Method and apparatus for data file transfer using destination linked directories

Abstract

A file authentication requesting device that stores a computer program for requesting authentication of files in digital systems, the device comprises a confirmation request system that generates a request for a confirmation receipt from a third party authenticator authenticating the attributes of a file; a transferring system that transfers attributes of at least one file to be authenticated to the third party authenticator from the device that requested the confirmation; and a receiving system that receives the confirmation receipt comprising authenticated file attributes, after authentication by the third party authenticator; wherein, at least one file authentication is received from the third party authenticator. Corresponding processing devices, media, systems and methods are also provided.

1 .- 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A first data file transfer device configured to transfer data to at least one remote device, comprising:
 connection system configured to establish a communication connection with the at least one remote device;   a data file transfer system configured to provide data file transfer with the at least one remote device;   at least one destination linked directory associated with the at least one remote device, a respective destination linked directory corresponding to a file storage area on the first data file transfer device; and   a destination linked directory management system configured to detect storing of at least one data file in the at least one destination linked directory and to initiate a transfer of the at least one detected data file to the associated remote device in response to the detection,   wherein the first data file transfer device is configured to send the at least one data file stored in the at least one destination linked directory associated with the at least one remote device to the at least one remote device absent additional user action.   
     
     
         4 . The first data file transfer device of  claim 3 , wherein the first data file transfer device is further configured to transfer the at least one data file stored in the at least one destination linked directory to at least one archive directory located on a second data file transfer device, the second data file transfer device being accessible over a public communication network, and the at least one archive directory being accessible by at least one remote data file transfer device. 
     
     
         5 . The first data file transfer device of  claim 3 , wherein the destination linked director management system is configured to detect storing of at least one data file in the at least one destination linked directory by at least one of a user action or an automatic output from a companion storage function. 
     
     
         6 . The first data file transfer device of  claim 3 , wherein the first data file transfer device is configured to initiate file transfer substantially immediately after the at least one data file is stored in a destination linked directory. 
     
     
         7 . The first data file transfer device of  claim 3 , wherein the first data file transfer device is configured to initiate file transfer at preset delayed time periods. 
     
     
         8 . A data file transfer system comprising a plurality of data file transfer devices, a respective data file transfer device further comprising:
 a connection system configured to establish a communication connection with at least one remote data file transfer device from among the plurality of data file transfer devices other than the respective data file transfer device;   a data file transfer system configured to provide data file transfer with the at least one remote data file transfer device;   at least one destination linked directory associated with the at least one remote data file transfer device, a particular destination linked directory corresponding to a file storage area on the respective data file transfer device; and   a destination linked directory management system configured to detect storing of at least one data file in the at least one destination linked directory and to initiate a transfer of the at least one detected data file to the at least one associated remote data file transfer device in response to the detection,   wherein the respective data file transfer device is configured to send the at least one data file stored in the destination linked directory associated with the at least one remote data file transfer device to the at least one remote data file transfer device absent additional user action.   
     
     
         9 . The data file transfer system of  claim 8 , wherein the respective data file transfer device is further configured to transfer the at least one data file stored in the at least one destination linked directory to at least one archive directory located on at least one other data file transfer device connected to and accessible over a public communication network and accessible by at least one remote data file transfer device. 
     
     
         10 . The data file transfer system of  claim 8 , wherein the destination linked directory management system is configured to detect storing of the at least one data file in the at least one destination linked directory by at least one of a user action or an automatic output from a companion storage function. 
     
     
         11 . The data file transfer system of  claim 8 , wherein the respective data file transfer device is configured to initiate file transfer substantially immediately after the at least one data file is stored in a destination linked directory. 
     
     
         12 . The data file transfer system of  claim 8 , Wherein the respective data file transfer device is configured to inmate file transfer at pre-set delayed time periods. 
     
     
         13 . A data file transfer method, the method comprising:
 establishing, by a local device, a communication connection with at least one remote device among a plurality of remote devices connectable to a computer network;   detecting the writing of the at least one data file into at least one destination linked directory associated with the at least one remote device; and   initiating a transfer of the at least one detected data file to the at least one associated remote device in response to the detecting, absent additional user action.   
     
     
         14 . The data file transfer method of  claim 13 , wherein the detecting is configured to detect the writing of the at least one data file into the at least one destination linked directory by at least one of a user action or an automatic output from a companion storage function. 
     
     
         15 . The data file transfer method of  claim 13 , further comprising transferring the at least one data file written into the at least one destination linked directory to at least one archive directory located on at least one data file transfer device connected to and accessible over a public communication network, wherein the at least one archive directory is accessible by at least one remote data file transfer device. 
     
     
         16 . The data file transfer method of  claim 13 , further comprising delaying data file transfers to the at least one remote device until the at least one remote device is actively connected to the computer network, wherein the file transfer occurs substantially immediately after the connection is made. 
     
     
         17 . A computer readable medium on which are stored instructions configured to cause an electronic system to perform data file transfer operations, the operations comprising:
 establishing, by a local device, a communication connection with at least one remote device among a plurality of remote devices connectable to a computer network;   detecting the writing of the at least one data file into at least one destination linked directory associated with the at least one remote device; and   initiating a transfer of the at least one detected data file to the at least one associated remote device in response to the detecting, absent additional user action.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the detecting is configured to detect the writing of the at least one data file into the at least one destination linked directory by at least one of a user action or an automatic output from a companion storage function. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise transferring the at least one data file written into the at least one destination linked directory to at least one archive directory located on at least one data file transfer device connected to and accessible over a public communication network, wherein the at least one archive directory is accessible by at least one remote data file transfer device. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise delaying data file transfers to the at least one remote device until the at least one remote device is actively connected to the computer network, wherein the file transfer occurs substantially immediately after the connection becomes active. 
     
