Accessing specialized fileserver

• US 10,305,910 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Galloway, Curtis C., Wright, John Andrew, Masputra, Adi, Mireku, Kwasi G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Featherstone, Mark D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gmahl, Navneet
• Application Number:
  US12/895,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20110179083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,162 Days
• Field of Search: 707780-785
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/74 operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A method and apparatus of a host that accesses files from a portable storage device with a shared filesystem is described. In an exemplary method, the host transmits a request to access the shared filesystem, where the shared filesystem includes a security policy that disallows one application accessing a file in the shared filesystem corresponding to another application. The host further receives an indication of the result of the request.

Claims

1. A computerized method for accessing a shared filesystem on a portable storage device by a host device communicably coupled to the portable storage device, the computerized method comprising, at the host device:

interfacing with the portable storage device, wherein;

the portable storage device manages a plurality of applications,

each application of the plurality of applications is associated with a respective private filesystem that stores data managed by the application, and

each respective file system is inaccessible to other applications of the plurality of applications;

transmitting, to the portable storage device, a request to access the shared filesystem, wherein the request causes the portable storage device to, for each application of the plurality of applications;

in response to determining, based on a respective key value associated with the application, that the application is configured to share the respective private filesystem with the host device;

update a configuration of the shared filesystem to include a respective link that enables the host device to access the respective private filesystem; and

accessing, via a link included in the configuration of the shared filesystem, a private filesystem of at least one application of the plurality of applications.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the request to access the shared filesystem is selected from a group consisting of:

writing a file to the shared filesystem, reading a file from the shared filesystem, and listing one or more files in the shared filesystem.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the shared filesystem appears as a shared volume on the host device.

4. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the portable storage device is coupled to the host device via a universal serial bus (USB) link.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein, for each application of the plurality of applications, the respective key value is established in conjunction with the application permitting the respective private filesystem of the application to be shared.

6. A non-transitory machine-readable medium configured to store executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a host device, cause the host device to access a shared filesystem on a portable storage device, by carrying out steps that include:

interfacing with the portable storage device, wherein;

the portable storage device manages a plurality of applications,

each application of the plurality of applications is associated with a respective private filesystem that stores data managed by the application, and

each respective file system is inaccessible to other applications of the plurality of applications;

transmitting, to the portable storage device, a request to access the shared filesystem, wherein the request causes the portable storage device to, for each application of the plurality of applications;

in response to determining, based on a respective key value associated with the application, that the application is configured to share the respective private filesystem with the host device;

update a configuration of the shared filesystem to include a respective link that enables the host device to access the respective private filesystem; and

accessing, via at least one link included in the configuration of the shared filesystem, a private filesystem of at least one application of the plurality of applications.

7. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the request to access the shared filesystem is selected from a group consisting of:

writing a file to the shared filesystem, reading a file from the shared filesystem, and listing one or more files in the shared filesystem.

8. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the shared filesystem appears as a shared volume on the host device.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 6, wherein, for each application of the plurality of applications, the respective key value is established in conjunction with the application permitting the respective private filesystem of the application to be shared.

10. A host device configured to access a shared filesystem on a portable storage device, host device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the host device to carry out steps that include;

interfacing with the portable storage device, wherein;

the portable storage device manages a plurality of applications,

each application of the plurality of applications is associated with a respective private filesystem that stores data managed by the application, and

each respective file system is inaccessible to other applications of the plurality of applications;

transmitting, to the portable storage device, a request to access the shared filesystem, wherein the request causes the portable storage device to, for each application of the plurality of applications;

in response to determining, based on a respective key value associated with the application, that the application is configured to share the respective private filesystem with the host device;

update a configuration of the shared filesystem to include a respective link that enables the host device to access the respective private filesystem; and

accessing, via at least one link included in the configuration of the shared filesystem, a private filesystem of at least one application of the plurality of applications.

11. The host device of claim 10, wherein the request to access the shared filesystem is selected from a group consisting of:

writing a file to the shared filesystem, reading a file from the shared filesystem, and listing one or more files in the shared filesystem.

12. The host device of claim 10, wherein the shared filesystem appears as a shared volume on the host device.

13. The host device of claim 10, wherein, for each application of the plurality of applications, the respective key value is established in conjunction with the application permitting the respective private filesystem of the application to be shared.

14. The host device of claim 10, wherein the link to the private filesystem references shared directories within the private filesystem.

15. The host device of claim 14, wherein the steps further include:

sending a mount request to a network file server located on the portable storage device to mount the shared filesystem on the host device; and

receiving a notification that the shared filesystem is mounted.

16. The host device of claim 15, wherein the steps further include:

displaying the shared filesystem in a file browser application in response to receiving the notification that the shared filesystem is mounted.

17. The host device of claim 14, wherein the steps further include:

enabling at least one application running on the host device to access the shared directories within the private filesystem via the link.