FIGURE 25 presents a support procedure
0130 to validate privacy protected archives 0261. The objective is to
ensure that the files necessary for reconstituting privatized data 0160 are
accessible. This set of files is comprised of each and every composite file
0250, the index file 0260, other reconstitution files 0270 if any resulting
from multiple pass cascading fragmentation 0362, and the applicable random
tables 0230. Any user with a reconstitution file 0270 and password 0330
valid on the computer currently in use may validate the corresponding
archive 0261.
In step 2510, the user specifies the
archive 0261 by browsing and selecting its reconstitution file
0270.
In step 2520, the user inputs the
password 0330.
Step 2530 is to select among three
types of validation. The options are to check hard disk location only,
check for sufficiency of the archive, or check for completeness of the
archive. The hard disk requirement limits the search for files to the
working directory on the hard disk. Sufficiency requires that at least one
copy of each file listed above be found in one of the expected locations.
Search is on hard disk first, then on the Internet at the indicated
locations 0440. Note that random tables 0230 are required on hard disk. If
any are missing, the user should be told the location on the Internet from
which the missing tables may be downloaded. Completeness of an archive
requires in addition that every Internet-dispersed file copy is in place in
the prescribed location; reports on hard disk presence and Internet
presence may be separated since the user may not elect to copy all files in
from the Internet to hard disk.
The user then clicks on the "verify
archive" button. The computer verifies that the current computer is
eligible, and aborts procedure 0130 with a report if the computer is not
eligible. The selected reconstitution file 0270 is presumed to be in the
working directory 0420.
Step 2540 occurs only if the program
cannot find the random tables. Step 2540 is to specify location of random
tables 0230 , typically through a standard browse and select procedure.
This is the last user input. Processing from this point forward is under
the program's control.
