DATA DISTRIBUTION METHODS AND SYSTEMS

ABSTRACT

Methods and related systems for secured and distributed data storage and communication are disclosed. For each byte of a given data set or file, data is split at the bit level and reassembled into a given number of meaningless data sets or files. One or more parity files are also generated to ensure availability and integrity of the data at all times. Each file is sent to a different and typically geographically distinct data storage location. When the information is required, the reverse process takes place. The only place where the information is reconstructed and accessible is at the point where it is required (the authorised users' computing devices or the organisation's network reassembly point). The source information is never stored or accessible in any single storage location, making it highly secured. The process can be embodied into a system through various forms, including software, firmware, hardware or combination thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/722, 025, entitled "Virtual Online Data Distribution System and Method", and filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Nov. 2, 2012, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to secure and distributed data storage and communication.

The generally accepted practice in the information technology and communication industry is to store information (data) with one service provider, in one physical and geographical location. Often, the service provider will also provide redundancy and backup storage in remote locations, but this is only to ensure performance and the availability of data in case of disaster or other failures. Information (data) is still entrusted to this single service provider, which must implement a plethora of security measures to ensure the protection of the information, namely its confidentiality, integrity and availability.

Current information storage and communication practices can result in security, confidentiality and privacy issues. Furthermore, the legal and regulatory differences in various jurisdictions can often discourage the free flow of information towards the most efficient and appropriate storage, processing and communication service providers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shortcomings of the prior art data storage practice are at least mitigated by methods and related systems which enable secure and distributed data storage and communication. By secure, it is understood that it can ensure the "confidentiality, integrity and availability" of data. By distributed, it is understood that the information can be communicated and stored in various locations, either locally, on a local workstation, server, USB device or any other storage device, on an Intranet, on the Internet, or a combination thereof, including what is often referred to as the "cloud".

The method in accordance with the principles of the present invention radically changes the generally accepted practice and paradigm that consists in storing information in one physical and geographical location or with one specific service provider. In its most basic form, the method splits the source data (e.g. computer file) at the bit level, typically for each byte, into a number of parts and sends each of these parts to a different location. The information is never stored in one single location and, since each part is arranged in a way that makes it meaningless, no one can access the source information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

  1. FIG. 1 - high level network architectural diagram showing the relationship between the user and the method and the resulting data files and parity file(s) stored in different locations.
  2. FIG. 2 - diagram showing an embodiment of a method for fragmenting source data bytes to form new bytes, generate parity bytes, produce data slices, convert them to files and send these files to different storage locations.
  3. FIG. 3 - example of a source data file that is processed producing output files sent to different storage locations.
  4. FIG. 4 - diagram showing an embodiment of the method for reconstructing the source data from data slices and files obtained from different storage locations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present method can be embodied into a system through various forms, including software, firmware, hardware or a combination thereof. In its most basic embodiment, the source data produced by the User, or the Organisation, is split into parts and sent to different storage locations. Each data part and parity part is then stored at distinct storage locations to ensure that the original data remains inaccessible as a single entity.

Overall, the methods and systems in accordance with the present invention aim to provide a high level of information security by making data available only where it is required and generally nowhere else.