Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/875,712, filed Jun. 24, 2004, and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,657,008, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/218,481, filed Aug. 14, 2002, and now abandoned, with both applications incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but the copyright owner otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention generally relates to computers and to telephony and, more particularly, to methods and systems that allow a customer to manage electronic data in a storage-enabled telecommunications network. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The explosive growth of electronic data presents storage problems. As more and more businesses and residences embrace information technology, businesses and residences are confronted with the problem of storing more and more electronic information. Businesses, for example, generate thousands of electronic documents, emails, proprietary information, and the like each day. The pressing challenge is how businesses may store and manage this growing electronic data without investing millions of dollars in hardware and equipment, network infrastructure, maintenance, and training. There is, accordingly, a need in the art for a storage service that reduces a customer&#39;s investment in data storage networks. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned problem, and other problems, are reduced by a storage-enabled telecommunications network. This storage-enabled telecommunications network comprises a shared, interconnected network of secure storage facilities provided by a telecommunications service provider. This network of secure storage facilities leverages the assets of a telecommunications network to create a fabric of storage points of presence (or “POPs”). These storage POPs are then deployed throughout the telecommunications network to provide data storage service to a range of customers, from large corporations to individual consumers. The storage-enabled telecommunications network allows a customer to manage electronic data residing on one or more storage POPs, thus providing redundant, off-site secure data storage for medical records, legal records, trade secrets, confidential/proprietary information, and other electronic information. The storage-enabled telecommunications network may also be used to stream data, such as digital movies, digital music, and other content, to customers. 
     One aspect of this invention describes a method for storing electronic data. Telecommunications service and data storage service is provided to a customer. The data storage service stores the electronic data within a network of shared, interconnected storage devices. The network of storage devices is provided by a telecommunications service provider. The data storage service allows the customer to store, delete, retrieve, copy, and otherwise manage the electronic data remotely residing in the storage network. At least one storage device in the network of storage devices is associated with a central office (“CO”), a mobile telephone switching center (“MTSO”), or a combination CO/MTSO. 
     Another embodiment describes an alternative method for managing electronic data. This method communicates electronic data to a storage device. The storage device is associated with a telecommunications facility, such as a central office and/or a mobile telephone switching office. 
     Still another embodiment describes yet another method for managing electronic data. A data connection is established to a storage device. The storage device is associated with a telecommunications network facility. Customer-defined electronic data is communicated to the storage device via the data connection. At least some of the electronic data is managed according to a service level agreement. 
     Yet another embodiment is a system for remotely managing electronic data. The system comprises a network of storage devices, a storage operating system, and an application program. The network of storage devices is provided by a telecommunications service provider. The network of storage devices comprises a plurality of shared, interconnected storage devices. The storage operating system manages the network of storage devices. The application program may be installed in a customer&#39;s computer, and the application program allows the customer to manage electronic data remotely residing in the network of storage devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this invention are better understood when the following Detailed Description of the Invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic showing an exemplary operating environment for a storage-enabled telecommunications network according to an embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic showing a framework for the storage-enabled telecommunications network according to an embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a more detailed schematic of the framework shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic showing another embodiment of the storage-enabled telecommunications network; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic of yet another alternative embodiment for the storage-enabled telecommunications network; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic of still another alternative embodiment for the storage-enabled telecommunications network; 
         FIG. 7  is another example of wirelessly communicating electronic data to and from a storage device; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic illustrating communication of electronic data to an interactive television; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic illustrating communication of electronic data to a digital recording device; 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are schematics illustrating the communication of electronic data to other devices; 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are flowcharts showing a method of providing storage service to a customer; and 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart showing another method of providing storage service to a customer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention utilizes a telecommunications network facility as a storage facility. A storage device is associated with the telecommunications network facility, and a customer may then store their electronic data to the storage device. If, for example, the storage device is associated with a central office serving the customer, the customer&#39;s electronic data may be archived to the storage device in the central office. The customer&#39;s electronic data is then archived in a secure facility designed to withstand many natural and man-made disasters. 
