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READ-ONLY STORAGE DEVICE HAVING NETWORK INTERFACE, A SYSTEM INCLUDING THE DEVICE AND A METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING FILES OVER A NETWORK

  • US 20120179783A1
  • Filed: 03/23/2012
  • Published: 07/12/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A storage device comprising:

  • a processor local to a computer;

    a computer interface communicably connected to the processor, wherein the computer interface is adapted to enable communications exclusively between the computer and the processor;

    a network interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate over a network, wherein the processor is adapted to employ the network interface for communications with select file servers to the exclusion of other file servers; and

    a storage means communicably connected to the processor, the processor being configured to have read and write access to the storage means and to regulate access of the computer to the storage means, the processor being configured to give the computer read-only access to the storage means, wherein upon receipt of a file request from the computer the processor is configured to (1) determine whether the file is cached on the storage means and provide the file to the computer on a read-only basis if the file is cached on the storage means, (2) request the file from the select file servers if the file is not cached on the storage means, and if the file is obtainable from the select file servers, cache the obtained file on the storage means and provide the obtained file to the computer on a read-only basis, or (3) return a file unavailable notice to the computer if the file is not cached on the storage means and not obtainable from the select file servers.

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