Peer-to-Peer Encrypted File System Mounting Without Internet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in accessing and synchronizing encrypted data across multiple computing devices without an internet connection, as existing cloud-based syncing methods require internet access and specific application support.

Innovation Solution

Establishing a peer-to-peer connection between computing devices associated with a common user account, allowing the first device to receive and mount a portion of the second device's file system, including encrypted data, without needing an internet connection, by verifying user permissions and using local authentication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cloud-based syncing is used to synchronize data across devices, then data synchronization capability is improved, but internet connection requirement and application support dependency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata synchronization capabilityVSAvoidinternet connection and application support requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a peer-to-peer connection mechanism as an intermediary that enables direct device-to-device data access and synchronization without requiring cloud servers or internet connectivity. This intermediary layer allows devices to function as both clients and servers, exchanging data directly through local network connections or direct wireless communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the internet connection requirement from the data synchronization process by implementing local peer-to-peer communication. By taking out the dependency on external cloud infrastructure, the system enables synchronization to occur directly between devices through local networks, eliminating the need for continuous internet access while maintaining synchronization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If encrypted data is stored on devices, then data security is improved, but data accessibility across devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoiddata accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different quality characteristics to different parts of the system by maintaining encryption properties locally on each device while enabling selective sharing. Each device retains its own encryption keys and security policies, allowing data to remain encrypted and secure on the source device while being accessible to authorized devices through controlled peer-to-peer connections. This local quality approach ensures that security properties are preserved at the source while accessibility is enabled at the destination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Speed

If data is stored locally on each device, then data access speed is improved, but data sharing capability between devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access speedVSAvoiddata sharing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the advantages of local storage with data sharing by combining peer-to-peer connection technology with local file system mounting capabilities. When a device needs to access data from another device, the system merges the remote file system with the local file system through mounting, allowing the accessing device to treat remote files as if they were locally stored. This merging enables fast local-like access speeds while maintaining the versatility of cross-device data sharing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10447659B2Sharing protected user content between devices
Publication Date: 2019.10.15 GOOGLE LLC
  • US10447659B2 patent drawing
  • US10447659B2 patent drawing
  • US10447659B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for sharing encrypted information among multiple devices. A peer-to-peer connection between a first computing device associated with a user account and a second computing device associated with the user account is established. Information associated with at least a portion of a file system of the second computing device may be received by the first computing device, where the portion of the file system comprises encrypted data. The portion of the file system of the second computing device may be mounted on the first computing device based on the received information.