Read-only storage device having network interface, a system including the device, and a method of distributing files over a network

• US 7,444,393 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keicy K. Chung
• Original Assignee: Keicy K. Chung
• Inventors: Chung, Keicy
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Refai; Ramsey
• Application Number:
  US10/017,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20030084152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,555 Days
• Field of Search: 709/226, 709/229, 709/217, 711111-114, 707/203
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/162 Delete operations erasing in storage systems G06F3/0652
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/183 Provision of network file services by network file servers, e.g. by using NFS, CIFS network file access protocols H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4025 where none of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. downloading a file in a parallel FTP session, initiating an email or combinational services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A Read-only storage device having network interface, a system including the device, and a method of distributing files over a network. The storage device comprises 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 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 file is cached on the storage means, (2) obtains the file from the file server if the 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.

Claims

1. A storage device comprising:

a processor;

a computer interface communicably connected to the processor, the computer interface being adapted to enable the processor to communicate exclusively with a computer;

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 adapted to have read and write access to the storage means, and the computer having read-only access to the storage means via the processor, wherein upon the computer being booted, the computer sends a request for a file to the processor, the file being a bootstrap file or operating system file, and upon receipt of the request, the processor is adapted to sequentially (1) determine whether the boot file is cached on the storage means and provide the boot file to the computer on a read-only basis if the boot file is cached on the storage means, (2) request the boot file from the select file servers if the boot file is not cached on the storage means, and if the boot file is obtainable from the select file servers, cache the obtained boot file on the storage means and provide the obtained boot file to the computer on a read-only basis, or (3) return a file unavailable notice to the computer if the boot file is not cached on the storage means and not obtainable from the select file servers.

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the computer is communicably connected to a network server through the network interface.

3. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the storage means comprises random access media.

4. A computer network comprising

at least one select file server;

a network server;

a computer communicably connected to the network server;

a storage device communicably connected to the computer and the select file server, the storage device being in exclusive communication with the computer and comprising a processor and a storage means, wherein

the processor is adapted to employ the network interface for communications with the select file server to the exclusion of other file servers;

the processor is adapted to have read and write access to the storage means;

the computer has read-only access to the storage means via the processor; and

upon the computer being booted, the computer sends a request for a file to the processor, the file being a bootstrap file or operating system file, and upon receipt of the request, the processor is adapted to sequentially (1) determine whether the boot file is cached on the storage means and provide the boot file to the computer on a read-only basis if the boot file is cached on the storage means, (2) request the boot file from the select file server if the boot file is not cached on the storage means, and if the boot file is obtainable from the select file server, cache the obtained boot file on the storage means and provide the obtained boot file to the computer on a read-only basis, or (3) return a file unavailable notice to the computer if the boot file is not cached on the storage means and not obtainable from the select file server.

5. The computer network of claim 4, wherein the computer is communicably connected to the network server through the storage device.