Visual indicator of online backup

• US 8,713,265 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sandisk Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Rutledge, Matthew G.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, DUC T
• Application Number:
  US12/887,341
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0337 Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or the user

Abstract

The embodiments provide an external drive that is configured to coordinate with an online data backup service and having a visual or an audiovisual indication of the status and progress of the backup. In particular, upon the user'"'"'s request or as an automatic function, the external drive backs up its contents to a backup storage. In some embodiments, the backup storage is provided by an online backup service remotely via a network, such as the Internet. The external drive comprises a visual or an audiovisual indicator, such as one or more indicator lights, that provide a status of the backup. The various stages of the backup process may be indicated, for example, by changes in the color of the indicator lights, flashing patterns, or any combination of these indication signals.

Claims

1. A storage device configured to work with a backup service, said storage device comprising:

a storage medium;

an interface configured to communicate with the backup service, the backup service being configured to implement a backup by transferring copy of at least a portion of content stored in the storage medium to the backup service;

a processor configured to;

request, without user input, a storage device-initiated backup;

determine a status of communications between the interface and the backup service and, upon determination of a communications failure or poor performance, changing a communications mode with the backup service; and

determine as status of the backup with the backup service; and

a visual indicator configured to indicate, responsive to the requested storage device-initiated backup;

the determined status of communications between the interface and the backup service;

a change in the communications mode with the backup service; and

during the backup with the backup service, the determined status of the backup.

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to communicate with the backup service via a host computer.

3. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to communicate with the backup service via a network.

4. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to initiate the backup based on a time interval.

5. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the backup based on a request by the user of the storage device and wherein the visual indicator is further configured to indicate, responsive to the request by the user, the determined status of communications between the interface and the backup service and, during the backup with the backup service, the determined status of the backup.

6. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the backup based upon detection of an event and wherein the visual indicator is further configured to indicate, responsive to detection of the event, the determined status of communications between the interface and the backup service and, during the backup with the backup service, the determined status of the backup.

7. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the determined status of communications comprises a current status of a connection of the storage device with a network.

8. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the determined status of communications comprises a current status of a connection of the storage device with the backup service.

9. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the determined status of communications comprises a current status of a change in the content stored in the storage medium.

10. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising an audio indicator configured to provide an audio indication of at least one of the determined status of communications and the determined status of the backup.

11. A method for backing up data from a storage device to a backup service, the method comprising:

requesting, without user input, a storage device-initiated backup, the storage device comprising a storage medium and an interface configured to communicate with the backup service, the backup service being configured to implement a backup by transferring a copy of at least a portion of content stored in the storage medium to the backup service;

determining a status of communications between the interface and the backup service and, upon determination of a communications failure or poor performance, changing a communications mode with the backup service; and

determining a status of the backup with the backup service; and

actuating a visual indicator to indicate, responsive to the requested storage device-initiated backup;

the determined status of communications between the interface and the backup service;

a change in the communications mode with the backup service; and

during the backup with the backup service, the determined status of the backup.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the interface is configured to communicate with the backup service via a host computer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the interface is configured to communicate with the backup service via a network.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein requesting comprises requesting the storage device-initiated backup based on a time interval.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein requesting comprises requesting the storage device-initiated backup based on a request by the user of the storage device and wherein actuating causes the visual indicator to indicate, responsive to the request by the user, the determined status of communications between the interface and the backup service and, during the backup with the backup service, the determined status of the backup.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein requesting comprises requesting the storage device-initiated backup based upon a detection of an event and wherein actuating causes the visual indicator to indicate, responsive to detection of the event, the determined status of communications between the interface and the backup service and, during the backup with the backup service, the determined status of the backup.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the determined status of communications comprises a current status of a connection of the storage device with a network.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the determined status of communications comprises a current status of a connection of the storage device with the backup service.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the determined status of communications comprises a current status of a change in the content stored in the storage medium.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the storage device further comprises an audio indicator and wherein the method further comprises generating, using the audio indicator, an audio indication of at least one of the determined status of communications and the determined status of the backup.