Computer storage device having network interface
First Claim
1. A storage device comprising:
- a processor;
a computer interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a computer, a network interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a file server; and
a storage means communicably connected to the processor;
wherein the processor provides the computer read and write access to the storage means so that the computer may store user files on the storage means; and
wherein the computer may request a non-user file from the processor and the processor either (1) provides the non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis if the file is cached on the storage means, (2) obtains the non-user file from the file server if the non-user file is available from the file server, caches the obtained non-user file on the storage means, and provides the obtained non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis, or (3) returns a file unavailable notice to the computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A storage device having network interface comprising a processor communicably connected to a computer interface, a network interface, and a storage means. The processor is communicates with a computer and a file server through the computer interface and the network interface, respectively. The computer may request a non-user file from the processor and the processor responds by either (1) providing the requested file to the computer on a read-only basis if the non-user file is cached on the storage means, (2) obtains the requested file from the file server if the non-user file is available from the file server, caches the obtained file on the storage means, and provides the obtained file to the computer on a read-only basis, or (3) returns a file unavailable notice to the computer. The storage device may also provide to the computer read and write access to the storage means for storing user files.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A storage device comprising:
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a processor;
a computer interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a computer, a network interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a file server; and
a storage means communicably connected to the processor;
wherein the processor provides the computer read and write access to the storage means so that the computer may store user files on the storage means; and
wherein the computer may request a non-user file from the processor and the processor either (1) provides the non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis if the file is cached on the storage means, (2) obtains the non-user file from the file server if the non-user file is available from the file server, caches the obtained non-user file on the storage means, and provides the obtained non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis, or (3) returns a file unavailable notice to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A storage device comprising:
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a processor;
a computer interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a computer;
a network interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a file server;
a storage means communicably connected to the processor; and
a removable media storage component communicably connected to the processor, wherein removable media which includes a read-only copy of selected non-user files stored on the file server is made accessible to the processor through the removable media storage component;
wherein the computer may request a non-user file from the processor and the processor either (1) provides the non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis if the file is cached on the storage means;
(2) obtains the non-user file from the file server if the non-user file is available from the file server, caches the obtained non-user file on the storage means, and provides the obtained non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis;
(3) accesses the selected non-user files when the storage device can not communicate with the file server and, if the requested non-user file is available from the removable media, obtains the non-user file from the removable media, caches the obtained non-user file on the storage means, and provides the obtained non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis;
or (4) returns a file unavailable notice to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A storage device comprising:
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a processor;
a network interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a file server;
a computer interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a computer, wherein the computer includes a removable media storage component and removable media which includes a read-only copy of selected non-user files stored on the file server is made accessible to the processor through the removable media storage component; and
a storage means communicably connected to the processor;
wherein the computer may request a non-user file from the processor and the processor either (1) provides the non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis if the file is cached on the storage means;
(2) obtains the non-user file from the file server if the non-user file is available from the file server, caches the obtained non-user file on the storage means, and provides the obtained non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis;
(3) accesses the selected non-user files when the storage device can not communicate with the file server and, if the requested non-user file is available from the removable media, obtains the non-user file from the removable media, caches the obtained non-user file on the storage means, and provides the obtained non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis;
or (4) returns a file unavailable notice to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification