Lost Storage Device Recovery via Remote Service Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lost portable storage devices, such as flash drives and digital cameras, cannot initiate communication with their owners or receive messages through communication networks, making it difficult for owners to recover their devices and for finders to return them.
Innovation Solution
A process that allows device owners to register their devices with a remote service, storing contact information and recovery plans, and executing custom device-executable code when connected to a host system to determine if the device is lost and initiate a recovery plan, which includes providing contact information and alerting the owner if the device is found.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a portable storage device is made small and portable, then convenience and flexibility are improved, but the risk of loss or misplacement increases
Solution Approach 1:
A remote server acts as an intermediary between the portable device and the host system. The device stores identification information and contacts the remote server when connected to a host, enabling the host to identify and return the device without requiring direct communication between the device and host owner
Solution Approach 2:
The portable device is pre-configured with identification information and registered with a remote server before being lost. This preliminary setup enables automatic identification and recovery processes to occur without requiring owner intervention after the device is lost
2Device complexity
If a lost device does not support communication with a communication network, then device simplicity is improved, but the ability to initiate communication with its owner is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The remote server serves as a communication intermediary that the simple device can interact with. The device only needs to communicate basic identification information to the remote server, which then handles complex communication with the host system and owner notification
Solution Approach 2:
The communication capability is extended to a different dimension by enabling the device to communicate with a remote server via the host system's network connection, rather than requiring direct network communication capability in the device itself
3Reliability
If a person finds a lost device, then device recovery becomes possible, but the finder has no way of knowing the owner's identity or how to contact the owner
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to the finder through the host system by displaying owner contact information and return instructions after the device is connected and identified by the remote server
Solution Approach 2:
The remote server and host system act as intermediaries that translate the device connection into useful information for the finder, providing owner contact details and return instructions without requiring the finder to directly query the device
4Reliability
If the device owner has no way of finding out if the device has been found, then device security is improved, but the owner cannot confirm device recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to the device owner by sending notifications when the device is found and connected to a host system, and when the device is successfully returned
Solution Approach 2:
The remote server acts as an intermediary that relays device status information between the host system and the device owner, providing confirmation of device recovery without compromising security
Data Source
AI summary
Processes for identifying and recovering a lost transient storage device are provided. In some processes, information regarding the owner of the device is obtained. The device ownership information may be stored on a remote service with which the device is registered and/or may be stored on the device itself. In one process, the remote service provides the device with customized device-executable code when the device is registered. The device may also contain information regarding trusted systems. The process includes obtaining status information indicating whether a device is lost when the device is connected to a host system. In some processes, the status is determined by a remote service. In other processes, the status is determined by the device. If the device is lost then a device recovery plan is executed. Portions of a device recovery plan may be executed on the remote service, the host system, and/or the device.