     This invention also describes a storage-enabled telecommunications network. If storage devices are located in various telecommunications network facilities, then these facilities may be meshed together as a storage network. A customer, then, could store electronic data to the local central office, and this electronic data itself could be archived to another telecommunications network facility. If a customer located in Miami, Fla. wants to archive electronic data geographically outside “hurricane alley,” the customer&#39;s electronic data could be transferred along the storage network to a safer telecommunications network facility. The customer&#39;s electronic data, for example, could be transferred from a central office in Miami to a telecommunications network facility in Tennessee. The customer&#39;s electronic data could automatically be “mirrored” from one telecommunications network facility to another to protect against fire or other disaster. If a disaster did strike the customer&#39;s local telecommunications network facility, then the customer&#39;s data connection to the storage network could be re-routed to the mirrored storage facility. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic showing an exemplary operating environment for a storage-enabled telecommunications network  10 . The storage-enabled telecommunications network  10  comprises a shared, interconnected network  12  of one or more storage points of presence (or “POP”)  14 . Each storage point of presence (or “POP”)  14  has a storage device  16  for storing electronic data. Each storage device  16  comprises any medium capable of storing electronic data, yet each storage device  16  preferably comprises a magnetic, optical, or tape drive. Each storage POP  14  may also communicate electronic data to another storage POP via a network transport  18 . The network transport  18  comprises interconnections amongst the storage POPs  14  to communicate electronic data along the network  12 . The network transport  18  may be any means of coupling one storage POP to another storage POP, but the network transport  18  is preferably high-capacity, high-bandwidth optical transport services and/or Gigabit Ethernet services. The network transport  18  could also link each storage POP  14  via a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) structure with redundant, multiple rings. 
     The storage-enabled telecommunications network  10  also includes a telecommunications network facility  20 . At least one storage POP  14  is associated with the telecommunications network facility  20 , such as a central office (CO)  22 , a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO)  24 , and/or a combination CO/MTSO  26 . As those of ordinary skill in the art of telecommunications understand, the central office (CO)  22 , the mobile telephone switching office (MTSO)  24 , and the combination CO/MTSO  26  could each comprise switching equipment  28  that communicates with a Public Switched Telephone Network  30 . The switching equipment  28  could include Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) componentry. The switching equipment  28  could also include a packet-based “softswitch” that uses software control to provide voice, data, and video services by dynamically changing its connection data rates and protocols types. 
     The storage-enabled telecommunications network  10  may also include other telecommunications network facilities. The telecommunications network facility  20  could be a base station facility  32  or an antenna facility  34  of a mobile telephone network. The telecommunications network facility  20  could also be any building, site, or structure that comprises, that contains, or that houses telecommunications equipment, such as a cross-connect box or a utility pole. Because at least one storage POP  14  is associated with the telecommunications network facility  20 , the term “associated with” preferably means the storage POP  14  is located within the central office  22  or within the mobile telephone switching center  24 . The central office  22 , the mobile telephone switching center  24 , or the combination CO/MTSO  26  provides a secure site that may withstand natural and man-made disasters. The term “associated with,” however, could also mean the storage POP  14  is located within a fenced perimeter of the telecommunications network facility  20 , or the storage POP  14  is located on the property grounds of the telecommunications network facility  20 . The term “associated with” could also mean the storage POP  14  is located on a roof of the telecommunications network facility  20 , within the owned or leased premises of the base station facility  32 , or within the owned or leased premises of the antenna facility  34 . 
