United States Patent
`Henderson et al.
`
`[19]
`
`[54] DECENTRALIZED DISTRIBUTED
`ASYNCHRONOUS OB JECT ORIENTED
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC
`DATA MANAGEMENT, STORAGE, AND
`COMMUNICATION
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Kenneth R. Henderson; Robert E.
`KosIEI; Christopher R. Barlow, all of
`Sarasota, Fla.
`
`[73] Assignee: Sun Hydraulics Corporation, Sarasota,
`Fla.
`
`[21] Appl. No. : 986, 727
`
`[22] Filed:
`[51] Int. Cl.
`
`Dec. 8, 1992
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G06F 13/00; G06F 13/14;
`G06F 17; G06F 30
`[52] U. S. CI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395/200. 06; 395/600; 364/DIG. 1;
`364/229; 364/242. 94; 364/256. 8; 364/282. 1;
`364/282. 4; 364/283. 3; 364/285; 364/285. 3;
`364/286; 364/DIG. 2; 364/962; 364/962. 1;
`364/962. 4; 364/963; 364/963. 1; 364/963. 2;
`364/963. 5; 364/966. 1; 364/966. 5; 364/974;
`364/974. 2
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395/600, 200
`
`[58] Field of Search
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U. S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`Fnjisawa et al. . .
`Parks et al. . . . . . . . .
`Mann et al.
`Morita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`Dodson et al. . . . .
`O' Brien et al. . . . .
`
`6/1991
`3/1992
`11/1992
`12/1992
`6/1993
`9/1993
`
`5, 021, 989
`5, 093, 911
`5, 167, 035
`5, 168, 565
`5, 220, 516
`5, 247, 638
`
`. . . 395/600
`. . . 395/600
`. . . 395/575
`. . . 395/600
`. . . 366/514
`. . . 395/425
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Microsoft's "Windows For Workgroups" — Cowart, Master-
`ing Windows 3. 1, 1992 pp. 883 — 907.
`Rymer, John R. , "Common Object Request Broker: OMG's
`for distributed object management, " Patricia
`new standard
`Seybold's Network Monitor, Sep. 1991, vol. 6, No. 9, p. 3;
`Document ¹11 441 646.
`
`IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
`US005550976A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5, 550, 976
`Aug. 27, 1996
`
`Rooney, Paula, "PC document management
`catches eye of
`big business, " PC Week, May 18, 1992, vol. 9, No. 20, p.
`45(2); Document ¹12 155 424.
`success: data without management=chaos, "
`"Documented
`Information Week, Sep. 23, 1991, No. 339, p. Sl(11);
`Document ¹11 330 925.
`Perratore, Ed; Salemi, Joe; Berline, Gary; Perez, Wendy
`Dugas, "Document management
`software: a network under
`control, " PC Magazine, Dec. 17, 1991, vol. 10, No. 21, p.
`287(18); Document ¹11 485 774.
`"Digital's solution for engineering document management:
`DECedms, " Digital Review, Jan. 20, 1992, vol. 9, No. 2, p.
`42(1); Document ¹11 879 167.
`image management, "
`Edelstein, Herbert A. , "Document
`DBMS, Apr. 1991, vol. 5, No. 4, p. 46(5); Document ¹12 017
`346.
`
`(List continued on next page. )
`Primary Examiner — Thomas G. Lee
`Assistant Examiner — D. Dinh
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Jacques M. Dulin; Frederick J.
`
`Zustak
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A highly
`secure, virus resistant,
`resistant, object
`tamper
`oriented, data processing system for depositing, withdraw-
`electronic data between one or more
`ing and communicating
`and/or networked computers comprising one or
`individual
`more computers for processing electronic data including one
`or more shared electronic storage devices for the temporary
`storage of said electronic data, each of
`and/or permanent
`said computers
`including custom configurable
`system pro-
`and com-
`grams for asynchronous depositing, withdrawing
`shared elec-
`said electronic data to commonly
`municating
`tronic storage devices, and said programs permitting data
`archival, accountability,
`security, encryption and decryption,
`compression
`and decompression,
`and multi-processing
`capabilities.
`
`21 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`Microfiche Appendix
`Included
`(1 Microfiche, 25 Pages)
`
`OBJECT-
`WIRE
`
`OBJECT-
`TELLER
`
`OBJECT
`VAULT
`ROOT
`
`NEO
`OUT BOX
`8 BANK
`MAILBANK
`"OBJECTS
`
`20
`
`/5
`
`/2
`
`WORK
`STATION
`OR PC
`
`/0
`
`FILE
`SERVER
`
`3a
`
`OBJECT.
