VIRTUAL STORAGE SYSTEM AND FILE STORING METHOD

1 . A virtual storage system in data communication with a user computing device via a communication network, the virtual storage system comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

receive a selection of an electronic document to be uploaded from an external system,

create an identifier corresponding to the electronic document, and

create a folder structure using the identifier, for storing the electronic document; and

a plurality of redundant physical storage devices in data communication with the at least one processor and each configured to store the electronic document within a folder of the folder structure created.

2 . The virtual storage system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a web interface configured to interface the virtual storage system with the external system and the user computing device, via at least one communication network.

3 . The virtual storage system of claim 1 , wherein the external system comprises a web interface configured to interface the external system with the virtual storage system.

4 . The virtual storage system of claim 1 , wherein the user computing device comprises a web application configured to interface the user computing device with the virtual storage system, via the external system.

5 . The virtual storage system of claim 1 , wherein the user computing device comprises a native application configured to interface the user computing device directly with the virtual storage system.

6 . The virtual storage system of claim 1 , wherein the external system is an online document retrieval and storage system.

7 . The virtual storage system of claim 6 , wherein the online document retrieval and storage system is a banking system and the electronic document is a bank statement.

8 . The virtual storage system of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is a globally unique identifier (GUID).

9 . The virtual storage system of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is used to name the electronic document to be uploaded.

10 . The virtual storage system of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a plurality of characters to be divided into a plurality of groups, wherein a first group of the plurality of characters forms a first folder of the folder structure, and a second group of the plurality of characters forms at least one second folder of the folder structure.

11 . The virtual storage system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one second folder is a subfolder of the first folder.

12 . A method implemented by computer system to effect the storing of electronic documents within a virtual storage system including a plurality of redundant physical storage devices and in data communication via a communication network, with an external system, the method comprising:

receiving input data for accessing the virtual storage system directly or indirectly via the external system;

selecting via a user, an electronic document to be uploaded from the external system;

creating an identifier corresponding to the electronic document; and

creating a folder structure using the identifier, for storing the electronic document; and

storing the electronic document within a folder of the folder structure created within the plurality of redundant physical storage devices.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the identifier is a globally unique identifier (GUID).

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the identifier is used to name the electronic document to be uploaded and to temporarily store the electronic document within a first location of the virtual storage system, and

wherein the electronic document is permanently stored in the folder of the folder structure within a second location of the virtual storage system.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

processing the identifier and grouping a plurality of characters of the identifier together as a single sequence of characters;

dividing the single sequence of characters into a plurality of groups;

creating a first folder using a first group of the plurality of characters;

creating at least one second folder using at least one second group of the plurality of characters.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one second folder is a subfolder of the first folder.

17 . A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to perform a file storing method for storing electronic documents within a virtual storage system including a plurality of redundant physical storage devices and in data communication via a communication network, with an external system, the method comprising: receiving input data for accessing the virtual storage system directly or indirectly via the external system;

selecting via a user, an electronic document to be uploaded from the external system;

creating an identifier corresponding to the electronic document;

creating a folder structure using the identifier, for storing the electronic document; and

storing the electronic document within a folder of the folder structure created within the plurality of redundant physical storage devices.

18 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the identifier is a globally unique identifier (GUID).

19 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the identifier is used to name the electronic document to be uploaded and to temporarily store the electronic document within a first location of the virtual storage system, and

wherein the electronic document is permanently stored in the folder of the folder structure within a second location of the virtual storage system.

20 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:

processing the identifier and grouping a plurality of characters of the identifier together as a single sequence of characters;

dividing the single sequence of characters into a plurality of groups;

creating a first folder using a first group of the plurality of characters;

creating at least one second folder using at least one second group of the plurality of characters.