       FIG. 1  also shows that a customer may interact with the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10 . A data connection  36  is established to a storage POP  14  and, thus, to a storage device  16 . This data connection  36  allows electronic data to be sent and received via the data connection  36 . The data connection  36 , for example, couples the customer&#39;s premises  38 , such as a home or business, with a storage POP  14  and the storage device  16 . If a computer  40  operating within the customer&#39;s premises  38  is coupled to the data connection  36 , the customer may use the computer  40  to access the storage device  14  and to communicate electronic data.  FIG. 1  shows the computer  40  coupled to a storage device  42  operating within the central office  22 . Because the storage device  42  is also interconnected with each storage POP  14  via the network transport  18 , the customer could also have permission to access any other storage POP  14  within the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10 . The data connection  36  comprises any means of coupling the customer&#39;s premises  38  to the storage POP to communicate electronic data. The means of coupling the customer&#39;s premises  38  to the storage POP includes optical transmission of electronic data, wireless transmission of electronic data, and/or fixed-wire transmission of electronic data. Fiber optic technologies, spectrum multiplexing (such as Dense Wave Division Multiplexing), Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet services, and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) are just some examples of the means of coupling the customer&#39;s premises  38  to the storage POP to communicate electronic data. The means of coupling the customer&#39;s premises  38  to the storage POP could also include a fixed wire connection to the storage POP  14  via a local loop of a telecommunications network to communicate electronic data. 
     Because at least one storage POP  14  is associated with the telecommunications facility  20 , a telecommunications service provider is able to offer a storage service to the customer. This storage service allows the customer to manage electronic data stored within the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10 . The customer, for example, uses the computer  40  to access the storage device  42  associated with the central office  22 , and the customer sends and receives electronic files, movies, music, and other electronic data. When the customer manages electronic data residing within the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10 , the term “manage” means the customer may (i) store electronic data to the storage device  42 , (ii) retrieve electronic data from the storage device  42 , (iii) delete electronic data from the storage device  42 , and (iv) protect electronic data residing on the storage device  42 . The term “manage” also means the customer may (v) send electronic data to a destination outside the network  12  of storage devices and (vi) archive electronic data on the storage device  42  or on any other storage device  16  communicating with the network  12 . The term “manage” also means the customer may (vii) send electronic data to, and receive electronic data from, any Internet Protocol address on a distributed computing network (such as the Internet). “Manage” electronic data also means the customer may (viii) encrypt electronic data that is sent to, received from, or transmitted within the network  12 , (ix) copy electronic data transmitted to, from, or within the network  12 , (vi) and associate electronic data with other electronic data transmitted to, from, or within the network  12 . This storage service may also permit the customer to save, delete, copy, retrieve, protect/encrypt, archive, and, in general, “manage” electronic data residing within the storage device  42 , residing within any other storage device  14  communicating with the network  12 , and residing within the network  12 . 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic showing a framework  44  for the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10 . This framework  44  comprises four (4) layers: the network transport  18 , the storage devices  16 , a storage operating system  46 , and an application program  48 . The fourth layer, the network transport  18 , comprises any means of coupling one storage device to another storage device to communicate electronic data. The means of coupling one storage device to another storage device includes optical transmission of electronic data, wireless transmission of electronic data, and/or fixed-wire transmission of electronic data. Fiber optic technologies, spectrum multiplexing (such as Dense Wave Division Multiplexing), Gigabit Ethernet services, and Digital Subscriber (DSL) Lines are just some examples of the means of coupling one storage device to another storage device to communicate electronic data. 
     The third layer is the hardware for storing electronic data. Each storage device  16  comprises any medium or device that is capable of storing computer files, digital movies, digital music, and other electronic data. Each storage device  16 , however, preferably comprises a magnetic, optical, or tape drive system for storing electronic data. The storage devices  16  are purchased from vendors such as EMC Corporation (35 Parkwood Drive, Hopkinton Mass. 01748, www.emc.com) and IBM Corporation (1133 Westchester Avenue, White Plains N.Y. 10604, www.ibm.com). The storage devices  16  are then interconnected along the network transport  18  to create the network  12  of storage devices. 
