Locally Connected Cloud Storage Device

• US 20130117337A1
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IceWEB Storage Corp. (UnifiedOnline, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IceWEB Storage Corp. (UnifiedOnline, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dunham, Gary M.
• Application Number:
  US12/975,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20130117337A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/827
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems

Abstract

The present invention includes systems and methods for implementing a locally connected cloud storage device. The locally connected cloud storage device includes a data storage medium; one or more network adapters capable of connecting the cloud storage device to a network; a file system; and an operating system. The operating system and file system are capable of providing an end user access to at least one storage cloud having at least one volume for data stored in the data storage medium. The cloud storage device also includes a user interface capable of receiving commands reflecting desired settings for the end user and the volume. The user interface, upon receiving a command reflecting desired settings, interacts with the file system and the operating system to effectuate the desired settings.

Claims

1. A locally connected cloud storage device comprising:

a data storage medium;

one or more network adapters, wherein the one or more network adapters are capable of connecting the cloud storage device to a network;

a file system;

an operating system, wherein the operating system and file system are capable of providing an end user access to at least one storage cloud having at least one volume for data stored in the data storage medium; and

a user interface capable of receiving commands reflecting desired settings for the end user and the volume, wherein the user interface, upon receiving a command reflecting desired settings, interacts with the file system and the operating system to effectuate the desired settings.

2. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1 wherein the data storage medium comprises one or more arrays of hard drives.

3. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the one or more arrays of hard drives is expandable.

4. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1 wherein the data storage medium comprises an extender.

5. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1, further comprising a backup system for the file system or the data storage medium.

6. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1 wherein the file system is capable of managing a data storage medium of infinite size.

7. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1, wherein the locally connected cloud storage device is configurable to allow out-of-network end users access to the volume for data stored in the data storage medium.

8. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 7 wherein the volume for data stored in the data storage medium is accessible via the Internet by the out-of-network end users.

9. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1 wherein the user interface, file system and operating system can provide the end users access to the volume for data stored in the data storage medium is provided to the end users so as to be appear to be accessed through the end user'"'"'s native environment.

10. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1 wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface.

11. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1 further comprising an interface for at least one third-party public cloud storage service provider.

12. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 11 wherein the device is configured to exchange data with a third-party public cloud storage service provider system through an application program interface.

13. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1 further comprising an interface for more than one third-party public cloud storage services provider.

14. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1 wherein in the system is capable of communicating with at least one other locally connected cloud storage system and providing access to end users to a volume for data stored on a data storage medium of the at least one other locally connected cloud storage system.

15. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 14 wherein the user interface is capable of accepting commands for managing the settings of the file system, operating system or user interface of the at least one other locally connected cloud storage system.

16. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1 wherein the user interface is capable of providing analytical, statistical or performance information relating to the data storage medium, the file system or the operating system.

17. The locally connected cloud storage deviceof claim 14 wherein the user interface is capable of providing analytical, statistical and performance information relating to the data storage medium, the file system or the operating system of the at least one other locally connected cloud storage device.

18. The locally connected cloud storage device of claim 1 further characterized in that the at least one storage cloud comprises two or more storage clouds maintained by the locally connected cloud storage device, and each such storage cloud has a set of end users.

19. A locally connected cloud storage device comprising:

a data storage medium;

one or more network adapters, wherein the one or more network adapters are capable of connecting the cloud storage device to a network;

wherein the one or more network adapters are further capable of connecting to the Internet;

a file system;

an operating system, wherein the operating system and file system are capable of providing an end user access to at least one storage cloud having at least one volume for data stored in the data storage medium; and

a user interface capable of receiving commands reflecting desired settings for the end user and the volume, wherein the user interface, upon receiving a command reflecting desired settings, interacts with the file system and the operating system to effectuate the desired settings; and

a public cloud storage interface capable of exchanging data between the at least one storage cloud and a public cloud storage service on the Internet.

20. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a private storage cloud, said method comprising:

deploying, at a host computer having with a data storage medium, one or more network adapters, an operating system and a file system, a user interface to a private cloud storage system; and

controlling through the user interface the settings of the host computer'"'"'s file system or operating system to maintain a storage cloud having at least one volume for data stored within the host computer'"'"'s data storage medium.

21. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a hybrid storage cloud, said method comprising:

deploying, at a host computer having a data storage medium, one or more network adapters, an operating system and a file system, a user interface to a hybrid cloud storage system;

controlling through the user interface settings of the host computer'"'"'s file system or operating system to maintain a storage cloud having at least one volume for data stored within the host computer'"'"'s data storage medium; and

configuring a public cloud storage interface system within the hybrid cloud storage system to interface with one or more third party public cloud storage services.

22. A method for implementing a private storage cloud comprising:

providing a locally connected cloud storage device;

connecting said locally connected cloud storage device to a network, said locally connected cloud storage device comprising

a data storage medium;

one or more network adapters, wherein the one or more network adapters are capable of connecting the cloud storage device to a network;

a file system;

an operating system, wherein the operating system and file system are capable of providing an end user access to at least one storage cloud having at least one volume for data stored in the data storage medium; and

a user interface capable of receiving commands reflecting desired settings for the end user and the volume, wherein the user interface, upon receiving a command reflecting desired settings, interacts with the file system and the operating system to effectuate the desired settings; and

providing end users access to at least one storage cloud having at least one volume for datastored in the locally connected cloud storage device'"'"'s data storage medium.