Patent ID: 7937431

Claim:
In a computer network having three or more computing devices in communication, a method for managing data available for access on the computer network, the method comprising: obtaining, at a host computing device included as part of the computer network and associated with a user, a first user request to identify data corresponding to a set of criteria; obtaining an identification of data stored on the host computing device associated with the first user request and matching the set of criteria; automatically obtaining an identification of data stored on at least one computing device included in the computer network and matching the set of criteria; merging the identification of data stored on the host computing device associated with the first user request and the identification of data stored on the at least one computing device included in the computer network; generating a first user result from the merging of the identification of data stored on the host computing device associated with the first user request and the identification of data stored on the at least one computing device included in the computer network; maintaining a record of the first user result; obtaining, at the host computing device, a second user request to identify data corresponding to the set of criteria; obtaining a second user result identifying data stored on the host computing device associated with the second user request and matching the set of criteria; querying any other computing device in the computer network available to identify data associated with the second user request in response to the second user request; determining that one computing device in the computer network that was previously searched as a result of the first user request is unavailable to identify data corresponding to the second user request; generating a recalled result portion by recalling a portion of the first user result containing data located on the one computing device that is unavailable during the second user request; generating a substituted result by substituting the recalled result portion for results from the second user request of the one computing device that is unavailable during the second user request; generating a merged result by merging results including a result from the any other computing device available to identify data in response to the second user request, the second user result, and the substituted result; selecting data to be manipulated, wherein the selected data corresponds to the merged result; obtaining on the host computing device an indication to manipulate the selected data corresponding to the merged result, wherein the data selected to be manipulated is remote from the host computing device; transmitting a security identifier corresponding to the user; obtaining permission for the user to manipulate the selected data, wherein said permission is obtained based on the security identifier corresponding to the user; and manipulating the data selected to be manipulated.