Patent ID: 7764290

Claim:
An external memory system for use with an imaging system having a source of content data files, the external memory system comprising: a communications link adapted to exchange data with the imaging system; an archival memory device interface adapted to store data using an archival memory; and an external memory system processor adapted to automatically obtain content data files from the imaging system that have not yet been stored by the external memory system, to prepare the obtained content data files for archival storage, and to cause the archival memory device interface to store the prepared content data files without guidance from an ancillary device, wherein said external memory system processor maintains, in a memory within the external memory system, a record of all content data files that have been stored using the external memory system and, wherein the external memory system processor uses said record of content data files that have already been stored using the external memory system to identify content data files that have not yet been stored using the external memory system.