External Storage Access Control via Virtual Drive Metadata
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing external storage devices require users to restart their personal computers or reconnect hardware to access data after power-saving modes, leading to inconvenience and power inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A control device that fetches attribute information from external storage devices and stores it in a virtual drive, allowing access and data management without needing the external storage device to be operational, using a RAM disk for virtual drive creation and attribute information storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the external storage device is stopped to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the device becomes inaccessible and requires system restart or hardware reconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by fetching and storing attribute information from the external storage device before it is stopped. This allows the control device to maintain access to metadata (file names, sizes, dates) even when the storage device is powered off, resolving the contradiction between power saving and accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a copy of attribute information from the external storage device and stores it in the control device's storage. This copy enables users to access file metadata without requiring the original storage device to be operational, thus maintaining accessibility while enabling power savings
2Use of energy by moving object
If the external storage device is stopped to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but usability deteriorates due to inability to recognize the device
Solution Approach 1:
Attribute information is fetched and stored in advance before the external storage device is stopped. This preliminary action eliminates the time loss associated with restarting systems or reconnecting hardware, as the control device already possesses the necessary metadata
Solution Approach 2:
By maintaining a copy of attribute information in the control device, the system eliminates the time required to restore device recognition. Users can immediately access file metadata without waiting for the external storage device to be reconnected or restarted
3Speed
If attribute information is stored in a virtual drive, then access speed is improved, but memory consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by storing only attribute information (metadata) in the virtual drive rather than complete file data. This selective storage approach provides fast access to file metadata while minimizing memory consumption, as attribute information is significantly smaller than actual file contents
Data Source
AI summary
The control device has a fetching unit, a virtual drive creation unit, and an access control unit. The fetching unit fetches, from the external storage device, attribute information relating to data stored in the external storage device. The virtual drive creation unit creates, in the control device, a virtual drive for storing the fetched attribute information. The access control unit controls access to the virtual drive and the external storage device. When an instruction relating to the attribute information is input, the access control unit accesses the virtual drive to fetch the attribute information. When an instruction to read the data from the external storage device is input, the access control unit accesses the external storage device to reads the data. When an instruction to write new data to the external storage device is input, the access control unit accesses the external storage device to write the new data.