Patent ID: 7263588

Claim:
A data storage system comprising: a plurality of data storage devices dispersed over a geographic area wherein any two of said plurality of data storage devices are separated by a distance measured in miles or kilometers; a processing system coupled to said plurality of data storage devices, said processing system being adapted to receive data files from a plurality of data sources and to receive requests for said data files from a plurality of data retrievers, said processing system assuring that each of said data files consists of data bytes in a digital format and assigning a data retrieval identification unique to each said data file; said processing system assigning a unique bit number to each data bit in said data bytes, said bit number identifying a position of said data bit in said data file; said processing system generating a data package for each said data bit, said data package including a value of said data bit, a bit storage location, said data retrieval identification unique to said data file with which said data bit is associated, and said bit number associated with said data bit, wherein a plurality of data packages are generated for said data file; and said processing system distributing said plurality of data packages approximately evenly amongst said plurality of data storage devices for storage thereat.