Cloud Connector Key for Network Isolated Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many electronic devices, such as digital video disk (DVD) players, cannot natively connect to networks and access cloud repositories, limiting their ability to retrieve and store files remotely.
Innovation Solution
A cloud connector key that includes a network interface, a mass storage interface, and a computational module, which connects to network isolated devices and cloud repositories, allowing files to be transferred between the device and the cloud transparently to the device, using stored credentials and network addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If network isolated devices are used, then device simplicity and cost are reduced, but network access capability and cloud storage capability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a connector device that acts as an intermediary between network-isolated devices and cloud repositories. The connector has both network interface capabilities and mass storage interface capabilities, allowing it to bridge the gap between devices that cannot access networks directly and cloud storage systems. The connector obtains files from cloud repositories via network interfaces and provides them to isolated devices through mass storage interfaces, enabling indirect network access without modifying the isolated devices themselves.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cloud access functionality is added to isolated devices, then cloud storage capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cloud access functionality into a separate connector device rather than integrating it into the network-isolated device. This segmentation allows the isolated device to remain simple while the connector handles all complex network communication, authentication, and cloud interaction. The connector can be connected or disconnected as needed, providing cloud access functionality without permanently increasing the complexity of the isolated device.
Data Source
AI summary
A cloud connector key includes a network interface configured to connect to a network, a mass storage interface configured to connect to a network isolated device, and a computation module operatively connected to the network interface and the mass storage interface. The computational module is configured to connect to a cloud repository using the network interface by obtaining, from storage on the cloud connector key, a network address of the cloud repository, requesting connection to the cloud repository using the network address, and authenticating, using credentials in the storage on the cloud connector key, to an account in the cloud repository. The computational module is further configured to transfer a file between the account in the cloud repository and a network isolated device via the mass storage interface.