System and computer based method to automatically archive and retrieve encrypted remote client data files

Abstract

A remote user establishes an interactive session. A pre-determined backup set is encrypted at a remote user site according to a key based upon the user's password. Encrypted backup data is then transmitted to a backup archive server and decrypted utilizing the user's password generated key and re-encrypted according to a user specified backup set key and stored upon an auxiliary storage unit. The present invention further embodies a retrieval process wherein a remote user designates one or more files to be retrieved and the backup set encryption key used during the initial backup operation. Software executing within the backup archive server CPU retrieves and decrypts the specified files according to the originally specified backup set key and re-encrypts the files according to the remote user's password. Retrieved information is then transmitted to the remote user whereupon it is subsequently decrypted at the remote user site.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A system to automatically archive and retrieve encrypted remote client data files comprising: 
 at least one backup archive server central processing unit connected to a network;    at least one auxiliary storage device communicably attached to said backup archive server central processing unit, wherein communication between said backup archive server central processing unit and said auxiliary storage device is encrypted;    at least one client central processing unit communicably attached to said backup archive server central processing unit wherein all communication is encrypted;    first software for transmitting at least one remote client duplicate backup file encrypted according to the remote client's password across a network from said client central processing unit to said backup archive server central processing unit and for processing encrypted data communicated from second software, said first software executing within said client central processing unit;    second software for processing encrypted data communicated from said first software, validating authorized remote client access and storing said transmitted client back-up file, said second software executing within said backup archive server central processing unit and further including a software instruction set for transmitting data between said backup archive server central processing unit and a suitable data archival device; and    third software wherein all data transmitted between said client and said backup archive server central processing units is encrypted data.    
   
   
       13 . The system to automatically archive and retrieve encrypted remote client data files in accordance with  claim 12  further comprising at least one robotic CD rom, DVD, or other suitable data archival device and media recording and printing device communicably attached to said backup archive server central processing unit.  
   
   
       14 . A computer based method for automatically archiving and retrieving remote client data files comprising: 
 (a) a remote user specifying a back-up set to archive;    (b) said remote user specifying files to be archived or excluded;    (c) said remote user specifying the frequency and time of day of automated archiving activity;    (d) said remote user specifying an encryption key for said defined backup set;    (e) said remote user scheduling or manually requesting a remote client machine log on to a backup archive server;    (f) said user specifying the identification of a backup server CPU to be utilized for backup purposes;    (g) transmitting from said remote user across a network to a backup archive server remote user defined files which have been modified since last backup;    (h) decrypting at said backup archive server data identified in (g);    (i) re-encrypting the data decrypted in (h) according to a remote user determined and specified backup set key in (d); and    (j) storing data re-encrypted in (i) to an auxiliary storage device.    
   
   
       15 . The computer based method for automatically archiving and retrieving remote client data files according to  claim 14  further comprising: 
 (a). a remote user logging on to a backup archive server using a pre-authorized user ID and password;    (b). said remote user specifying a client CPU file location to which retrieved files are to be stored;    (c). said remote user specifying an appropriate backup set from which to recover files;    (d). said remote user specifying the encryption key of the backup set to be restored;    (e). said remote user specifying files within said backup set to be retrieved;    (f). retrieving remote client data which has been encrypted according to a remote user determined and specified backup set key;    (g). decrypting the data retrieved in (f);    (h). re-encrypting the data decrypted in (g) according to said remote user's password key; and,    (i). transmitting data re-encrypted in (h) to a remote user authorized to receive said data.