`WIRE
`
`OBJECT-
`TELLER
`
`OBJECT
`
`ROOT
`
`MEO
`OUT BOX
`JOB BAN
`MAILBANK
`-OBJECTS
`
`/60
`
`0
`
`OBJECT-
`WIRE
`
`4
`
`OBJECT
`SAFE
`
`6
`
`OBJECT-
`WIRE
`
`OBJECT-
`TELLER
`
`MEO
`OUT OX
`
`BAN
`AILBAN
`OBJECTS
`
`OBJECT-
`TELLER
`
`20
`
`OBJECT
`AF
`ROOT
`
`OUT BOX
`JOB BAN
`AIL BAN
`
`—. OBJECTS
`
`OBJECT
`WIRE
`
`OBJECT-
`TELLER
`
`OBJECT
`SAF
`ROOT
`
`MEO
`OUT BOX
`08
`NK
`AILBAN
`-OBJECTS
`
`/60
`
`0
`
`FILE
`SERVER
`
`WORK-
`STATION
`OR PC
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 1
`
`

`

`sites gain
`
`interchange
`
`and
`
`5, 550, 976
`Page 2
`
`envi-
`
`tools for electronic
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Brooks, Roseann McGrath, "I is for image: keyword adds
`image objects to its document
`compound document
`inter-
`change software, " DEC Professional, Jan. 1992, vol. 11, No.
`1, p. 28(1); Document ¹11 744 066.
`"Imaging
`technology: how to achieve information process
`control, " Datamation, Mar. 1, 1992, vol. 38, No. 5, p.
`S 1 (11); Document ¹11 990 034.
`"Documenting
`in today' s manufacturing
`the challenge
`ronment, " Digital Review, Jan. 20, 1992, vol. 9, No. 2, p.
`41(1); Document ¹11 879 163.
`Biehl, Allen, "Text retrieval
`software:
`pack rats, " WordPerfect Magazine, May 1992, p. 54(5);
`Document ¹12 162 107.
`"Text retrieval: new document analysis and text retrieval
`system, " EDGE: Work — Group Computing Report, Mar. 30,
`1992, vol. 3, No. 97, p. 22(1); Document ¹12 033 446.
`Marshall, Patrick, "Text retrieval; InfoWorld
`looks at how
`well five packages fetch your words, " InfoWorld, Mar. 23,
`1992, vol. 14, No. 12, p. 77(10); Document ¹12 015 572.
`"Capacity, flexibility, and speed count for a lot when scoring
`text retrieval software, " InfoWorld, Mar. 23, 1992, vol. 14,
`No. 12, p. 80(1); Document ¹12 016 444.
`Marshall, Patrick, "Folio Views 2. 1, " InfoWorld, Mar. 23,
`1992, vol. 14, No. 12, p. 82(3); Document ¹12 015 636.
`Marshall, Patrick, "InfoQue 2. 0, " InfoWorld, Mar. 23, 1992,
`vol. 14, No. 12, p. 82(3); Document ¹12 015 734.
`Marshall, Patrick, "Sonar Professional, " InfoWorld, Mar. 23,
`1992, vol. 14, No. 12, p. 83(3); Document ¹12 016 170.
`Marshall, Patrick, "ZyIndex 4. 02, " InfoWorld, Mar. 23,
`1992, vol. 14, No. 12, p. 83(3); Document ¹12 016 304.
`retrieval, " Datama-
`Appleton, Elaine L. , "Smart document
`tion, Jan. 15, 1992, vol. 38, No. 2, p. 20(4); Document ¹11
`908 787.
`Myers — Tierney, Linda, "An introduction
`ment; a guide for the office user, " Patricia Seybold's Once
`Computing Report, Oct. 1991, vol. 14, No. 10, p. 8(11);
`Document ¹11 475 824.
`"Excalibur's PixTex: a retrieval alternative; pattern recog-
`nition approach being combined with page — image retrieval, "
`The Seybold Report on Publishing Systems, Mar. 25, 1991,
`vol. 20, No. 13, p. 36(3); Document ¹10 613 165.
`Miles, J. B. , "Keyfile: A distributed
`processing break-
`through?, " Government Computer News, Apr. 27, 1992, vol.
`11, No. 9, p. 39(1); Document ¹12 186 881.
`Kador, John, "Searching for text retrieval, " Database Pro-
`gramming & Design, Nov. 1991, vol. 4, No. 11, p. 62(4);
`Document ¹11 485 978.
`Jim, "Thaumaturgy
`intros electronic document
`Mallory,
`indexing program, " Newsbytes, Feb. 18, 1992; Document
`¹11 950 697.
`"ZyIndex for Windows (V. 5. 0), " Data Sources Report Copy-
`right Zifl — Davis Publishing Co. 1993; Document ¹Software
`Product Specification.
`
`to text manage-
`
`Moser, Karen D. , "Binary large object technology bolsters
`Paradox for Windows, " PC Week, Oct. 21, 1991, vol. 8, No.
`42, p. 4(1); Document ¹11 428 597.