     The second layer is the storage operating system  46 . The storage operating system  46  is preferably an off-the-shelf software package that provisions, monitors, manages, and bills for the use of the storage service. The preferred software package is the StorageManager v5.0 product from Storage Networks (Storage Networks, Incorporated, 225 Wyman Street, Waltham Mass. 02451, www.storagenetworks.com). The StorageManager v5.0 product is compatible with various models and manufacturers of storage devices, and the StorageManager v5.0 product allows the storage-enabled telecommunications network to be centrally monitored and managed from a storage network operating center  50 . Although the StorageManager v5.0 product is the preferred storage operating system  46 , the storage operating system  46  may alternatively be any data storage management application that manages, or provides access to, one or more of the storage devices. 
     The first layer is the application program  48 . One or more application programs operate on the customer&#39;s computer  40 . The customer&#39;s computer  40  may have special software or software agents installed that will allow the storage service to be performed. As the customer manages electronic data residing on a remote storage device  16  (such as the storage device  42  in the central office  22 ), an application program is executed to provide the management task. If, for example, the customer wishes to archive electronic data to a storage device  16 , an archival/backup application program  48  or “agent” communicates with the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10  and executes the archival task. Any other data management task, such as saving, deleting, copying, retrieving, protecting/encrypting, and, in general, “managing,” would be executed by one or more application programs or agents. The one or more application programs  48  are installed in the customer&#39;s computer  40 , and the application programs  48  allow the customer to manage electronic data remotely residing in the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10 . 
     The framework for the storage service may also include a service level agreement. The service level agreement is an agreement between the storage service provider and the customer. The service level agreement commits that the storage service provider will store data under certain parameters. The service level agreement, for example, could specify how an archival operation is performed or how frequently the customer may access the storage service. The service level agreement could also bind the storage service provider to provide archival electronic data within a certain time frame (e.g., 30 minutes or 24 hours). 
       FIG. 3  is a more detailed schematic of the framework  44  shown in  FIG. 2 . Each storage POP  14  has one or more storage devices  16 , and the network transport  18  interconnects the storage POPs  14  to communicate electronic data along the network (shown as reference numeral  12  in  FIG. 1 ). At least one storage POP  14  is associated with the telecommunications facility  20 . The storage operating system  46  operates on each storage device  16 , and the storage devices  16  and the storage operating system  46  are centrally monitored from the storage network operating center  50 . One or more application programs  48  operate on the customer&#39;s computers  40  and also communicate, via the data connection  36  and via the network transport  18 , with the storage network operating center  50 . 
     The framework  44  may also include one or more storage switches  52 . These storage switches  52  interconnect one or more storage devices  16  operating within a storage POP  14 . As  FIG. 3  shows, for example, the storage POP  14  associated with the telecommunications network facility  20  may have more than one storage device  16 . The storage POP  14 , in fact, could have many storage devices  16  depending upon the amount of electronic data to be stored and depending upon the capacity of each storage device  16 . The storage switch  52  is then connected to each storage device  16  operating at the storage POP  14 , and the storage switch  52  routes electronic data from a shared connection to the proper storage device  16 . The network transport  18  then interconnects each storage switch  52  at each storage POP  14 , and the storage switch  52  at each storage POP  14  is, in turn, connected to each storage device  16  operating at each storage POP  14 . The interconnected storage switches  52  thus allow the storage devices  16 , operating at each storage POP  14 , to share the network transport  18 . 
     The customer&#39;s premises  38  may also include a storage switch  52 . If the data connection  36  to the customer&#39;s premises  38  is shared between one or more networked computers  40 , and/or a network-attached storage system  54 , then a storage switch  52  is also operating at the customer&#39;s premises  38 . The storage switch  52  connects to the customer&#39;s network and routes electronic data from the shared data connection  36  to the proper networked storage device. The data connection  36  is thus established between the customer&#39;s premises  38  and the storage POP  14 , and electronic data is sent and received via the data connection  36 . 
