Secure data access

Abstract

Technologies are generally disclosed for methods and systems for providing secure document storage and retrieval services. In an example embodiment, a method includes receiving an exclusive address at which to send secure links, receiving a request to store a document, storing the document with a remote storage service, receiving location information from the remote storage service, transmitting the location information at which the document is stored to the exclusive address, and updating the location information dynamically.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system to provide a secure data service, the system comprising one or more servers configured to:
 receive subscription information for the secure data service, wherein the subscription information includes an indication of a subscriber and an exclusive specified address that is independent of association with the subscriber, and wherein the exclusive specified address is to receive a pointer to a location of data stored via the secure data service;   transmit the pointer to the exclusive specified address, wherein the pointer includes at least one restrictive property that restricts use of the pointer based on at least one of an amount of time elapsed since the pointer is transmitted or a number of attempted accesses to the data using the pointer, wherein the pointer is one of a proprietary code or a uniform resource locator (URL) that identifies the location of the data, and wherein the use of the pointer provides access to the data; and   manage validity of the pointer based on the at least one restrictive property.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data is received from the subscriber and stored in the system or another system that comprises one or more servers. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secure data service is implemented as a cloud-based, secure data storage and retrieval service. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one restrictive property restricts use of the pointer to a device that corresponds to the exclusive specified address. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one restrictive property restricts use of the pointer to one-time use. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the access to the data is protected by a password and/or biometric authorization. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the exclusive specified address includes at least one of: a telephone number, an email address, an internet protocol (IP) address, and a media access control (MAC) address. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pointer to the data is transmitted via at least one of: a text message, an instant message, a voice mail, and an email. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more servers are further configured to:
 invalidate the pointer;   generate an updated pointer; and   transmit the updated pointer to the exclusive specified address, wherein the updated pointer includes at least one restrictive property to the data that restricts use of the updated pointer based on at least one of an amount of time elapsed since the updated pointer is transmitted or a number of attempted accesses to the data stored using the updated pointer, and wherein the use of the updated pointer provides access to the data.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more servers invalidate the pointer upon detection of an attempt to access the data from an address different from the exclusive specified address. 
     
     
         11 . A method to provide a secure data service at one or more servers, the method comprising:
 receiving subscription information for the secure data service, wherein the subscription information includes an indication of a subscriber and an exclusive specified address that is independent of association with the subscriber, and wherein the exclusive specified address is to receive a pointer to a location of data stored via the secure data service;   transmitting the pointer to the exclusive specified address, wherein the pointer has at least one restrictive property that restricts use of the pointer based on at least one of an amount of time elapsed since the pointer is transmitted or a number of attempted accesses to the data using the pointer, and wherein the pointer is one of a proprietary code or a uniform resource locator (URL) that identifies the location of the data; and   managing validity of the pointer based on the at least one restrictive property, wherein use of the pointer provides the access to the data.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the data is received from the subscriber and stored in one of the one or more servers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the secure data service is implemented as a cloud-based, secure data storage and retrieval service. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one restrictive property restricts use of the pointer to a device that corresponds to the exclusive specified address. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one restrictive property restricts use of the pointer to one-time use. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the access to the data is protected by a password and/or biometric authorization. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the exclusive specified address includes at least one of: a telephone number, an email address, an internet protocol (IP) address, and a media access control (MAC) address. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pointer to the data is transmitted via at least one: of a text message, an instant message, a voice mail, and an email. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 invalidating the pointer;   generating an updated pointer; and   transmitting the updated pointer to the exclusive specified address, wherein the updated pointer includes at least one restrictive property to the data that restricts use of the updated pointer based on at least one of an amount of time elapsed since the updated pointer is transmitted or a number of attempted accesses to the data stored by use of the updated pointer, and wherein the use of the updated pointer provides access to the data.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more servers invalidate the pointer upon detecting an attempt to access the data from an address different from the exclusive specified address. 
     
     
         21 . A method to provide a secure data service at one or more servers, the method comprising:
 receiving subscription information for the secure data service, wherein the subscription information includes an indication of a subscriber and an exclusive specified address that is independent of association with the subscriber, and wherein the exclusive specified address is to receive a link to one or more files stored via the secure data service;   transmitting the link to the exclusive specified address, wherein the link is one of a proprietary code or a uniform resource locator (URL) that identifies the location of the one or more files, and wherein use of the link provides access to the data; and   disabling the link upon fulfillment of a condition since the link is transmitted based on at least one of an amount of time elapsed since the transmitting or a number of attempted accesses by use of the link.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the condition includes an access to the one or more files using the link.