`"Rushmore's bald spot, " DBMS, Sep. 1991, vol. 4, No. 10,
`p. 58(1); Document ¹l1 203 423.
`Bowen, Ted Smalley, "Process manufacturing
`CDA — based data management, " Digital Review, Jan. 6,
`1992, vol. 9, No. 1, p. 9(1); Document ¹11 687 778.
`'The BLOBs are coming:
`Orfali, Robert; Harkey, Dan,
`move monster — size images across a LAN with standard
`protocols, " IAN Technology, Jan. 1992, vol. 8, No. 1, p.
`61(6); Document ¹11 644 180.
`Walter, Mark, "Compound
`documents:
`intergration, " The Seybold Report on Desktop Publishing,
`Jul. 22, 1991, vol. 5, No. 11, p. 10(16); Document ¹11 049
`938.
`Jenkins, Avery L. , "Manufacturing
`software displays
`tems as objects, " Digital Review, Nov. 18, 1991, vol. 8, No.
`35, p. 21(1); Document ¹11 568 202.
`Frye, Colleen, "Document management
`drive onto LANs, " Software Magazine, Aug. 1991, vol. 11,
`No. 10, p. 76(5); Document ¹11 099 255.
`Mann, Janet, "An image of document management, " Data-
`mation, Nov. 15, 1991, vol. 37, No. 23, p. 81(2); Document
`¹11 511 788.
`McGoveran, David, 'The origin of the server species: Can
`file servers evolve into database servers. . . or vice versa?, "
`LAN Technology, Jun. 1992, vol. 8, No. 6, p. 59(8); Docu-
`ment ¹12 173 632.
`Zurek, Bob, "Help, my server failed!, " Data Based Advisor,
`Oct. 1991, vol. 9, No. 10, p. 90(4); Document ¹11 385 761.
`Thomas, Larry J. , "The distributed management
`choice:
`picking a LAN management protocol can bear fruit quickly
`if you choose carefully, " LAN Technology, Apr. 1992, vol. 8,
`No. 4, p. 53(10); Document ¹12 009 244.
`"Electronic delivery of documents: when paper just can't do
`the job, " The Seybold Report on Desktop Publishing, Dec. 1,
`1991, vol. 6, No. 4, p. 38(4); Document ¹11 679 714.
`Higgins, Steve, "XcelleNet to boost forms — routing tool: will
`rename X/RAM family of WAN applications, " PC Week,
`Apr. 20, 1992, vol. 9, No. 16, p. 16(1); Document ¹12 079
`746.
`Edelstein, Herbert A. , "Imaging shifts emphasis
`to workflow
`document
`management;
`systems promise produc-
`imaging
`for 'business process design', " Soft-
`tivity, and opportunity
`ware Magazine, Nov. 1991, vol. 11, No. 13, p. 96(5);
`Document ¹11 523 113.
`Pridding, Bob, "Dealing with huge databases
`in thinking, " Computing Canada, Aug. 15, 1991,
`change
`vol. 17, No. 17, p. 29(1); Document ¹11 205 981.
`Rhodes, Mary E. , "Viewpoint: database vendors
`in docu-
`ment management, " New Science Report on Strategic Com-
`puting, Mar. 1991, vol. 1, No. 3, p. 4(1); Document ¹10 629
`880.
`
`sys-
`
`tools respond
`
`to
`
`requires
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 2
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
`
`5, 550, 976
`
`I
`CD
`Lal& O
`~+ o
`CQCO gg
`
`e
`
`x 0
`0
`
`CQ
`I
`
`IA
`
`Z
`
`Lal
`
`CQ 0
`
`~ C X
`
`I- Ce
`Lal ~
`CQ Lal Ol-
`
`Z 0 O
`CC. I L
`OI R
`3 cjI 0
`
`O+~ I-
`~~~ o Q
`o~
`CQW Q.
`
`I
`
`CD
`Lal
`
`Qj ~ o3
`
`Y Y, Z Z
`o
`«C «t
`I-
`CQ CQ
`0
`O «C
`
`Ill
`
`CD
`
`CQ
`
`I K
`O Lal
`Lal ~
`CQ Lal Ol-
`
`Z
`O Y O
`Q I-CL. Ol-a 3 cho
`
`OLal
`I
`Lalla- O
`O
`Cfl Q
`
`x & oZ
`O
`Lal X
`Oo
`
`I
`
`Ch Z I-
`«C O
`CQ Lal
`«C O
`
`Lal
`
`I-
`CD ~
`CQ o3
`
`I
`O Lal
`
`CQ Lal OI-
`
`I
`~La- O
`-y«C O
`0
`IL
`CQ
`
`O
`Lal
`
`I
`I
`CD
`Lal Lal %R
`CQ ~ 03
`
`CQ
`
`x 0 IQ
`Z I
`«C O
`Lal
`CQ 0
`I 0
`CQ
`«C O
`ohio
`I I-~ O~
`IQ Lal O I-
`
`Lal
`
`I
`OLal
`LLILa O
`O
`
`IXl ~ 0
`
`ZZ+ CA
`
`CQ IQ Lal
`CQ
`
`CQ
`
`X 0 O CQ
`Lal I X ~ 0
`
`I
`
`Lai
`
`CQ
`
`03
`
`CC
`O Lal
`CQ Lal ol-
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 3
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 1996
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
`
`5, 550, 976
`
`101
`START
`OBJECTTELLER
`CONF IGURATION
`
`NO
`
`102
`
`CHANGE
`OBJECT
`SAFES?
