System and Method for Secure Distribution and/or Storage of Data Files with Long Term File Integrity Verification

Abstract

Systems and methods for securely uploading, distributing, managing and/or storing any type of data file within a subscriber-based system maintained by a third party administrator are disclosed. The subscriber-based system acts as an electronic repository to ensure that data files remain intact, secure, and unaltered from their original form. Systems and methods for long term verification of data file integrity using checksum records stored in a public checksum directory are also disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for securely managing data, the method comprising:
 storing encrypted data in a memory of a subscriber-based system maintained by a third-party administrator, wherein the stored encrypted data is unalterable;   restricting access to the stored encrypted data;   creating a data integrity record associated with the encrypted data, wherein an integrity of the encrypted data is determined at least partially based on the created data integrity record; and   transmitting the data integrity record to an accessible repository, wherein the accessible repository is accessible by devices associated with subscribers of the subscriber-based system and devices associated with nonsubscribers of the subscriber-based system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the data integrity record in the accessible repository. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retrieving the data integrity record of the encrypted data; and   determining an integrity of the decrypted data based on the retrieved data integrity.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data integrity record includes tracking information and at least one checksum based at least partially on the encrypted data. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting the encrypted data to a subscriber of the subscriber-based system; and   removing the transmitted encrypted data from the memory of the subscriber-based system, wherein the data integrity record associated with the encrypted data is stored in at least one of a device associated with the subscriber of the subscriber-based system or the accessible repository.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the data integrity record may be used to verify the integrity of the encrypted data received from the subscriber-based system or received from a party other than the subscriber-based system.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decrypting the encrypted data, wherein the decrypted data is unalterable. 
     
     
         8 . An article comprising non-transitory, machine-readable medium storing instructions for managing data, the instructions operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 receiving encrypted data by a subscriber-based system maintained by a third-party administrator;   transmitting the encrypted data for storage in a memory of the subscriber-based system, wherein the stored encrypted data is unalterable;   restricting access to the stored encrypted data;   creating a data integrity record associated with the encrypted data, wherein an integrity of the encrypted data is determined at least partially based on the created data integrity record; and   transmitting the data integrity record to an accessible repository, wherein the accessible repository is accessible by devices associated with subscribers of the subscriber-based system and devices associated with nonsubscribers of the subscriber-based system.   
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting the encrypted data to a group of subscribers of the subscriber-based system.   
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein transmitting the encrypted data retains an anonymous status of at least one of the group of subscribers of the subscriber-based system. 
     
     
         11 . A system for securely managing data comprising:
 a subscriber-based system comprising:
 a memory including encrypted data that is unalterable; and 
 a management module adapted to:
 receive the encrypted data; 
 restrict access to the encrypted data; and 
 create a data integrity record associated with the encrypted data, wherein an integrity of the encrypted data is determined at least partially based on the created data integrity record; and 
 
 wherein the subscriber-based system is managed by a third-party. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the management module is further adapted to transmit the data integrity record to an accessible repository, wherein the accessible repository is accessible by devices associated with subscribers of the subscriber-based system and devices associated with nonsubscribers of the subscriber-based system. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a repository including the data integrity record, wherein the repository is accessible by devices associated with subscribers of the subscriber-based system and devices associated with nonsubscribers of the subscriber-based system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the management module is further adapted to transmit the encrypted data. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the management module is further adapted to remove the encrypted data from the memory when the encrypted data is transmitted.