Offline caching of control transactions for storage devices
First Claim
1. In a computing environment, a method of executing a control event directive for a storage device in an offline, low power, or reduced interrupt state by caching control transaction data corresponding to the control event directive and deferring execution thereof until the device is fully operational, the method comprising:
- receiving, a control event for performing a function on a primary storage medium directly from a user, wherein the control event is received at the storage module when the primary storage medium is in a non-operational state and the storage module is selectively detached from a host computer system, and the storage module is configured such that an operational state of the primary storage medium of the storage module is received from the host computer system that is detachable from the storage module, wherein the operational state is received independent of the control event;
when the primary storage medium is in the non-operational state and selectively detached from the host computer system, storing the control transaction data set comprising the control event in a memory of the storage module that is separate from the primary storage medium in order to delay execution of directives for the control event until the operational state of the primary storage medium;
upon identifying the operational state of the primary storage medium, which is caused by at least selectively attaching the storage module to the host computer system, applying the control transaction data set by the storage module that provides the control transaction data set to the host computer system that is selectively detachable from the storage module; and
at the storage module, and after providing the control transaction data set to the host computer system, executing the directives of the control event by performing the function on the primary storage medium now in the operational state, which directives are executed at the storage module by the host computer system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method using hardware and software components enable a storage module to collect and maintain control transaction data (e.g., directives/events) when a storage device of the module is offline or in a low power configuration. The storage module contains a nonvolatile memory cache and a module controller, and also may include a separate power source, an output display and input mechanism so that when offline, the user may display and navigate among catalog information corresponding to stored content to set up deferred events related to the content. When reconnected to a general-computing host system, the host system obtains the control transaction data from the storage module, and processes the data into file-system related events and other events to perform actions to the storage device and/or to other resources coupled to the host computer system. The host system may also cache transaction control data on the storage module'"'"'s cache.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. In a computing environment, a method of executing a control event directive for a storage device in an offline, low power, or reduced interrupt state by caching control transaction data corresponding to the control event directive and deferring execution thereof until the device is fully operational, the method comprising:
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receiving, a control event for performing a function on a primary storage medium directly from a user, wherein the control event is received at the storage module when the primary storage medium is in a non-operational state and the storage module is selectively detached from a host computer system, and the storage module is configured such that an operational state of the primary storage medium of the storage module is received from the host computer system that is detachable from the storage module, wherein the operational state is received independent of the control event; when the primary storage medium is in the non-operational state and selectively detached from the host computer system, storing the control transaction data set comprising the control event in a memory of the storage module that is separate from the primary storage medium in order to delay execution of directives for the control event until the operational state of the primary storage medium; upon identifying the operational state of the primary storage medium, which is caused by at least selectively attaching the storage module to the host computer system, applying the control transaction data set by the storage module that provides the control transaction data set to the host computer system that is selectively detachable from the storage module; and at the storage module, and after providing the control transaction data set to the host computer system, executing the directives of the control event by performing the function on the primary storage medium now in the operational state, which directives are executed at the storage module by the host computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a computing environment, a system for executing a control event directive for a storage device in an offline, low power, or reduced interrupt state by storing control transaction data corresponding to the control event directive and deferring execution thereof until the device is fully operational, the system comprising:
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a host computer system; and a storage module that selectively and removably couples to the host computer system, the storage module including a storage device having an operational state and a non-operational state, wherein the operational and non-operational states are selectively provided by the host computer that is selectively and removably coupleable to the storage device; a memory that comprises a control transaction data set of at least one cached control event configured to execute one or more directives on the storage device, the memory configured to receive and store the control transactional data set when the storage device is in the non-operational state such that execution of the one or more directives is delayed until the operational state of the storage device, wherein the operational state is independent of the control transaction data set; and a controller coupled to the memory for outputting data corresponding to the control transaction data set to the host computer system when the storage module is coupled to the host computer system and the controller is enabled to receive the control transaction data set directly from a user as input on the storage module, such that the one or more directives are then applied to the storage device in accordance with the cached control event by the host computer system and without the controller managing the one or more directives. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. At least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform a method of executing a control event directive for a storage device in an offline, low power, or reduced interrupt state by storing control transaction data corresponding to the control event directive and deferring execution thereof until the device is fully operational, the method comprising:
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receiving, a control transaction data set comprising a control event to apply to the storage device and which control event is received directly from a user at the storage device, the control transaction data set being received when the storage device is in a non-operational state and the storage device is selectively detached from a host computer system, which host computer system can power a primary storage medium of the storage device; storing the control transaction data set in a memory of the storage device while the storage device is selectively detached from the host computer, which control transaction data is accessible independent of whether the storage device is coupled to the host computer system and independent of the primary storage medium, the control transaction data set stored in order to delay execution of the control event until the storage device becomes operational and the primary storage medium is powered by the host computer system, and the operational state of the storage device being controlled by the host computer system independent of the control transaction data set; detecting when the storage device is operational as a result of coupling the storage device to the host computer system, and when so coupled, accessing the control transaction data set in the memory; and in response to detecting that the storage device is operational, outputting data corresponding to the control transaction data set to the host computer system, which host computer system then executes the control event on the now operational storage device such that execution of the control event is managed by the host computer system rather than the storage device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. In a computing environment, a system for executing a control event directive for a storage device in an offline, low power, or reduced interrupt state by storing control transaction data corresponding to the control event directive and deferring execution thereof until the device is fully operational, the system comprising:
a personal video recorder configurable to store video content and to detach from a host computer system, wherein the video recorder comprises; a storage device used to store the video content, the storage device including at least one hard drive which is spun-up to provide an operational state for the storage device, wherein said operational state results from spinning-up the at least one hard drive as directed by the host computer system; a memory that is separate from the storage device, and that comprises control event-related information, the memory being used for delaying execution of directives associated with the control-related information until the storage device is operational and the hard drive is spun-up as directed by the host computer system, wherein the control event-related information is provided to the host computer system upon the storage device entering the operational state; a controller coupled to the memory and configured to provide selection of the control event-related information during the non-operational state of the storage device and directly from a user of the storage device while the storage device is detached from the host computer, wherein the controller does not manage execution of the directives associated with the control-related information; a connection for selectively and directly coupling the personal video recorder to the host computer system for placing the storage device in an operational state, wherein the connection includes one or both of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) and a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) connection directly to the host computer system; a user interface coupled to the controller, the user interface comprising an input mechanism and a display used for selecting the control event-related information locally on the personal video recorder; and a power source that powers the user interface and the controller to enable access to the memory and control of the user interface for selection and entry of the control event-related information when the personal video recorder is not coupled to the host computer system and the storage device is in the non-operational state. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
Specification