     
         21 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise enabling a respective device to substantially simultaneously send and receive data to and from multiple remote devices. 
     
     
         22 . An array of data file transfer devices, wherein a respective data file transfer device is remote from the other data transfer devices of the array, and wherein a respective data file transfer device comprises:
 a connection system configured to establish a communication connection with at least one other data file transfer device from among the array of data file transfer devices;   a data file transfer system configured to provide data file transfer with the at least one other data file transfer device;   a destination finking system configured to create at least one file storage directory and to associate the at least file storage directory with the at least one other data file transfer device;   a file storage detection system configured to cause the respective data file transfer device to detect storing of at least one data file in the at least one file storage directory associated with the at least one remote data file transfer device and configured to inmate a transfer of the at least one detected data file to the associated at least one remote data file transfer device in response to the detection, absent additional user action.   
     
     
         23 . The array of data file transfer devices of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one file storage directory associated with the at least one remote device is created as a storage area on the respective data file transfer device. 
     
     
         24 . The array of data file transfer devices of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one file storage directory associated with the at least one remote device is created as a file storage area on a remote storage device accessible to the respective data file transfer device. 
     
     
         25 . The array of data file transfer devices of  claim 22 , in which the respective data file transfer device is configured to substantially simultaneously and receive data to and from multiple devices. 
     
     
         26 . The array of data file transfer deices of  claim 22 , wherein an active connection monitoring system is configured to periodically determine whether the at least one remote data file transfer device is currently actively connected to a communications pathway accessible to the respective data file transfer device. 
     
     
         27 . The array of data file transfer devices or  claim 26 , wherein the respective data file transfer device is configured to delay data file transfer until the active connection monitoring system determines that a target destination remote device is currently actively connected to a communications network accessible to the respective data file transfer device. 
     
     
         28 . The array of data file transfer devices of  claim 27 , wherein data file transfer among a plurality of the data file transfer devices is configured to synchronize storage of data files transferred on remote devices such that the files stored on multiple devices are the same. 
     
     
         29 . A data file transfer device, comprising:
 a connection system configured to establish a communication connection with at least one remote device;   a data file transfer system configured to provide data file transfer with the at least one remote device;   a destination linking system configured to create at least one file storage directory and to associate the at least one file storage directory with the at least one remote device to create at least one destination linked directory, the at least one destination linked directory being associated with the at least one remote device, wherein a respective destination linked directory comprises file storage area on the data file transfer device;   a destination linked directory management system configured to detect storing of at least one data file in the at least one destination linked directory and to initiate a trans of the at least one detected data file to the associated at least one remote device in response to the detection, absent additional user action,   wherein the transfer of the at leas one data file comprises writing the at least one data file to a file storage area on the at least one remote device, and wherein data files written to the file storage area are thereafter accessible to the data file transfer device over a public communication network.   
     
     
         30 . The data file transfer device of  claim 29 , wherein the data file transfer device is configured to detect that the at least one data file is stored in the at least one destination linked directory by at least one of a user action or an automatic output from a companion storage function. 
     
     
         31 . The data file transfer device of  claim 29 , wherein the destination linked directory management system is configured to initiate file transfer substantially immediately after the at least one data file is stored in the at least one destination linked directory. 
     
     
         32 . The data file transfer device of  claim 29 , wherein the data file transfer device is further configured to write the at least one data file written into the at least one destination linked directory is transferred to at least one archive directory located on at least one other data file transfer device connected to and accessible over a public communication network, the at least one archive directory being accessible by at least one remote data file transfer device. 
     
     
         33 . A method of configuring a data file transfer system that uses destination linked directories on a plurality of file transfer devices, the method comprising:
 providing to the plurality of file transfer devices a destination linking, system configured to create at least one file storage directory and associating the at least one file storage directory to at least one remote file transfer device from among the plurality of file transfer devices to create at least one destination linked directory;   providing a connection monitoring system configured to determine, whether a particular one of the file transfer devices is currently actively connected to a communications network accessible to a remainder of the plurality of file transfer devices;   providing a connection control to the plurality of file transfer devices, the connection control configured to establish a communication connection between a local device and at least one remote device among a plurality of remote devices connectable to the communications network;   providing a detector configured to detect storing of at least one data file into the at least one destination liked directory; and   providing an initiator configured to initiate, in response to detection of storing by the detector, a file transfer of the at least one data file detected as being stored in the at least one destination linked directory to the at least one associated remote file transfer device and to at least one archive directory located on at least one data file transfer device connected to and accessible over a public communication network, the at least one archive directory being accessible by the at least one remote data file transfer device;   wherein the initiator is configured to initiate file transfer substantial immediately after the at least one detected data file is detected as being stored in the at least one destination linked directory, and   wherein the initiator is further configured to send the at least one data file stored in the at least one destination linked directory associated with the at least one remote file transfer device to the at least one remote file transfer device absent additional user action.   
     
     
         34 . The method of configuring the data the transfer system of  claim 33 , wherein the detector is configured to detect that the at least one data file is stored in the at least one destination linked directory by at least one of a user action or an automatic output from a companion storage function. 
     
     
         35 . The method of configuring the data file transfer system of  claim 33 , further comprising providing a delay control, configured to delay data file transfers to the at least one remote file transfer device until the remote file transfer device is actively connected to the communication network, wherein the data file transfer occurs substantially immediately after the connection becomes active. 
     
     
         36 . The method of configuring the data file transfer system of  claim 33 , wherein the directory structure of one of the plurality of data file transfer devices is replicated on the at least one remote device as a result of the data file transfer, and the file structure and data files are synchronized between the one of the plurality of data file transfer devices and the at least one remote device.