Portable Storage Interface

• US 20110179203A1
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Galloway, Curtis C., Mireku, Kwasi G., Masputra, Adi, Wright, John Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,307,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/74
• 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 portable storage device that provides a tethering and portable storage service to a host is described. In an exemplary method, the portable storage device configures a tethering and a portable storage service interface for the host. The portable storage device provides the tethering service to a network for the host through the tethering interface. In addition, the portable storage device shares files stored on the portable storage device through the portable storage interface.

Claims

1. A computerized method comprising:

configuring a portable storage device to enable a tethering interface and a portable storage interface on a link interface;

in response to detecting a host coupled to a link corresponding to the link interface,

configuring the tethering interface to allow the host access to a network coupled to the portable storage device, and

configuring the portable storage interface to share files between the host and the portable storage device;

communicating data between the host and the network with the tethering interface; and

sharing files stored on the portable storage device with the host through the portable storage interface.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the link is selected from the group consisting of a Universal Serial Bus link, a Firewire link, a BLUETOOTH link, and a wireless link.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the tethering interface and the portable storage interface are Ethernet interfaces.

4. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the network is a cellular network.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein configuring the portable storage interface includes:

advertising a file sharing service on the portable storage interface.

6. The computerized method of claim 5, wherein the advertising comprising:

transmitting an advertisement that includes an identifier of the portable storage device to the host.

7. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the configuring the portable storage interface includes:

initiating a host control process on the portable storage device, the host control process running on the portable storage interface; and

in response to a request for an address from the host, assigning an address to the host.

8. The computerized method of claim 7, wherein the address is a private internet protocol address.

9. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having executable instructions to cause one or more processing units to perform a method, the method comprising:

configuring a portable storage device to enable a tethering interface and a portable storage interface on a link interface;

in response to detecting a host coupled to a link corresponding to the link interface,

configuring the tethering interface to allow the host access to a network coupled to the portable storage device, and

configuring the portable storage interface to share files between the host and the portable storage device;

communicating data between the host and the network with the tethering interface; and

sharing files stored on the portable storage device with the host through the portable storage interface.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the link is selected from the group consisting of a Universal Serial Bus link, a Firewire link, a BLUETOOTH link, and a wireless link.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the tethering interface and the portable storage interface are Ethernet interfaces.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the network is a cellular network.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the configuring the portable storage interface includes:

advertising a file sharing service on the portable storage interface.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the advertising comprising:

transmitting an advertisement that includes an identifier of the portable storage device to the host.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein configuring the portable storage interface includes:

initiating a host control process on the portable storage device, the host control process running on the portable storage interface; and

in response to a request for an address from the host, assigning an address to the host.

16. An apparatus comprising:

means for configuring a portable storage device to enable a tethering interface and a portable storage interface on a link interface;

in response to detecting a host coupled to a link corresponding to the link interface,

means for configuring the tethering interface to allow the host access to a network coupled to the portable storage device, and

means for configuring the portable storage interface to share files between the host and the portable storage device;

means for communicating data between the host and the network with the tethering interface; and

means for sharing files stored on the portable storage device with the host through the portable storage interface.