Patent ID: 7746875
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for sharing and protecting data storage in a data storage environment including a network, the method comprising: using a connection broker site to communicate with a plurality of data share and protect sites; wherein the connection broker site includes a share site database providing information about share and protect sites including the plurality of data share and protect sites; wherein license keys are installed on the share sites and share site authorization ids are installed and used to authenticate the share sites; wherein the connection broker site includes a module for restoration of data on a first of the plurality of the data share and protect sites from data copied from a first of the plurality of the data share and protect sites to a second of the plurality of the data share and protect site; wherein storage reserved for protected data and amount of reserved data may be designated during the setting of configuration information; wherein folders may be designated to be shared between the share sites; wherein a schedule for when data is updated is designated; and wherein data is copied from at least one of the plurality of data share and protect sites to at least one other of the plurality of the data share and protect sites; and wherein the connection broker site includes a license manager that is configured to restrict which of the plurality of data shares and protect sites can connect to ensure authorized sites are connected.