`
`107
`CHANGE
`USER
`DATA?
`
`110
`CHANGE
`INDEX CARD
`TEMP. ?
`
`113
`STOP
`OBJECT-
`TELLER
`CONFIG.
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`103
`USER SELECT FROM
`LIST OF LOGICAL
`DEVICES
`
`108
`ADD NEW
`USERS
`
`104
`USER CHANGE
`MAXIMUM SIZE &
`STORAGE TYPES
`
`109
`CHANGE
`EXISTING USERS
`
`111
`ADD
`TEMPLATES
`
`112
`CHANGE
`TEMPLATES
`
`105
`USER SELECT
`NOTIFICATION
`OPTIONS
`
`106
`UPDATE
`OB JECTBANK. INI
`
`Fig. 2
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 4
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 8
`
`5, 550, 976
`
`201
`
`START
`OBJECT-
`TELLER
`DEPOSIT
`
`202
`
`USER SELECT FROM
`AUTHORIZED SAFES
`
`203
`USER IDENTIFY
`OBJECTS
`
`USER COMPLETE
`INDEX CARD
`
`205
`
`INITIATE
`OBJECTSAFE
`DEPOSIT FUNCTION
`
`206
`ENCRYPT
`?
`
`YES
`
`207
`ENCRYPT
`OBJECT
`
`NO
`
`208
`COMPRESS
`?
`
`YES
`
`209
`COMPRESS
`OBJECT
`
`210
`LOCAL
`OBJECTSAFE
`?
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`213
`PERFORM
`SYSTEM ERROR
`CHECKING
`
`211
`PLACE OBJECT
`IN OUTBOX
`
`212
`PLACE DEPOSIT
`REQUESTIN MED
`
`215
`PLACE OBJECT
`IN OBJECTSAFE
`
`NO
`
`21 4
`
`YES
`
`SYSTEM
`ERROR?
`
`217
`PLACE ERROR
`MESSAGE IN MED
`
`216
`PLACE INDEX
`CARD IN MED
`
`Fig. 3
`
`218
`STOP
`OB JECT-
`TELLER
`DEPOSIT
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 5
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`5, 550, 976
`
`301
`
`START OBJECT-
`TELLER
`WITHDRAWAL
`
`302
`USER COMPLETE
`SEARCH INDEX
`CARD
`
`303
`SEARCH INDEX
`CARDS FOR
`MATCH
`
`304
`DISPLAY FOUND
`INDEX CARDS
`
`309
`INITIATE
`OBJECTSAFE
`WITHDRAWAL
`FUNCTION
`
`310
`PERFORM SYSTEM
`ERROR CHECKING
`
`311
`
`SYSTEM
`ERROR?
`
`312
`PLACE
`ERROR
`MESSAGE IN
`MED
`
`YES
`
`313
`OCAL OB JECT-
`SAFE?
`
`NO
`
`314
`PLACE WITH-
`DRAWAL
`REQUEST IN
`MED
`
`306
`
`PLACE
`INDEX
`CARD
`REQUEST
`IN MED
`
`305
`
`NEED MORE
`CARDS?
`
`YES
`
`315
`READ OBJECT FROM
`OB JECTSAFE
`
`307
`
`CHANGE
`SEARCH
`CRITERIA?
`
`YES
`
`308
`
`SELECT INDEX
`CARDS
`
`316
`DECOMPRESS 8
`DECRYPT OBJECT
`
`317
`PASS OBJECT TO
`TARGET LOCATION
`
`318
`
`UPDATE INDEX CARD
`AND PLACE IN MED
`
`319
`STOP OBJECT-
`TELLER
`WITHDRAWAL
`
`Fig. 4
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 6
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`5, 550, 976
`
`401
`
`START OBJECT-
`TELLER STATUS
`
`402
`CHECK LOCAL
`MED FOR
`CHANGES
`
`403
`CHANGE MED
`SINCE LAST
`DTS?
`
`NO
`
`MESSAGE
`TYPE?
