Method and System For Remote Data Access

Abstract

A system and method for securely storing, retrieving and sharing data using PCs and mobile devices and for controlling and tracking the movement of data to and from a variety of computing and storage devices.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for remote data access, comprising the steps of:
 a remote computer receiving from a first computing device a first authentication request comprising a first computing device unique identifier and a first unique user name and a first password, wherein the first authentication request is initiated by a first software stored on the first computing device;   the remote computer determining whether the first computing device is authorized for use with the remote computer by determining a valid combination of the first computing device unique identifier and the first unique user name and the first password associated with the first computing device, the remote computer comprising a plurality of security settings, each of the security settings associated with a single computing device and comprising a unique combination of a computing device unique identifier and a software identifier;   upon determining that the first computing device is authorized, the remote computer transmitting to the first computing device a validation message associated with the first computing device;   the remote computer receiving from the first computing device a first file copied from the first computing device, the first file encrypted by an encryption key that is related to the first software stored on the first computing device;   the remote computer storing a first detail message, the first detail message associated with the first file copied from the first computing device to the remote computer, the first detail message comprising at least a name of the first file copied from the first computing device to the remote computer, the first detail message stored as a meta-data log on the remote computer;   in response to receiving a share request from the first computing device, the remote computer transmitting to a second computing device a message including a link to the first file copied from the first computing device;   the remote computer receiving from the second computing device a second authentication request comprising a second computing device unique identifier and a second unique user name and a second password associated with the second computing device;   the remote computer determining whether the second computing device is authorized for use with the remote computer by determining a valid combination of the second computing device unique identifier and the second unique user name and the second password;   upon determining that the second computing device is authorized, the remote computer transmitting to the second computing device a copy of the first file copied from the first computing device to the remote computer; and   the remote computer storing in the meta-data log a second detail message associated with the copy of the first file transmitted from the remote computer to the second computing device.   
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method for remote data access, comprising the steps of:
 a remote computer receiving from a first computing device a first authentication request comprising a first computing device unique identifier and a first unique user name and a first password, wherein the first authentication request is initiated by a first software stored on the first computing device;   the remote computer determining whether the first computing device is authorized for use with the remote computer by determining a valid combination of the first computing device unique identifier and the first unique user name and the first password associated with the first computing device, the remote computer comprising a plurality of security settings, each of the security settings associated with a single computing device and comprising a unique combination of a computing device unique identifier and a software identifier;   upon determining that the first computing device is authorized, the remote computer transmitting to the first computing device a validation message associated with the first computing device;   the remote computer receiving from the first computing device a first file copied from the first computing device, the first file encrypted by an encryption key that is related to the first software stored on the first computing device; and   the remote computer storing a first detail message, the first detail message associated with the first file copied from the first computing device to the remote computer, the first detail message comprising at least a name of the first file copied from the first computing device to the remote computer, the first detail message stored as a meta-data log on the remote computer.   
     
     
         3 . A computer-implemented method for remote data access, comprising the steps of:
 a remote computer receiving from a second computing device a second authentication request comprising a second computing device unique identifier and a second unique user name and a second password associated with the second computing device, the second authentication request received from the second computing device responsive to a message received by the second computing device from the remote computer including a link to a first file authorized by a first computing device to be downloaded to the second computing device, the first file being encrypted;   the remote computer determining whether the second computing device is authorized for use with the remote computer by determining a valid combination of the second computing device unique identifier and the second unique user name and the second password, the remote computer comprising a plurality of security settings, each of the security settings associated with a single computing device and comprising a unique combination of a computing device unique identifier, a unique user name, and a password;   upon determining that the second computing device is authorized, the remote computer transmitting to the second computing device a copy of the first file copied from the first computing device to the remote computer, the first file decrypted by an encryption key that is related to a first software stored on the first computing device; and   the remote computer storing in a meta-data log a detail message associated with the copy of the first file transmitted from the remote computer to the second computing device.   
     
     
         4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first computing device is one of a PC and a mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the second computing device is one of a PC and a mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the first computing device is one of a PC and a mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the second computing device is one of a PC and a mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote computer further comprises a sender's database and a recipient's database; wherein files are transferred from the sender's database to the recipient's database; and wherein a sender authorizes a recipient to access selected files and folders that are stored in the sender's database. 
     
     
         9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the remote computer further comprises a sender's database and a recipient's database; wherein files are transferred from the sender's database to the recipient's database; and wherein a sender authorizes a recipient to access selected files and folders that are stored in the sender's database. 
     
     
         10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the remote computer further comprises a sender's database and a recipient's database; wherein files are transferred from the sender's database to the recipient's database; and wherein a sender authorizes a recipient to access selected files and folders that are stored in the sender's database. 
     
     
         11 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first file may be tagged with access rights granted by a sender which will serve to govern the subsequent use and lifespan of the first file. 
     
     
         12 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the first file may be tagged with access rights granted by the sender, associated with the first computing device, which will serve to govern the subsequent use and lifespan of the first file. 
     
     
         13 . The computer implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the first file may be tagged with access rights granted by the sender, associated with the first computing device, which will serve to govern the subsequent use and lifespan of the first file. 
     
     
         14 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first computing device further comprises a secure database resident within a non-volatile memory of the first computing device that provides a virtual container for storing and organizing selected data files stored on the first computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the first computing device further comprises a secure database resident within a non-volatile memory of the first computing device that provides a virtual container for storing and organizing selected data files stored on the first computing device. 
     
     
         16 . The computer implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the first computing device further comprises a secure database resident within a non-volatile memory of the second computing device that provides a virtual container for storing and organizing selected data files stored on the first computing device.