     The storage network operating center  50  monitors the storage switches  52 . As  FIG. 3  shows, the storage network operating center  50  is interconnected to each storage switch  52  via the network transport  18 . The storage network operating center  50  may then monitor each storage switch  52  and observe performance, packet flows, status, errors, and other operational indicators for each storage switch  52 . Because each storage switch  52  is also interconnected to each storage device  16  operating at each storage POP  14 , the storage network operating center  50  also monitors the performance and the operation of each storage device  16 . The storage network operating center  50  would also be able to monitor the storage switch  52  operating at the customer&#39;s premises  38 , so the storage network operating center  50  may also know the performance and the operation of the customer&#39;s networked computers  40  and/or the network-attached storage system  54 . The storage network operating center  50  also runs the storage operating system  46  common to all storage devices  16 , so the storage network operating center  50  could remotely diagnose and repair problems. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic showing another embodiment of the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10 . Here the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10  includes a central storage POP  56 . The central storage POP  56  is also interconnected to each storage POP  14  via the network transport  18 . The central storage POP  56  may be associated with a telecommunications network facility. The central storage POP  56  stores large amounts of electronic data that exceed the capacity, or the performance desires, of the smaller storage POP  14 . The central storage POP  56 , for example, could be used as a content library and stores digital movies, music, news, and video. When the customer wants to download and receive digital content, such as a digital movie, the digital content is communicated (or “streamed”) from the central storage POP  56 , to the storage POP  14  communicating with the customer&#39;s premises  38 , and along the data connection  36  to the customer&#39;s premises  38 . The customer may then view or listen to the digital content using any device capable of playing or of executing digital content, such as the computer  40 . 
       FIG. 4  also illustrates an alternative embodiment for a fee-based or subscription-based content service. Because the central storage POP  56  may store digital content, customers could be notified when content matches the customer&#39;s desires. A content provider, such as DISNEY®, WARNER BROS.®, or BELLSOUTH®, could store/post digital content to the central storage POP  56 . A customer profile indicates what content the customer prefers, such as news, sports, classic movies, or pop music. When content is stored, or “posted,” to the central storage POP  56 , and that content matches the customer&#39;s profile, the customer could be notified of that profile-matching content. The customer could then receive or download the profile-matching content. The customer could be charged a fee for the digital content, or the customer could subscribe to the profile-matching content. The digital content could also be freely offered to the customer. 
       FIG. 4  also illustrates an alternative embodiment for a fee-based storage service. The storage POP  14 , or the central storage POP  56 , could store a customer&#39;s digital music, movies, and other digital content. As digital content becomes more ubiquitous, customers will need to store their digital content. The customer may choose to store their digital content on the storage POP  14  or on the central storage POP  56 . The customer could be charged a fee for this storage service. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic of yet another alternative embodiment for the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10 .  FIG. 5  shows the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10  may wirelessly communicate electronic data to and from the storage device  42  (or any storage device  16  at any storage POP  14 ). Electronic data is communicated from the storage device  42 , through the storage switch  52 , and to the switching equipment  28  associated with the telecommunications network facility  20 . The switching equipment  28  routes the electronic data to a mobile telephone switching center  58 . The mobile telephone switching center  58  then wirelessly communicates the electronic data to a wireless communications device  60 , such as a mobile phone  62 , a pager  64 , a wireless personal data assistant  66 , or a wireless digital music device  68  (such as a wireless.mp3 player). The wireless communications device  60  could also communicate electronic data to the storage device  42  using the same infrastructure. Various standards and technologies could be used to support wireless communication to and from the wireless communications device  60 , such as 2G, 2.5G, and 3G cellular techniques. Those of ordinary skill in the art also recognize the same infrastructure could also be used to communicate electronic data to a satellite phone. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic of yet another alternative embodiment for the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10 . Here the storage-enabled telecommunications network  10  wirelessly communicates electronic data to and from the storage device  42  (or any storage device  16  at any storage POP  14 ) using the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) technique. Electronic data is communicated from the storage device  42 , through the storage switch  52 , and to a communications (“Comm”) server  70 . The Comm server  70  formats the electronic data into one or more Wireless Mark-up Language (WML) messages  72 . The WML messages  72  are then communicated over a data network  74  to a WAP gateway  76 . The WAP gateway  76  then interfaces with the mobile telephone switching center  58 , and the mobile telephone switching center  58  then wirelessly communicates the electronic data to a WAP phone  78 , the pager  64 , or the wireless personal data assistant  66 . Those of ordinary skill in the art of telecommunications understand the WAP gateway  76  uses a WAP push proxy server to push messages to the WAP phone  78 , the pager  64 , or the wireless personal data assistant  66 . The Wireless Mark-up Language (WML) and the WAP technique are known and will not be further described. This is a description of a solution for a specific wireless protocol, such as WAP. This solution may be clearly extended to other wireless protocol, such as i-mode. 
