NAS Reversible Privacy Settings for Cross-Platform Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems are limited in managing access control lists across cross-platform networks, leading to restricted client permission operations and compatibility issues when different operating systems are involved.
Innovation Solution
A NAS apparatus with reversible privacy settings for logical storage area shares, allowing configuration and modification of client permissions across various platforms, using a Unix-like operating system and Samba network file system protocol to provide comprehensive access control, including private and public access modes, and enabling snapshot and synchronization features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional NAS systems use standard access control lists for cross-platform networks, then basic file sharing functionality is maintained, but client permission operations are restricted and compatibility issues occur across different operating systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the NAS storage system and cross-platform clients that translates and manages access control permissions. This intermediary component enables comprehensive permission operations across different operating systems (Windows, UNIX, Mac OS X) by mediating the interaction between diverse client permission models and the underlying storage system, thereby resolving compatibility issues while maintaining ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a NAS system implements comprehensive client permission operations across all platforms, then adaptability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal permission management system that provides multi-functional support for different operating systems through a single integrated architecture. The system offers a unified interface and common permission management mechanisms that work across Windows, UNIX, and Mac OS X platforms, eliminating the need for separate complex permission systems for each platform while maintaining comprehensive adaptability.
3Reliability
If reversible privacy settings are implemented for logical storage area shares, then data security and accessibility are enhanced, but configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic privacy settings for logical storage area shares that can be reversibly changed between different access states (private and public). The system provides automated transition mechanisms and context-aware permission adjustments that simplify the configuration process, allowing users to switch privacy modes without navigating complex configuration interfaces while maintaining strong data security controls.
Data Source
AI summary
A Network Attached Storage (NAS) apparatus to provide network-based data storage for client computing devices (e.g., in a local area network). One or more file-based logical storage area (LSA) shares are created in memory of the NAS apparatus, wherein each file-based LSA share originally is configured as one of “private access” (only certain users have access to a private file-based LSA share) or “public access” (any user on the LAN that can access the NAS appliance can also access the public file-based LSA share). At some later time, the file-based LSA share may be reconfigured to go from private-to-public access or public-to-private access (each file-based LSA share has a “reversible privacy setting”). In one example, object permissions for each object (file or folder) already stored on the LSA share prior to the access reconfiguration are updated on an object-by-object basis to ensure appropriate access to all legacy objects after the access reconfiguration.