Methods for Selectively Copying Data Files to Networked Storage and Devices for Initiating the Same

Abstract

A data backup system comprises a USB flash drive that includes an emulation component and a flash memory. The emulation component is configured to represent the flash memory as if it were an auto-launch device. Accordingly, a data source, such as a personal computer, will interact with the flash memory as if it were the auto-launch device. As some operating systems are configured to recognize auto-launch devices upon connection and automatically execute applications stored thereon, merely connecting the USB flash drive to a data source running such an operating system will cause a backup application stored by the flash memory to automatically execute on the data source. Here, the backup application is configured to selectively back up data files from the data source to a networked storage such as a server of a commercial service provider.

1 . A data backup system comprising:
 a USB flash drive including
 a USB interface; 
 a flash memory including computer-readable instructions comprising a backup application configured to selectively copy data files from a data source to a networked storage; and 
 an emulation component in communication between the flash memory and the USB interface and including logic configured to represent the flash memory as an auto-launch device. 
   
   
   
       2 . The data backup system of  claim 1  wherein the networked storage comprises a server of a commercial service provider. 
   
   
       3 . The data backup system of  claim 1  wherein the backup application is further configured to allow a user to specify an address of the networked storage. 
   
   
       4 . The data backup system of  claim 1  wherein the backup application is further configured with a predetermined address of the networked storage. 
   
   
       5 . A method for backing up data stored on a data source, the method comprising:
 providing a response to an inquiry from the data source, the response identifying a flash memory of a USB flash drive as being an auto-launch device, the response being provided through a USB interface of the USB flash drive to the data source; and   providing a backup application from the flash memory of the USB flash drive to the data source, the backup application configured to selectively copy data files stored on the data source to a networked storage.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the response identifying the flash memory as being a auto-launch device identifies the flash memory as a CD drive including a CD medium. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the response identifying the flash memory as being a auto-launch device identifies the flash memory as a DVD drive including a DVD medium. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the backup application is further configured to allow a user to specify an address of the networked storage. 
   
   
       9 . The data backup system of  claim 5  wherein the backup application is further configured with a predetermined address of the networked storage. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein providing the backup application includes
 receiving auto-launch device commands from the data source, translating the auto-launch device commands to flash memory commands, and sending the flash memory commands to the flash memory, and   receiving flash memory responses from the flash memory, translating the flash memory responses into auto-launch device responses, and sending the auto-launch device responses to the data source.   
   
   
       11 . A method for backing up data, the method consisting of connecting a USB flash drive to a USB interface of a data source, wherein an operating system of the data source automatically launches a backup application stored on the USB flash drive, and wherein the backup application copies data files from the data source to a networked storage. 
   
   
       12 . A method for backing up data from a data source, the method comprising:
 detecting a connection of a device to a USB interface, the device being a USB flash drive;   automatically launching a backup application stored on the USB flash drive connected to the data source, the backup application being configured to find data files on the data source according to a criterion; and   copying the data files to a networked storage specified by the backup application.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the criterion is a type of content. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the networked storage comprises a server of a commercial service provider. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the backup application is further configured to allow a user to specify an address of the networked storage. 
   
   
       16 . The data backup system of  claim 12  wherein the backup application is further configured with a predetermined address of the networked storage. 
   
   
       17 . A business method comprising:
 distributing a USB flash drive including computer-readable instructions, the computer readable instructions comprising a backup application configured to selectively back up data files from a data source to a server across the Internet;   maintaining the server to store the backed up data files; and   charging a fee based on the backed up data files.   
   
   
       18 . The business method of  claim 17  wherein charging the fee based on the backed up data files includes charging a fee for storing the backed up data files. 
   
   
       19 . The business method of  claim 17  wherein charging the fee based on the backed up data files includes charging a fee for accessing the backed up data files. 
   
   
       20 . The business method of  claim 17  wherein charging the fee based on the backed up data files includes charging a fee for using the backed up data files. 
   
   
       21 . The business method of  claim 20  wherein using the backed up data files includes printing the backed up data files.