Data Storage System Using Network

Abstract

An agent program ( 12 ) installed in a terminal device ( 10 ) is used to upload data, which are to be stored, to a data storage device ( 100 ) via a first network (N 1 ). Data uploaded to a first data storage unit ( 110 ) are stored therein as they are. On the other hand, data uploaded to a second data storage unit ( 120 ) are transferred, by the function of a data transferring unit ( 130 ), to any of external storage sites ( 210 - 230 ) via a second network (N 2 ), and management information, which includes the URL of the storage site that is the transfer destination, is stored into an IC card ( 11 ). When the data stored in the data storage unit ( 120 ) are required, the management information in the IC card ( 11 ) is given to the data transferring unit ( 130 ) and the relevant data are forwarded from the storage site that was the transfer destination to the data storage unit ( 120 ) and then downloaded to the terminal device ( 10 ). The limit of the storage capacity can thereby be overcome and damages due to viruses can be suppressed.

1 . A data storage system using network, having functions of storing data sent from a terminal device via a network and returning saved data via a network in accordance with a request from a terminal device, 
 said data storage system comprising:    a removable storage medium ( 11 ,  21 ), installable to a terminal device ( 10 ,  20 ); storing means ( 12 ,  22 ), built into the terminal device; and a data storage device ( 100 ), connected to the terminal device via a first network (N 1 );    the data storage device ( 100 ) having a first data storage unit ( 110 ), a second data storage unit ( 120 ), and a data transferring unit ( 130 ),    the storing means ( 12 ,  22 ) having functions of performing, based on an instruction of an operator, a data deposition process of uploading data to be deposited to the data storage device ( 100 ) via the first network (N 1 ) and a data withdrawal process of downloading data to be withdrawn from the data storage device ( 100 ) via the first network (N 1 ), wherein, in performing the data deposition process, the data to be deposited are uploaded to one of either the first data storage unit ( 110 ) or the second data storage unit ( 120 ) in accordance with the operator's selection,    the data transferring unit ( 130 ) having functions of performing a data stocking process, whereby, when data to be deposited have been uploaded to the second data storage unit ( 120 ) by the data deposition process, the data to be deposited are forwarded to an external storage site ( 210 ,  220 ,  230 ), accessible from the data storage device ( 100 ) via a second network (N 2 ), the data to be deposited stored in the second data storage unit ( 120 ) are deleted, and management information, including information specifying the external storage site ( 210 ,  220 ,  230 ), is sent to a terminal device ( 10 ,  20 ) that is executing the data deposition process, and a data delivery process, whereby, when a request to download data to be withdrawn from the second data storage unit ( 120 ) is made by the data withdrawal process, management information is received from a terminal device ( 10 ,  20 ) that is executing the data withdrawal process, data stored in an external storage site ( 210 ,  220 ,  230 ) specified by the received management information are forwarded to the second data storage unit ( 120 ), and the data in the second data storage unit ( 120 ) are deleted upon being downloaded, and    the storing means ( 12 ,  22 ) furthermore having functions of executing a process of storing, as an execution result of the data deposition process, management information sent from the data storage device ( 100 ) as “management information concerning a data to be deposited” into the removable storage medium ( 11 ,  21 ) and a process of sending, in executing the data withdrawal process, “management information concerning a data to be withdrawn” that had been stored in the removable storage medium ( 11 ,  21 ) to the data storage device ( 100 ).    
   
   
       2 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the data transferring unit ( 130 ) has functions of preparing and saving a list of respective individual data for which the data stocking process has been completed and presenting the list to a terminal device ( 10 ,  20 ) that performs the data withdrawal process, and    the storing means ( 12 ,  22 ) has a function of providing to the data transferring unit ( 130 ) a request to download specific data, selected from the list by a selection operation by an operator, in performing the data withdrawal process.    
   
   
       3 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the storing means ( 12 ,  22 ) has a function of displaying the first data storage unit ( 110 ) and the second data storage unit ( 120 ) as folders (F 1 , F 2 , and F 3 ) on a display screen of a terminal device ( 10 ,  20 ) and performs the data deposition process or the data withdrawal process based on an instruction operation, provided from an operator, for moving data to a folder or from a folder.    
   
   
       4 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the data transferring unit ( 130 ), in performing the data delivery process, stores data to be withdrawn, which had been forwarded from an external storage site ( 210 ,  220 ,  230 ), into a folder (F 3 ) corresponding to the second data storage unit ( 120 ) and then downloads said data.    
   
   
       5 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 data transferring unit ( 130 ) performs, after completion of the data stocking process or the data delivery process, a process of deleting management information used in the completed process from inside the data storage device ( 100 ).    
   
   
       6 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the data transferring unit ( 130 ) has a function of sending, after completion of the data stocking process, an e-mail indicating, to a terminal device ( 10 ,  20 ), completion of a storage of data to be deposited.    
   
   
       7 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the storing means ( 12 ,  22 ) has a function of designating an external storage site ( 210 ,  220 ,  230 ) in performing the data deposition process by uploading data to be deposited to the second data storage unit ( 120 ), and    the data transferring unit ( 130 ) forwards the data to be deposited to the designated external storage site.    
   
   
       8 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 as information for specifying an external storage site ( 210 ,  220 ,  230 ), a URL of the external storage site is used.    
   
   
       9 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the data transferring unit ( 130 ), in performing the data stocking process, performs a process of dividing data (D) to be deposited into a plurality of partition files (D 1 , D 2 , D 3 ) and forwarding the respective individual partition files to different storage sites (L 1 , L 2 , L 3 ) and a process of preparing management information that specify the plurality of storage sites, and, in performing the data delivery process, restores an original data (D) by unifying the respective partition files (D 1 , D 2 , D 3 ) stored in the plurality of storage sites (L 1 , L 2 , L 3 ) specified by the management information and downloads the restored data as data to be withdrawn.    
   
   
       10 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the data transferring unit ( 130 ), in performing the data stocking process, performs a process of preparing management information including information indicating a dividing method that is carried out, and, in performing the data delivery process, executes a unifying process that is in accordance with a method included in the management information.    
   
   
       11 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the data transferring unit ( 130 ), in performing the data stocking process, performs an encryption process on data to be deposited, a process of forwarding encrypted data to an external storage site, and a process of preparing management information including information indicating a method of the encryption process, and, in performing the data delivery process, executes a decryption process that is in accordance with a method included in the management information.    
   
   
       12 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a plurality of data storage devices ( 310 ,  320 ) are provided and data, stored in any of predetermined storage sites ( 410 ,  420 ,  430 ), are enabled to be downloaded to a terminal device (N 3 , N 4 ) via any of the data storage devices ( 310 ,  320 ).    
   
   
       13 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the storing means ( 12 ,  22 ) is realized by program installed in a computer making up the terminal device ( 10 ,  20 ) and an IC card is used as the removable storage medium ( 11 ,  12 ).    
   
   
       14 . The data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a LAN is used as the first network (N 1 ) and the internet is used as the second network (N 2 ).    
   
   
       15 . A program, making a computer function as the storing means ( 12 ,  22 ) or data transferring unit ( 130 ) of the data storage system using network according to  claim 1 , or a computer readable medium recording said program.