Server-side recycle bin system

Abstract

A server-side recycle bin system for retaining computer files and information is disclosed. The system comprises a local computer system, and a server including a server-side recycle bin. One or more persistent storage devices, providing the files and directories to be protected, are present either as part of the local computer system or as part of the server. The local computer system and the server may be connected via a wide area computer network, a local area network, the Internet, of any other method or combination of methods. A file manager application running on the local computer system interacts with a file serving application on the server such that there is generated a retained file in the server-side recycle bin.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A server-side recycle bin system for retaining computer files and information, comprising:
 a) a local computer system; and   b) a server connected to the local computer system, the server comprising a persistent storage device;   the server further comprising a server-side recycle bin located within the persistent storage device; and   wherein a file manager application running on the local computer system and a file serving application running on the server interact to generate a retained file residing in the server-side recycle bin.   
     
     
       2. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 1 , wherein the file manager application and the serving manager application interact to restore said retained file to a location on the persistent storage device but outside the recycle bin. 
     
     
       3. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 2 , wherein the file manager application and the serving manager application interact to generate a recycle bin index viewable from the local computer system. 
     
     
       4. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 2 , wherein the file manager application and the serving manager application interact to delete the contents stored in the recycle bin. 
     
     
       5. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 2 , wherein the local computer system and the server are connected via the Internet. 
     
     
       6. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 2 , wherein the local computer system and the server are connected via a local area network. 
     
     
       7. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 2 , wherein the local computer system and the server are connected via a wide area network. 
     
     
       8. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 5 , wherein the local computer system comprises a personal computer. 
     
     
       9. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 5 , wherein the local computer system comprises a handheld computer. 
     
     
       10. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 5 , wherein the local computer system comprises an Internet enabled device. 
     
     
       11. A server-side recycle bin system for retaining computer files and information, comprising:
 a) a local computer system comprising a persistent storage device; and   b) a server connected to the local computer system, the server comprising a server-side recycle bin;   wherein a file manager application running on the local computer system and a file serving application running on the server interact to generate a retained file residing in the server-side recycle bin.   
     
     
       12. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 11 , wherein the file manager application and the serving manager application interact to restore said retained file to a location on the persistent storage device of the local computer system. 
     
     
       13. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 12 , wherein the file manager application and the serving manager application interact to generate a recycle bin index viewable from the local computer system. 
     
     
       14. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 12 , wherein the file manager application and the serving manager application interact to delete the contents stored in the recycle bin. 
     
     
       15. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 12 , wherein the local computer system and the server are connected via the Internet. 
     
     
       16. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 15 , wherein the local computer system comprises a personal computer. 
     
     
       17. A server-side recycle bin system for retaining computer files and information, comprising:
 a) a local computer system;   b) a server computer comprising at least one server-side recycle bin;   c) means for retaining deleted files and information; and   d) a connection means for allowing communication between the local computer system and the server computer system.   
     
     
       18. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 17 , further comprising means for restoring deleted files and information from the server-side recycle bin. 
     
     
       19. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 18 , further comprising means for generating a recycle bin index viewable from the local computer system. 
     
     
       20. The server-side recycle bin system of  claim 18 , further comprising means for deleting the contents stored in the recycle bin. 
     
     
       21. A server for use with a local computer system used by a user, with a file manager application running on the local computer system which provides an indication that a file has been indicated for deletion, the server comprising:
 a persistent storage device including a server-side user recycle bin and files; and   a file serving application which responds to the indication from the file manager application by generating a retained file residing in the server-side user recycle bin, which retained file is a copy of the file indicated for deletion.    
     
     
       22. The server of claim 21, wherein the file manager application provides an indication to restore the retained file and wherein the file serving application responds to the indication from the file manager application to restore the retained file to a location on the persistent storage device of the server but outside the server-side user recycle bin.  
     
     
       23. The server of claim 21, wherein the file serving application generates a user recycle bin index viewable from the local computer system.  
     
     
       24. The server of claim 21, wherein the file manager application provides an indication to delete an item stored in the user recycle bin and wherein the file serving application deletes the item stored in the user recycle bin in response to the indication.  
     
     
       25. The server of claim 21, the server further comprising:
 an interface for connection to the Internet for allowing the file serving application to interact with the file manager application.    
     
     
       26. The server of claim 25, wherein the local computer comprises a personal computer.  
     
     
       27. The server of claim 25, where the local computer comprises a handheld computer.  
     
     
       28. The server of claim 25, wherein the local computer comprises an Internet enabled device.  
     
     
       29. The server of claim 21, the server further comprising:
 an interface for connection to a local area network for allowing the file serving application to interact with the file manager application.    
     
     
       30. The server of claim 21, the server further comprising:
 an interface for connection to a wide area network for allowing the file serving application to interact with the file manager application.    
     
     
       31. A server for use with a local computer system used by a user, the local computer system including a persistent storage device for storing files and a file manager application which provides an indication that a file in the local computer system persistent storage device has been indicated for deletion and provides a copy of the indicated file, the server comprising:
 a persistent storage device including a server-side recycle bin and files; and   a file serving application which responds to the indication from the file manager application by generating a retained file residing in the server-side recycle bin by receiving the copy of the indicated file and storing the received file in the server-side recycle bin.    
     
     
       32. The server of claim 31, wherein the file manager application provides an indication to restore the retained file to a location on the local computer system and wherein the file serving application responds to the indication from the file manager application by providing the retained file to the file manager application.  
     
     
       33. The server of claim 31, wherein the file serving application generates a recycle bin index viewable from the local computer system.  
     
     
       34. The server of claim 31, wherein the file manager application provides an indication to delete an item stored in the recycle bin and wherein the file serving application deletes the item stored in the recycle bin in response to the indication.  
     
     
       35. The server of claim 31, the server further comprising:
 an interface for connection to the Internet for allowing the file serving application to interact with the file manager application.    
     
     
       36. The server of claim 35, wherein the local computer system comprises a personal computer.  
     
     
       37. The server of claim 35, wherein the local computer system comprises a handheld computer.  
     
     
       38. The server of claim 35, wherein the local computer system comprises an Internet enabled device.  
     
     
       39. The server of claim 31, the server further comprising:
 an interface for connection to a local area network for allowing the file serving application to interact with the file manager application.    
     
     
       40. The server of claim 31, the server further comprising:
 an interface for connection to a wide area network for allowing the file serving application to interact with the file manager application.