Method and System for Permanent and Continuous Preservation and Retrieval of a Data Object in the Internet Cloud

摘要

A method and system funding long-term data storage, retrieval, and preservation services accessed over the internet, the data services funded by an automated system seeking a target rate of return, input to the system, using pooled, one-time client payments of a client fee (20a), where the rate of return is analyzed and referenced against pre-set criteria (50b 50c) in a fund data store (50), with generated returns calculated and then apportioned (20f) so that distributed returns pay expenses incurred providing the data services, and non-distributed returns are reinvested to pay future expenses, all steps performed by a fund manager (50a) implemented as software executing on one or more computing devices or servers. A software-implemented database manager (30a) manages the data services, controlling data access by establishing an account record per client and then applying identifying information and criteria stored in various data stores (14a 30b 30c 30d).

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for storing and retrieving data for a client comprising the steps of:
establishing (40) an account record for the client and related account settings and criteria; receiving (40f) from the client a data object to store and also information relating the data object to the account record and selecting a client data store (14a 30b) by applying the account settings and criteria; and storing (40e) the data object in the client data store (14a 30b) according to the account settings and criteria; wherein in establishing the account record, a one-time fee is imposed on the client commensurate with an agreed-on maximum volume of data to be stored for the client, and the method further comprises the step of: investing (20d) the fee in a fund holding fees collected also from other clients, the fund including investments selected from a set of investment options (50c) according to a goal (50b) for a rate of return set so as to ensure a return from the investments sufficient to cover all costs of storing data for the clients for a term of at least ten years for each client as set forth in an agreement with each client and commencing with the agreement.