Patent ID: 7792791

Claim:
A computer-implemented method tangibly embodied by at least instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium for establishing and maintaining authenticity of a plurality of records and/or documentary materials persisted in an electronic archives system, the method comprising: inspecting transfer media from a transferring entity to ensure that said transfer media contains at least one ingested record and/or documentary material; storing the at least one ingested record and/or documentary material in a temporary storage location; ensuring that the transfer media is mounted for upload into the system; performing at least one security and/or integrity check on the transfer media; performing at least one validation check on the at least one record's and/or documentary material's bit-stream; storing the at least one record and/or documentary material to at least one managed storage location; resolving any outstanding verification issues with the transferring entity; and persisting necessary metadata for the at least one record's and/or documentary material's lifecycle, wherein the archives system is scalable essentially without limitation, and wherein the authenticity of the plurality of records and/or documentary materials is comprehensively storable and maintainable over an extended period of time and obsolescence-proof despite changeability of the records and/or documentary materials, record and/or documentary material custody, and/or essential characteristic definitions.