Patent ID: 8082325
Filing Date: 2011-12-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A data storage system using a network, having functions of storing data sent from a terminal device via the network in accordance with a request from the terminal device 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, installable to the terminal device; storing means, built into the terminal device; and a data storage device, connected to the terminal device via a first network, the data storage device having a first data storage unit, a second data storage unit, and a data transferring unit, the storing means 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be deposited to the data storage device via the first network and a data withdrawal process of downloading data to be withdrawn from the data storage device via the first network, wherein, in performing the data deposition process, the data to be deposited are uploaded to one of either the first data storage unit or the second data storage unit in accordance with an operator's operation, the first data storage unit performing a process of storing and saving the data to be deposited that have been uploaded from the terminal device and performing a process of downloading the data to be withdrawn to the terminal device when requested from the terminal device, the second data storage unit performing a process of temporarily storing the data to be deposited that have been uploaded from the terminal device and the data to be withdrawn that will be downloaded to the terminal device, the data transferring unit having functions of performing: a data stocking process, whereby, when the data to be deposited have been uploaded to the second data storage unit by the data deposition process, the data to be deposited are forwarded to an external storage site, accessible from the data storage device via a second network, the data to be deposited stored in the second data storage unit are deleted, and management information, including information specifying the external storage site, is sent to the terminal device that is executing the data deposition process, a data delivery process, whereby, when a request to download the data to be withdrawn from the second data storage unit is made by the data withdrawal process, management information is received from the terminal device that is executing the data withdrawal process, data stored in an external storage site specified by the received management information are forwarded to the second data storage unit, and the data in the second data storage unit are deleted upon being downloaded, a process of preparing and saving a list of respective individual data for which the data stocking process has been completed and presenting the list to the terminal device that performs the data withdrawal process, and a process of, after completion of the data stocking process or the data delivery process, deleting management information used in the completed data stocking process or data delivery process from inside the data storage device, the storing means further 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 as “management information concerning the data to be deposited” into the removable storage medium, a process of sending, in executing the data withdrawal process, “management information concerning the data to be withdrawn” that had been stored in the removable storage medium to the data storage device, and a process of making the terminal device recognize the data storage device as an external storage device, display a normal folder which corresponds to the first data storage unit and a stocking folder and a delivery folder which correspond to the second data storage unit on a window showing contents of the external storage device, and display data stored in the respective data storage units as a file when an opening operation of the respective folders is made, and the storing means furthermore having functions of: (a) uploading the data to be deposited into the first data storage unit, when the operator performs an operation of moving a file of the data to be deposited to the normal folder, (b) downloading the data to be withdrawn from the first data storage unit, when the operator performs an operation of moving a file of the data to be withdrawn from the normal folder, (c) providing the data transferring unit with a download request for a selected data, when the operator performs an operation of selecting the specific data from the list, (d) uploading the data to be deposited into the second data storage unit, when the operator performs an operation of moving a file of the data to be deposited to the stocking folder, and (e) downloading the data to be withdrawn from the second data storage unit, when the operator performs an operation of moving a file of the data to be withdrawn from the delivery folder.