Method and system for managing data storage and access on a client device

• US 8,943,110 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Barnes, Jordan Douglas, Feldman, Andrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, NICHOLAS E
• Application Number:
  US13/705,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20140122424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• US Class Current: 707/822
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for managing data storage and access on a computing device. The computing device is associated with a storage system accessible via a first communication interface and a second communication interface. A unified file system interface facilitates interaction with the computing device and is operable to facilitate interaction with content of the storage system via either of the communication interfaces, as available. The unified file system interface is configured as a file system capable providing access to content of the storage system via alias file paths which are independent of whether the unified file system interface is operating in the first mode or the second mode.

Claims

1. A method for managing data storage and access on a computing device, the computing device associated with a storage system accessible via a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the method comprising:

a) providing a unified file system interface for facilitating interaction with the computing device, the unified file system interface operable in a first mode and a second mode, wherein the unified file system provides alias file paths associated with a file system, the alias file paths for use in accessing content of the storage system, wherein in the first mode the unified file system interface maps the alias file paths to a first set of actual file paths usable for interaction with said content of the storage system via the first communication interface, and wherein in the second mode the unified file system interface maps the alias file paths to a second set of actual file paths usable for interaction with said content of the storage system via the second communication interface;

b) monitoring which of the first communication interface and the second communication interface is currently in use; and

c) operating the unified file system interface in the first mode when the first communication interface is in use and operating the unified file system interface in the second mode when the second communication interface is in use

wherein the alias file paths are independent of whether the unified file system interface is operating in the first mode or the second mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the unified file system interface comprises alias files accessible via an alias file path structure, the method further comprising providing associations between each of the alias files and corresponding content of the storage system accessed via the first communication interface and providing associations between each of the alias files and corresponding content of the storage system accessed via the second communication interface.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the associations are provided based at least in part on contents of a lookup table stored in memory.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein interaction with the unified file system interface is performed via a first syntax, and interaction with the storage system is performed via a second syntax, different from the first syntax, the method further comprising translating between the first syntax and the second syntax.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising performing data synchronization operations via the unified file system interface.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the unified file system interface is associated with one or more mount points or drive letters, wherein interaction with the unified file system interface via said one or more mount points or drive letters corresponds to interaction with corresponding content of the storage system of the computing device.

7. An apparatus for managing data storage and access on a computing device, the computing device associated with a storage system accessible via a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the apparatus comprising computer components including a microprocessor operatively coupled to memory, said computer components configured to implement functional modules including:

a) a unified file system interface for facilitating interaction with the computing device, the unified file system interface operable in a first mode and a second mode, wherein the unified file system provides alias file paths associated with a file system, the alias file paths for use in accessing content of the storage system, wherein in the first mode the unified file system interface maps the alias file paths to a first set of actual file paths usable for interaction with said content of the storage system via the first communication interface, and wherein in the second mode the unified file system interface maps the alias file paths to a second set of actual file paths usable for interaction with said content of the storage system via the second communication interface;

b) an interface management module configured to monitor which of the first communication interface and the second interface is currently in use; and

c) a path adjustment module configured to cause the unified file system interface to operate in the first mode when the first communication interface is in use and operating the unified file system interface in the second mode when the second communication interface is in use;

wherein the alias file paths are independent of whether the unified file system interface is operating in the first mode or the second mode.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the unified file system interface comprises alias files accessible via an alias file path structure, the method further comprising providing associations between each of the alias files and corresponding content of the storage system accessed via the first communication interface and providing associations between each of the alias files and corresponding content of the storage system accessed via the second communication interface.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the associations are provided based at least in part on contents of a lookup table stored in memory.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein interaction with the unified file system interface is performed via a first syntax, and interaction with the storage system is performed via a second syntax, different from the first syntax, the method further comprising translating between the first syntax and the second syntax.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising performing data synchronization operations via the unified file system interface.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the unified file system interface is associated with one or more mount points or drive letters, wherein interaction with the unified file system interface via said one or more mount points or drive letters corresponds to interaction with corresponding content of the storage system of the computing device.

13. A computer program product for managing data storage and access on a computing device, the computing device associated with a storage system accessible via a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having code embedded therein which, when loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a computer, is adapted to perform the following:

a) provide a unified file system interface for facilitating interaction with the computing device, the unified file system interface operable in a first mode and a second mode, wherein the unified file system provides alias file paths associated with a file system, the alias file paths for use in accessing content of the storage system, wherein in the first mode the unified file system interface maps the alias file paths to a first set of actual file paths usable for interaction with said content of the storage system via the first communication interface, and wherein in the second mode the unified file system interface maps the alias file paths to a second set of actual file paths usable for interaction with said content of the storage system via the second communication interface

b) monitor which of the first communication interface and the second interface is currently in use; and

c) operate the unified file system interface in the first mode when the first communication interface is in use and operating the unified file system interface in the second mode when the second communication interface is in use;

wherein alias file paths are independent of whether the unified file system interface is operating in the first mode or the second mode.

14. The computer program product according to claim 13, wherein the unified file system interface comprises alias files accessible via an alias file path structure, the method further comprising providing associations between each of the alias files and corresponding content of the storage system accessed via the first communication interface and providing associations between each of the alias files and corresponding content of the storage system accessed via the second communication interface.

15. The computer program product according to claim 13, wherein the associations are provided based at least in part on contents of a lookup table stored in memory.

16. The computer program product according to claim 13, wherein interaction with the unified file system interface is performed via a first syntax, and interaction with the storage system is performed via a second syntax, different from the first syntax, the method further comprising translating between the first syntax and the second syntax.

17. The computer program product according to claim 13, further comprising performing data synchronization operations via the unified file system interface.

18. The computer program product according to claim 13, wherein the unified file system interface is associated with one or more mount points or drive letters, wherein interaction with the unified file system interface via said one or more mount points or drive letters corresponds to interaction with corresponding content of the storage system of the computing device.