`
`INDEX CARD OR
`
`MESSAGE
`
`405
`
`UPDATE STATUS,
`NOTIFY USER
`
`409
`PROCESS OBJECT
`DELETIONS AS
`NECESSARY
`
`407
`
`DELETE OBJECT
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`406
`
`DEPOSIT OR
`WITHDRAWAL
`IN
`PROCESS?
`
`408
`
`STORE INDEX
`CARD
`
`410
`CONT! NUE
`CHECKING
`STATUS?
`
`YES
`
`411
`STOP
`OB JECTTELLER
`STATUS
`
`Fig. 5
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 7
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 1996
`
`Sheet 6 of S
`
`5, 550, 976
`
`501
`
`START
`OBJECTWIRE
`CONFIGURATION
`
`NO
`
`507
`CHANGE
`DON'T POLL
`LIST?
`
`502
`
`CHANGE DO
`POLI LIST?
`
`YES
`
`503
`USER SELECT
`FROM LIST OF
`OBJECTSAFES
`
`USER ENTER
`HOW TO POLL
`OBJECTSAFE
`
`505
`
`USER ENTER
`WHEN TO POLL
`OBJECTSAFE
`
`506
`
`UPDATE
`OB JECTBANK. INI
`
`NO
`
`510
`CHANGE
`ITEMS TO POLL
`FOR?
`
`YES
`
`513
`STOP
`OB JECTWIRE
`CONFIGURATION
`
`YES
`
`508
`USER SELECT
`FROM LIST OF
`OB JECTSAFES
`
`509
`
`USER MARK
`OBJECTSAFES
`
`511
`CHANGE INDEX
`CARD/MSG
`CRITERIA
`
`512
`CHANGE
`OBJECT
`CRiTERIA
`
`Fig. 6
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 8
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 1996
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`5, 550, 976
`
`601
`START
`OBJECTWIRE
`POLLING
`
`602
`LISTEN FOR
`NETWORK
`SERVERS
`
`603
`SERVERS
`FOUND?
`
`YES
`
`604
`ADD TO SERVER
`LIST
`
`605
`
`TIME TO POLL ANY
`SERVERS?
`
`NO
`
`606
`
`KEEP POLLING?
`
`NO
`
`607
`STOP
`OB JECTWIRE
`POLLING
`
`608
`LOGGED
`ON?
`
`YES
`
`610
`REDIRECT LOGICAL
`DEVICE
`
`611
`MESSAGES
`SINCE LAST
`DTS?
`
`NO
`
`612
`IF WASLOGGED
`THEN LOGOFF
`
`NO
`
`609
`LOGON & SET
`WASLOGGED =
`FAI SE
`
`613
`MESSAGE
`MATCH SEARCH
`CRITERIA?
`
`YES
`
`MESSAGE
`
`REQ.
`
`614
`TYPE?
`
`YES
`
`619
`STORE MESSAGE
`(& OBJECT) IF
`NECESSARY
`
`DEP
`
`REQ.
`
`OUR MESSAGE?
`
`618
`
`YES
`
`STORE
`ACKNOWLEDGE
`(IF NECESSARY)
`
`616
`READ OBJECT
`& PERFORM
`DEPOSIT
`FUNCTiON 205
`
`615
`PERFORM
`WITHDRAWAL
`FUNCTION 309
`TO OUTBOX
`
`Fig. 7
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 9
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 1996
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`5, 550, 976
`
`701
`START
`OB JECTWIRE
`WITHDRAWAL
`
`705
`
`NP
`
`LOGGED ON?
`
`706
`LOGON 8 SET
`WASLOGGED =
`FALSE
`
`702
`
`YES
`
`ANY LOCAL
`REQUESTS?
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`703
`
`KEEP
`LOOKING?
`
`704
`STOP
`OB J ECTWIRE
`WITHDRAWAL
`
`YES
`
`707
`REDIRECT
`LOGICAL
`DEVICES
`
`708
`READ OBJECT
`FROM
`OBJECTSAFE
`
`709
`DECOMPRESS
`8 DECRYPT
`OBJECT
`
`710
`PASS OBJECT
`TO TARGET
`LOCATION
`
`711
`
`ACKNOWLEDGE
`REQUEST
`
`712
`IF WASLOGGED
`THEN LOGOFF
`
`Fig. 8
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 10
`
`

`

`5, 550, 976
`
`1
`DECENTRALIZED DISTRIBUTED
`ASYNCHRONOUS OB JECT ORIENTED
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC
`DATAMANAGEMENT, STORAGE, AND
`COMMUNICATION
`
`CROSS REFERENCES
`
`Reference is made to a microfiche appendix containing 1
`microfiche and 25 total frames. The microfiche portion of
`this patent document contains material subject to copyright
`protection. The copyright claimant has no objection
`to a
`single facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent docu-
`ment or the patent disclosure, as it appears
`in the United
`States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records for
`the purpose of obtaining a full record of the patent docu-
`ment, but otherwise
`reserves all copyrights whatsoever
`in
`and to the work.
