScript that automatically copies a file from a local
tion across network 215. The underlying communications 20 directory to a similarly named remote directory located
between client computers 205 and storage servers 210 can
within virtual storage area 225.
follow a variety of protocols. Typically, the communications
According to one aspect of the invention, the user can
use TCP/IP as a base protocol and additionally use the HTTP
associate metadata with each data file as the data file is
protocol, the FTP protocol or even a proprietary data -backup
uploaded to remote storage areas 225 in order to facilitate
protocol.
25 the quick cataloging and quick retrieval of the data file.
The following sub-sections describe the various techOperating system 135 captures the metadata from the user
niques by which, according to the invention, client computvia an input form and communicates the metadata to storage
ers 205 access virtual storage areas 225 via storage servers
servers 210.
210 and global computer network 215.
Direct Access From a Communication Software Application
30
Access via the Operating System
In some embodiments, the user can invoke conventional
According to the invention, in one embodiment, the user
communication applications and utilities such as a web
can access virtual storage area 225 via operating system 135
browser, an FTPutility, a data storage backup utility, or even
in the same manner by which the user accesses local storage
a conventional email software application, to access virtual
devices 120, 121 and 122. In this embodiment, the user
storage area. During this method of access, the communiinteracts with the user interface presented by operating 35 cation software application 136 handles all communications
with storage servers 210. The file management routines of
system 135 and manages virtual storage area 225 as if it
operating system 135 are not invoked. In addition, the
were a local storage volume. For example, by interacting
communication software 136 is responsible for capturing the
with operating system 135 the user can perform all common
metadata from the user and communicating the metadata to
file management tasks including coping files between hard
disk 120 and remote storage area 225, as well as renaming 40 storage servers 210 for storage within metadata database
and deleting data files. The user is able to browse directory
222.
structures within virtual storage area 225 as if it were a local
FIG. 6 illustrates the user accessing one of the virtual
storage volume. Indeed, in some embodiments, virtual storstorage areas 225 via a conventional web browser executing
age area 225 may be represented as an icon on the desktop
on client computer 205. The web browser displays window
of the user's computer.
45 600 that lists each directory within virtual storage area 225.
Storage servers 210 maintain a set of image icons for
FIG. 3 illustrates window 300 as displayed by operating
system 135 for accessing a virtual storage area 225. In the
representing the stored data file according to file and creator
illustrated embodiment, operating system 135 is the Macintype information or file extension. Storage servers 210 select
and display an appropriate icon as a function of the file and
tosh® operating system from Apple Computer, Inc. Window
300 presented by operating system 135 lists the directories 50 creator information stored within virtual storage area 225.
and files of virtual storage area 225 as if the directories and
Window 600, therefore, closely resembles windows 300 and
400 as displayed by operating system 135. Using the
files were local. The user is able to browse the directories
within virtual storage area 225 and perform the file manbrowser, the user can browse the directories within virtual
agement operations supported by operating system 135 such
storage area 225 and can perform many common file manas copying, renaming, moving and deleting files and direc- 55 agement operations including uploading, downloading and
tories. Similarly, applications 136 executing on client comdeleting files, as well as creating and removing directories.
puter 205 access virtual storage area 225 through standard
FIG. 7 illustrates the user accessing virtual storage area
file management routines provided by an application pro225 using a conventional electronic mail software applicagramming interface (API) of operating system 135. In one
tion 136. Electronic mail software application 136 displays
embodiment, operating system 135 of client computers 205 60 window 700 by which the user creates an email message
is the Macintosh operating system, such that the API
having user information 702 and target data file information
includes the Apple File Services (APS), and storage servers
710. The user addresses the email to his or her email address
225 are support accessing remote data files within storage
at storage servers 210. For uploading files, as displayed in
area virtual 225 via the Apple Filing Protocol (APP) services
window 700, the user attaches one or more data files 705.
65 Upon receiving the email, storage server 210 parses the user
over TCP/IP.
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment in which operating
information 702 and the target data file information 710 in
system 135 is the Windows® operating system from
order to extract one or more target directories. Thus, user

