Specialized network fileserver

• US 9,052,919 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Galloway, Curtis C., Wright, John Andrew, Masputra, Adi, Mireku, Kwasi G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shanmugasundaram, Kannan
• Application Number:
  US12/895,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20110179096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 707/827, 707999001-999005, 707/828
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/74 operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A method and apparatus of a portable storage device that provides a specialized network fileserver is described. In an exemplary method, the portable storage device retrieves a list of applications on the portable storage device, where each of the applications has a private filesystem. For each of the applications, the portable storage device determines if that application will share the corresponding private filesystem and adds that private filesystem to a shared filesystem of the portable storage device is that is shareable. The portable storage device further advertises the shared filesystem to a host that is coupled to the portable storage device.

Claims

1. A computerized method, comprising:

at a fileserver implemented on a portable storage device;

receiving, from a host computer that is communicatively coupled to the portable storage device, a request to construct within the portable storage device a shared filesystem;

retrieving a list of a plurality of applications resident on the portable storage device, wherein each application of the plurality of applications has a corresponding private filesystem, and each private filesystem is in a security sandbox that prevents non-corresponding applications from accessing the private filesystem;

constructing the shared filesystem within the portable storage device by carrying out steps that include;

determining, for each application of the plurality of applications, whether the application is configured to share with the host computer a specific category of data that is included in the private file system, and

for each application that is configured to share with the host computer the specific category of data;

adding, to the shared filesystem, a link to the corresponding private filesystem, wherein the link enables the host computer to access the specific category of data, but not other categories of data, via the shared filesystem; and

advertising the shared filesystem of the portable storage device to the host computer.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the shared filesystem appears as a shared volume to the host computer.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein advertising comprises transmitting an advertisement that includes an identifier of the portable storage device to the host computer.

4. The computerized method of claim 3, wherein the identifier is a serial number of the portable storage device.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein an application resident on the host computer has access to files in the shared filesystem.

6. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling the portable storage device to the host computer with a universal serial bus link.

7. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a private internet protocol (IP) address to an interface, wherein the shared filesystem is bound to the interface.

8. The computerized method of claim 7, wherein the shared filesystem is accessible via the interface with the private IP address.

9. A non-transitory machine-readable medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor included in portable storage device, cause the portable storage device to carry out steps that include:

receiving, from a host computer that is communicatively coupled to the portable storage device, a request to construct within the portable storage device a shared filesystem;

retrieving a list of a plurality of applications resident on the portable storage device, wherein each application of the plurality of applications has a corresponding private filesystem, and each private filesystem is in a security sandbox that prevents non-corresponding applications from accessing the private filesystem;

constructing the shared filesystem within the portable storage device by carrying out steps that include;

determining, for each application of the plurality of applications, whether the application is configured to share with the host computer a specific category of data that is included in the private file system, and

for each application that is configured to share with the host computer the specific category of data;

adding, to the shared filesystem, a link to the corresponding private filesystem, wherein the link enables the host computer to access the specific category of data, but not other categories of data, via the shared filesystem; and

advertising the shared filesystem of the portable storage device to the host computer.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the shared filesystem appears as a shared volume to the host computer.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein advertising comprises transmitting an advertisement that includes an identifier of the portable storage device to the host computer.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the steps further include:

coupling the portable storage device to the host computer with a universal serial bus link.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the steps further include:

assigning a private internet protocol (IP) address to an interface, wherein the shared filesystem is bound to the interface.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the identifier is a serial number of the portable storage device.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein an application resident on the host computer has access to files in the shared filesystem.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the shared filesystem is accessible via the interface with the private IP address.

17. A portable storage device, comprising:

a processor configured to carry out steps that include;

receiving, from a host computer that is communicatively coupled to the portable storage device, a request to construct within the portable storage device a shared filesystem;

retrieving a list of a plurality of applications resident on the portable storage device, wherein each application of the plurality of applications has a corresponding private filesystem, and each private filesystem is in a security sandbox that prevents non-corresponding applications from accessing the private filesystem;

constructing the shared filesystem within the portable storage device by carrying out steps that include;

determining, for each application of the plurality of applications, whether the application is configured to share with the host computer a specific category of data that is included in the private file system, and

for each application that is configured to share with the host computer the specific category of data;

adding, to the shared filesystem, a link to the corresponding private filesystem, wherein the link enables the host computer to access the specific category of data, but not other categories of data, via the shared filesystem; and

advertising the shared filesystem of the portable storage device to the host computer.

18. The portable storage device of claim 17, wherein the shared filesystem appears as a shared volume to the host computer.

19. The portable storage device of claim 17, wherein advertising comprises transmitting an advertisement that includes an identifier of the portable storage device to the host computer.

20. The portable storage device of claim 19, wherein the identifier is a serial number of the portable storage device.

21. The portable storage device of claim 17, wherein an application resident on the host computer has access to files in the shared filesystem.

22. The portable storage device of claim 17, wherein the steps further include:

coupling the portable storage device to the host computer with a universal serial bus link.

23. The portable storage device of claim 17, wherein the steps further include:

assigning a private internet protocol (IP) address to an interface, wherein the shared filesystem is bound to the interface.

24. The portable storage device of claim 23, wherein the shared filesystem is accessible via the interface with the private IP address.