       FIG. 7  is another example of wirelessly communicating electronic data to and from the storage device  42  (or any storage device  16  at any storage POP  14 ). Here, however, the wireless technique uses VoiceXML (Voice eXtensible Markup Language). Electronic data is communicated from the storage device  42 , through the storage switch  52 , and to the Comm server  70 . The Comm server  70  formats the electronic data into one or more VoiveXML messages  80 . The VoiceXML messages  80  are then communicated over the data network  74  to a VoiceXML gateway  82 . The VoiceXML gateway  82  then interfaces with the mobile telephone switching center  58 , and the mobile telephone switching center  58  then wirelessly communicates the electronic data to the mobile phone  62 , the pager  64 , or the wireless personal data assistant  66 . 
     The customer could use Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) keys to approve or decline the electronic data. If, for example, the customer wishes to decline electronic data, the customer may transmit a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) key to indicate the customer does not wish to wirelessly receive the electronic data. If the customer prefers to approve the wireless communication of any electronic data, the customer, similarly, may transmit a DTMF key to approve any wireless communication or transmission of electronic data. DTMF signaling is a means of transferring information from the customer through the use of in-band audio tones. Each digit of information is assigned a simultaneous combination of one of a lower group of frequencies and one of a higher group of frequencies to represent each digit or character. Those of ordinary skill in the art of telecommunications understand the VoiceXML gateway  82  enables access to, and modification of, web-based information through a normal voice interface. VoiceXML, in addition, provides for automatic speech recognition and/or text-to-speech communication. VoiceXML, therefore, provides understandable communication between the customer, using the mobile phone  62 , the pager  64 , or the wireless personal data assistant  66 , and an application running on the Comm server  70 . The VoiceXML technique, the VoiceXML gateway  82 , and the DTMF technique are known and will not be further described. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic illustrating communication of electronic data to an interactive television  84 . Electronic data is communicated from the storage POP  42 , through the storage switch  52 , and to the customer&#39;s premises  38  via the data connection  36 . The electronic data could also be communicated from the central storage POP  56 , through the storage switch  52 , and to the customer&#39;s premises  38  via the data connection  36 . If the customer has multiple devices sharing the data connection  36 , the electronic data may also be routed through the storage switch  52  at the customer&#39;s premises  38 . The interactive television  84  couples either to the data connection  36  or to the storage switch  52 . The interactive television  84  receives the electronic data and the customer may view the electronic data on the interactive television  84 . 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic illustrating communication of electronic data to a digital recording device  86 . The digital recording device  86  digitally stores movies, music, news, and other electronic data. The digital recording device  86  comprises any medium capable of storing electronic data, yet the digital recording device  86  preferably comprises a magnetic, optical, or tape drive. Electronic data is communicated from the storage POP  42 , through the storage switch  52 , and to the customer&#39;s premises  38  via the data connection  36 . The electronic data could also be communicated from the central storage POP  56 , through the storage switch  52 , and to the customer&#39;s premises  38  via the data connection  36 . If the customer has multiple devices sharing the data connection  36 , the electronic data may also be routed through the storage switch  52  at the customer&#39;s premises  38 . The digital recording device  86  couples either to the data connection  36  or to the storage switch  52 . The digital recording device  86  receives the electronic data and stores the electronic data for later use. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  are schematics illustrating the communication of electronic data to other devices.  