`
`FIELD
`
`The invention
`to electronic data management
`relates
`to a computerized
`systems, and more particularly
`system
`and method for asynchronous
`storage, retrieval, and com-
`munication of electronic data on a peer to peer basis, which
`is: a) compatible with
`system
`and
`individual
`computers
`networked computers; b) has a high degree of data security;
`and c) is particularly useful in providing a universal means
`for common storage, retrieval, and communication of elec-
`tronic data.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`and vital aspect of existing computerized
`A primary
`electronic data management,
`storage and communication
`is a
`systems and methods, particularly
`network
`systems,
`common data storage unit which is accessible by all users on
`a synchronous basis for storage, retrieval, and communica-
`tion of data. The synchronous nature of these systems poses
`numerous problems.
`One such problem is that to prevent simultaneous
`access
`to the same record, i. e. , the same physical space on the data
`storage and retrieval device, software programmers must
`file, record, or field
`incorporate
`into
`the
`locking means
`software which prevent
`the writing and reading to the same
`record at the same time. This vastly complicates
`the writing
`of the software and functionally
`slows access time.
`Another serious disadvantage of synchronous
`electronic
`data management,
`retrieval
`storage,
`and communication
`the system may "lock-up" rendering
`is that
`systems
`the
`common data storage and retrieval device inaccessible and
`is restored
`unusable until
`to its operable state.
`the system
`Because most network systems are dependent on "sending"
`to a computer
`information
`that is assumed
`to always be
`on-line to receive the information,
`lock-up may occur when:
`in the network go ofl-line or come on-line
`a) computers
`without proper logging-on or logging-ofl' procedures; or b)
`computer crashes or its power fails; or c) the
`an individual
`operator inadvertently
`the network communica-
`terminates
`to run an applications program. These are just
`tions program
`a few of the many ways
`in which
`individual
`computers
`in a network can go ofl-line, causing
`linked
`the entire
`network
`to lock-up. And because most
`communications
`network systems cannot easily share information with other
`networks of ditfering protocols, users tend to move to bigger
`and bigger network systems. The bigger
`the network,
`the
`worse the lock-up problem.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Another problem
`is that there is no universal method
`to
`store data in a common data storage and retrieval device
`from the many different applications programs, nor is there
`any way for multi-tasking
`to share information
`applications
`in an asynchronous manner and at the same or near real time.
`Another problem is the integrity of the data when passed
`from computer
`to computer or from network
`to network.
`Most network systems cannot assure complete transmission
`of data. It is particularly
`to pass data between
`difficult
`if the network
`difFerent networks, especially
`systems use
`differing protocols.
`is user tracking. User entry and exit
`Another problem
`trails are extremely hard to reconstruct after there has been
`any access, authorized or unauthorized,
`to the common data
`storage and retrieval device.
`Another severe problem of a common data storage and
`retrieval device is that it is susceptible
`to user tampering or
`both of which
`infection,
`can
`virus
`in altered,
`result
`scrambled or deleted data. The susceptibility of user tam-
`infection often
`and viral
`pering
`elaborate
`requires
`and
`expensive countermeasures
`such as password systems and
`anti-viral
`software.
`is
`Another problem
`that data cannot be
`transmitted
`between networked computers
`form.
`in encrypted
`Another problem
`is that most network systems require a
`large computing power and a large capac-
`computer having
`ity data storage device to act as dedicated host or server to
`run the network operating programs. Then, individual work-
`stations or computer stations (" clients" ) must be hard-wired
`to the server. In addition, with many client-server based
`types of computer programs
`two different
`systems,
`are
`required, one for server operations and one for client data
`the writing of pro-
`manipulation. This further complicates
`grams and slows access time.
`there is a need for a computerized
`Accordingly,
`system for
`storage, retrieval and communication of
`the management,
`electronic data that is asynchronous
`in nature and which
`system overcomes the inherent problems associated with the
`existing synchronous
`systems as described above.
`
`THE INVENTION
`
`It is to be understood
`that any reference to the below listed
`terms shall have the corresponding meaning provided:
`is used
`Asynchronous
`in its common
`sense;
`industry
`including without
`limitation,
`plural activities which
`take
`place independently of the other, each activity not having to
`wait for any other activity
`to be complete
`to proceed.
`Object: means any binary data file, including but not
`limited
`graphics, voice mail,
`to, documents,
`programs,
`faxes, Computer Aided Design (CAD) files, and Binary
`Large Objects (BLOB's), and the like, as they are tradition-
`ally and broadly understood, as well as any other object that
`to be written
`to a data storage device, area, or
`is desired
`location. In the disclosure herein, reference to data storage
`device, area, or location or the act of reading or writing may
`refer to "in" or "on". Thus, "writing on" or
`interchangeably
`"writing in" means the same.
