DATA STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL

1 . (canceled)

2 . A method comprising:

in a network of interconnected computer system nodes, configured to continuously route one or more data items among the nodes without storing the one or more data items on any fixed storage medium in the network:

receiving, at a central server included in the network, a request to store a data item;

generating a scrambled version of the data item;

storing the scrambled version of the data item and a file name associated with the scrambled version of the data item; and

in response to receiving a query for the data item:

identifying the scrambled version of the data item based on information in the query; and

initiating continuous routing of the data item corresponding to the scrambled version among the interconnected computer system nodes without storing the data item on any fixed storage medium within the network.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising saving the scrambled version of the data item in a memory.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising saving the scrambled version of the data item on a physical storage device.

5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising deleting a non-scrambled version of the data item.

6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising storing the file name in an index file associated with the central server.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the index file additionally saves one or more items from a group comprising a file type, a username, and a date stamp of the scrambled version of the data item.

8 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving, at the central server, a search request; and

identifying the data item based on a comparison of at least a portion of the search request and a portion of the scrambled version of the data item.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the comparison comprises matching at least a keyword.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising generating a list of filenames, associated with scrambled versions of the one or more data items, containing at least the keyword.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying the list of filenames to a user using an input/output device.

12 . A device comprising:

a digital processor configured to:

receive, in a network of interconnected computer system nodes configured to continuously route one or more data items without storing the one or more data items on any fixed storage medium in the network, a request to store a data item;

generate a scrambled version of the data item;

store the scrambled version of the data item and a file name associated with the scrambled version of the data item; and

in response to receiving a query for the data item:

identify the scrambled version of the data item based on information in the query; and

initiate continuous routing of the data item corresponding to the scrambled version among the interconnected computer system nodes without storing the data item on any fixed storage medium within the network.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the digital processor is further configured to save the scrambled version of the data item in a memory.

14 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the digital processor is further configured to save the scrambled version of the data item on a physical storage device.

15 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the digital processor is further configured to store the file name in an index file associated with the central server.

16 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the digital processor is further configured to:

receive a search request; and

identify the data item based on a comparison of at least a portion of the search request and a portion of the scrambled version of the data item.

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the comparison comprises matching at least a keyword and wherein the digital processor is further configured to generate a list of filenames, associated with scrambled versions of the one or more data items, containing at least the keyword.

18 . A network comprising:

a group of interconnected computer system nodes, each node configured to continuously route one or more data items among the nodes without storing the one or more data items on any fixed storage medium in the group;

a central server in communication with the group of interconnected computer system nodes, the central server configured to:

receive a request to store a data item;

generate a scrambled version of the data item;

store the scrambled version of the data item and a file name associated with the scrambled version of the data item; and

in response to receiving a query for the data item:

identifying the scrambled version of the data item based on information in the query; and

initiate continuous routing of the data item corresponding to the scrambled version among the interconnected computer system nodes without storing the data item on any fixed storage medium within the group of computer system nodes or the central server.

19 . The network of claim 18 , wherein the central server is further configured to save the scrambled version of the data item on a physical storage device.

20 . The network of claim 18 , wherein the central server is further configured to:

receive a search request; and

identify the data item based on a comparison of at least a portion of the search request and a portion of the scrambled version of the data item.

21 . The network of claim 18 , wherein the central server is further configured to:

receive a request to delete the data item being constantly routed in the network of interconnected computer system nodes; and

in response to determining that an identifier for the data item is not included in an index of data items within the group of interconnected computer system nodes or the central server, route the data item to a deletion node in the network of interconnected computer system nodes for deletion.