FIG. 10  shows electronic data may be communicated to a device coupled to the data connection  36 . As  FIG. 10  shows, a device with a digital signal processor (DSP)  86  coupled to the data connection  36  could receive electronic data. The electronic data is communicated from the storage POP  42  to the digital signal processor  86  via the data connection  36 .  FIG. 10  also shows any device with a modem  88  coupled to the data connection  36  could receive electronic data. The electronic data is communicated from the storage POP  42  to the modem  88  via the data connection  36 .  FIG. 11  shows electronic data may be wirelessly communicated to any device having the digital signal processor  86  and/or the modem  88 .  FIG. 11  also shows electronic data may be wirelessly communicated to a satellite phone  90  or to a Global Positioning System (“GPS”) device  92  that receives, or that displays, Global Positioning System coordinates. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  are flowcharts showing a method of providing storage service to a customer. Telecommunications service (Block  94 ) and data storage service (Block  96 ) is provided by a telecommunications service provider. The data storage service allows the customer to manage electronic data stored or residing on a remote storage device (Block  98 ). The remote storage device communicates with a network of shared, interconnected storage devices (Block  100 ). The data storage service allows the customer to access at least one storage device associated with a telecommunications network facility (Block  102 ). The at least one storage device, for example, could be associated with a central office (CO) of a telecommunications network (Block  104 ), a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) (Block  106 ), and/or a telecommunications facility comprising telephone switching equipment and mobile telephone switching equipment (CO/MTSO) (Block  108 ). The data storage service allows the customer to store, send, and archive electronic data to the remote storage device (Block  110 ). The customer may also retrieve and may delete electronic data from the remote storage device (Block  112 ). 
     The flowchart continues with  FIG. 13 . The data storage service also allows the customer to protect and/or to encrypt electronic data residing on the remote storage device (Block  114 ). The customer may send electronic data within the network of storage devices (Block  116 ), and the customer may send electronic data to a destination outside the network of storage devices, such as an Internet Protocol address on a distributed computing network (e.g., the Internet) (Block  118 ). The data storage service may also allow the customer to archive electronic data to the network of storage devices (Block  120 ). The customer may copy electronic data to a storage device or copy from one storage device to another storage device (Block  122 ). The customer may also combine, link, join, or associate electronic data with other data (Block  124 ). 
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart showing another method of providing storage service to a customer. A data connection is established to a storage device (Block  126 ). The data connection may comprise a landline connection and/or a wireless connection to the storage device. The storage device is associated with a telecommunications network facility (Block  128 ), such as a central office (CO) (Block  130 ) and/or a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) (Block  132 ). Customer-defined electronic data is communicated to the storage device via the data connection (Block  134 ). The storage service then allows the customer to manage the electronic data residing on the storage device (Block  136 ). Electronic data may also be communicated from the storage device (Block  138 ). Electronic data may be communicated from the storage device to a computer (Block  140 ). Electronic data may also be communicated from the storage device to a wireless communications device, such as a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a WAP phone, a satellite phone, a pager, and a personal digital assistant (Block  142 ). Electronic data may also be communicated from the storage device to a digital music device, a digital recording device, or an interactive television (Block  144 ). Electronic data may also be communicated from the network of storage devices to the storage device (Block  146 ). 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to various features, aspects, and embodiments, those skilled and unskilled in the art will recognize the invention is not so limited. Other variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Technology Category: 5