`Temporary Object: means an object having an expiration
`date; i. e. , in-process objects which are stored temporarily
`in
`the electronic data storage means of an ObjectBank System.
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 11
`
`

`

`5, 550, 976
`
`3
`Permanent Object: means an object having no expiration
`date; i. e. , an object
`that will be stored
`forever on an
`electronic data storage device compatible with an Object-
`Bank System.
`ObjectSafe: means a specified physical data storage area
`of a data storage device including, but not limited to, hard
`tape, magnetic drum, bubble
`disks, floppy disks, magnetic
`memory, stringy tape, digital audio tape ("DAT"), VCR tape,
`disks, CD-ROMs, and
`laser disks, magneto-optical
`laser
`cards.
`ObjectVault: means a dedicated
`computer
`an
`having
`ObjectSafe which has sufficient data storage capacity
`to
`store all objects of all ObjectSafes on
`the ObjectWire
`Network.
`ObjectTeller: means an OLE-aware and OLE-accessible
`computer program having user customizable
`function means
`("retrieve") objects to and from
`to deposit and withdraw
`ObjectSafes and to conduct status checks of deposits and
`withdrawals.
`ObjectWire: means a computer program
`having user
`i. e. , poll-
`function means for communications,
`customizable
`individual or net-
`ing and retrieving objects, from other
`worked computers each having an ObjectWire program.
`ObjectWire Network: means the architecture of all com-
`puters compatible with an ObjectBank System, i. e. , any one
`or more computers
`together by having an Object-
`linked
`Teller and ObjectWire program
`installed.
`ObjectBank System: means any one or more computers
`installed an ObjectTeller and ObjectWire program
`having
`and a system
`architecture
`configuration
`an
`comprising
`ObjectSafe and/or ObjectVault, MED, Out Box, and option-
`ally, a MailBank and JobBank. A computer
`an
`having
`ObjectBank System may be referred
`to as an ObjectBank
`System computer.
`Message Exchange Database ("MED"): means a defined
`physical electronic data storage area of an ObjectSafe or
`ObjectVault accessible via the ObjectTeller program or other
`OLE-aware application program for the purpose of depos-
`stored objects for the
`iting and withdrawing
`temporarily
`purposes of communicating messages
`an object
`requesting
`be stored in a target ObjectSafe or ObjectVault or requesting
`target ObjectSafe or
`an object be
`from a
`retrieved
`ObjectVault.
`ObjectBank Manager: means a specified user responsible
`for the operation, care and maintenance of a computer or
`computer network having an ObjectBank System.
`MailBank: means an electronic data storage area (" mail-
`box") of an ObjectSafe for the asynchronous depositing and
`withdrawing of electronic objects (" mail" ) by one or more
`ObjectBank System computers on an ObjectWire Network.
`JobBank: means an electronic data storage area of an
`ObjectSafe for the posting of one or more objects, i. e. ,
`applications program run commands or "jobs" (typically, by
`way of example,
`a process-bound
`to be
`application)
`retrieved
`and executed
`idle computer
`the
`on
`by an
`ObjectWire Network.
`Out Box: means a temporary electronic data storage area
`of an ObjectSafe for the posting of objects via the Object-
`Teller program
`to be retrieved and stored to one or more
`other computer's ObjectSafes or ObjectVault on the Object-
`Bank Network.
`Index Card ("IC"): means a permanently
`stored customi-
`index data file of every
`zable and modifiable
`electronic
`object of the ObjectBank System having
`the following data
`IC identification code, parent
`fields: object type, date/time,
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`IC identification code, created by, key words (four), abstract,
`object source path; and, each index data file having user
`for data encryption,
`selected
`features
`data compression,
`list access, and IC vis-
`password access, public or private
`ibility.
`template or
`Index Card Template: means an electronic
`"mask" having a default configuration of an uncompleted or
`"blank" Index Card and which template is user customizable
`is used for the
`and which default or customized
`template
`creation of an object Index Card.
`OLE: means "object linking and embedding" as is com-
`in the field of the art.
`monly known
`
`OBJECTS
`
`the objects of this invention
`It is among
`to provide an
`system and method for electronic
`improved computerized
`storage, retrieval and communication of
`data management,
`objects which is asynchronous
`in operational nature.
`It is another object of this
`to provide
`invention
`an
`system and method for electronic
`improved computerized
`storage, retrieval and communication. of
`data management,
`objects which operates on a peer to peer basis.
`It is another object of this
`to provide
`invention
`an
`system and method for electronic
`improved computerized
`storage, retrieval and communication-of
`data management,
`electronic objects which has attributes of being
`robust,
`tamper resistant, highly data secure and virus resistant.
`It is another object of this
`to provide
`invention
`an
`system and method for electronic
`improved computerized
`storage, retrieval and communication of
`data management,
`objects on one or more electronic data storage devices and
`which system is compatible with a wide variety of currently
`available communication
`programs and network systems.