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information 702 may take the form of a destination electronic mail address, while target data file information 710
may take the form of text in the subject field of an electronic
mail message. Storage server 210 stores attached files 705 to
the target directory within the appropriate virtual storage
area 225 assigned to the user. In this manner, the user is able
to email one or more files directly into a specified directory
within virtual storage area 225 from any remote location via
network 215. In an alternative embodiment, the user does
not attach a data file but includes within the electronic mail
message a universal resource locator (URL) that indicates
where storage server 210 can retrieve the data file to be
stored. In order to retrieve one or more data files from
storage server 210, the user sends a similar email requesting
one or more target data files. In response, storage server 210
sends the user a response electronic mail message with the
requested data files attached.
Remote Processing via Centrally Hosted Applications
The above sections described how, according to the
invention, client computers 205 access virtual storage area
225 for remote data storage. The invention, however, is not
limited to data storage. According to one aspect of the
invention, client computers 205 communicate data files to
storage servers 210 for remote processing by one or more
applications executing on storage servers 210. For example,
the communicated data files may be electronic images such
that applications executing on storage servers 210 perform
color correction, color proofing and other prepress operations. Other examples include data conversion, compression,
decompression, encryption and decryption. As such, a user
is able to submit data files for remote processing by simply
instructing operating system 135 to copy the data files to a
designated directory within virtual storage area 225. As
such, this operation can be performed by simply dragging
and dropping the file onto the appropriate window presented
by operating system 135.
Allocation of a Remote Storage Area
FIG. 8 is a flow chart 800 that provides a high-level
overview of one mode of operation in which storage network 220 allocates remote storage areas 225. In block 803,
users access storage servers 210 via global computer network 215 and request a corresponding virtual storage area
225. For each request, storage server 210 prompts the user
for information such as a username, password, billing
address (block 805). Upon approval, storage network 220
automatically allocates a corresponding storage area 225 for
each user and stores the respective user information in
metadata database 222 (block 807). After a virtual storage
area 25 has been allocated, storage network 220 informs
each user of any necessary access information, such as a
password, so that the user can access the respective storage
area 225 via the many access interfaces described above
(block 809).
Various embodiments have been described of a method
and system for a data storage system that provides seamless
access to remote virtual data storage areas via a global
computer network. Access to the virtual storage area is fully

integrated with the operating system executing on the client
computer such that the user, or software applications executing on the 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 including access via
electronic mail. This application is intended to cover any
adaptation or variation of the present invention. It is
intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and
equivalents thereof.
What is claimed is:
1. A data storage system comprising:
a storage server that maintains a plurality of remote
storage areas associated with respective users; and
a plurality of software applications executing on the
storage server to provide a plurality of different access
interfaces for accessing the remote storage areas,
wherein the access interfaces comprise:
a first access interface to provide access to a target one of
the plurality of remote storage areas in response to
access requests from a client computer in which an
operating system of the client computer, wherein the
first access interface supports Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) for accessing data files
within the target one of the plurality of user-assignable
storage area using extensions to the Hypertext Transfer
Protocol (HTTP) to present the target one of the plurality of remote storage areas to software applications
executing on the client computer as if the data files
were local to the client computer,
a second access interface to directly service access
requests from at least one communication software
application executing on the client computer to automatically backup files from the client computer to the
data storage system,
a third access interface to allow a web browser executing
on the client computer to browse the target one of the
plurality of remote storage areas, and
a fourth access interface operable to receive an electronic
mail message and automatically access the target one of
the plurality of remote storage areas in response to the
e-mail.
2. The data storage system of claim 1, wherein the
electronic mail message contains at least one attached data
file, and the fourth access interface analyzes the electronic
mail message to identify the target one of the plurality of
remote storage areas, and stores the attached data file within
the identified target one of the plurality of remote storage
areas.
3. The data storage system of claim 2, wherein the
electronic mail message includes text and the fourth access
interface parses the text to determine the target one of the
plurality of remote storage areas.

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