`It is another object of this invention
`to provide a com-
`system and method for electronic data manage-
`puterized
`ment, archival storage and retrieval of objects in an histori-
`cal, sequenced manner, which
`system does not permit
`stored objects.
`writing over previously
`It is another object of this invention
`to provide a com-
`system and method for electronic data manage-
`puterized
`and communication of objects in
`ment, storage, retrieval
`form.
`encrypted and/or compressed
`It is another object of this invention
`to provide a com-
`system and method for electronic data manage-
`puterized
`ment, storage, retrieval and communication of objects hav-
`feature a multiple
`electronic
`ing as an important
`index
`record system for accountability of all object transactions
`and rapid searching, tracking, and accessing of all objects on
`the ObjectBank Network.
`It is another object of this
`to provide
`invention
`an
`system and method for electronic
`improved computerized
`storage, retrieval and communication of
`data management,
`objects which system is not subject to lock-up.
`It is still another object of this invention
`to provide a
`system and method for electronic data man-
`computerized
`storage, retrieval and communication of objects
`agement,
`for
`system has a unique
`which
`the deposit,
`program
`retrieval, and determining of the status of objects from an
`electronic data storage device.
`It is still another object of this invention
`to provide a
`system and method for electronic data man-
`computerized
`storage, retrieval and communication of objects
`agement,
`for the polling and
`which system has a unique program
`retrieval of objects from an electronic data storage device.
`
`BlackBerry Corporation Exhibit 1031, pg. 12
`
`

`

`5, 550, 976
`
`It is still another object of this invention
`to provide a
`means for application programs
`to share objects, including
`transactions and electronic mail, in an asynchronous
`secure
`manner.
`It is still another object of this invention
`to provide a
`for computers
`to divide work and simultaneously
`means
`or portions of the same
`process applications
`programs
`applications program.
`It is still another object of this invention
`to provide a
`for individual
`or networked
`means
`to share
`computers
`objects on a peer to peer basis without having
`to be hard-
`wlred.
`Still other objects will be evident from the specification,
`drawings, and claims.
`
`DRAWINGS
`
`Objective of the System Invention
`
`The objective of the ObjectBank System is to provide a
`for electronic data management,
`method means
`storage,
`retrieval and communication of data stored in a universally
`compatible ASCII format
`in at least one central storage
`device (ObjectSafe or ObjectVault) and shared in an asyn-
`chronous manner on a peer to peer basis with other Object-
`Bank System computers. Each object in the ObjectBank
`is indexed and stored
`to a user selected
`System
`target
`ObjectSafe and/or ObjectVault. Once stored, objects are
`never modified, overwritten or deleted, but are only copied
`and the copies shared with other users. Objects are shared
`between
`users by message
`a Message
`request
`using
`Exchange Database ("MED"). Upon the message request by
`other users for the sharing of a particular object (or all
`objects) from a specified (or all computers) on the Object-
`the ObjectBank Manager of the
`Bank Network,
`target
`ObjectSafe copies the requested object(s) and places
`the
`object(s) in an "Out Box" for "pick-up" (transmission) via
`the ObjectWire program by
`users. Since
`the requesting
`objects are only copied from the ObjectSafe or ObjectVault,
`the stored objects are guarded against any modification or
`and the ObjectSafe and/or ObjectVault
`is pro-
`tampering
`tected against virus
`infection because no object stored
`is
`ever "run" which execution would
`typically provide
`the
`for infection by or replication of a virus. The
`mechanism
`ObjectBank System may also provide data protection by
`the ObjectBank Managers
`periodically
`to perma-
`reminding
`nently store their important Temporary Objects and delete
`copies of Temporary Objects. The ObjectBank
`multiple
`System is specially designed
`to pass information between
`computers on the ObjectWire Network with near 100%
`accuracy. An Index Card for each object maintains at least
`trail of its origin. Thus, each
`one sequential,
`historical
`object's Index Card will have a reference record of its origin
`and of the "family tree" of related objects, i. e. , the physical
`addresses of each parent and child of an object. Thus, Index
`Cards help speed access to objects, record a trail of copies
`of objects that are deposited or retrieved, record who made
`the deposits or requests, and record what other ObjectBank
`System computers have copies of objects and Index Cards.
`Like any other Permanent Object, completed
`Index Cards
`are stored in the ObjectSafe or ObjectVault and copies may
`be made and transferred
`to other users on the ObjectWire
`Network.
`
`Interconnectivity of the System Invention
`
`The ObjectBank System of this invention
`is particularly
`adapted for use with computers which may be linked via
`modem or network using currently available network pro-
`grams, such as Lantastic and Novell. To be compatible with
`the ObjectBank System, however, each stand alone com-
`puter or each networked computer system require