Storage Gateway for Stateless Client Local Storage Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In client/server systems, stateless clients lack the capability to interface with local storage devices, limiting user access to removable or portable storage media, and result in increased administrative costs due to the need for centralized patching and upgrading of client systems.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows users to access storage devices locally coupled to stateless clients via a server, utilizing a server to execute applications and manage storage devices, with support for various types of storage media and interfaces such as USB, enabling users to interact with storage devices without the need for local operating system execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If stateless clients are used to reduce administrative costs, then client patching and upgrading become unnecessary, but users lose the capability to interface with local storage devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage gateway as an intermediary component that bridges the stateless client and the storage device. The gateway runs locally on the client device, enabling the client to interface with storage devices without requiring full operating system functionality or local application execution capability. This resolves the contradiction by providing storage access capability while maintaining the stateless client's simplicity and low administrative overhead.
2Reliability
If stateless clients without local operating system are used, then client reliability increases and patching is reduced, but users cannot access removable or portable storage media
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage access functionality from the main client system by introducing a separate storage gateway component. This gateway is specifically designed to handle storage device communication protocols and operations, while the main stateless client remains simple and reliable. The segmentation allows the client to maintain high reliability without local OS while still providing storage access through the specialized gateway component.
3Ease of manufacture
If simplified stateless client design is used, then administrative costs are reduced, but local storage device support is eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The storage gateway is designed with universal functionality to support multiple storage device types and interfaces (USB, FireWire, serial ATA, parallel ATA, SCSI). This multi-functional gateway provides broad storage device compatibility while the stateless client itself remains simple and easy to manufacture. The gateway handles the complexity of various storage protocols, allowing the client to maintain simplicity while providing versatile storage access.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for accessing storage devices attached to a stateless client. In one embodiment, the system may include a server configured to execute an application and a stateless client coupled to the server, whereby a user interacts with the application. The system may further include a storage device locally coupled to the stateless client, where the storage device is accessible by the user via the server. In various specific implementations of the system, the storage device may be a solid-state mass storage device or a mass storage device employing magnetic or optical media. In another specific implementation of the system, the storage device may be locally coupled to the stateless client via an interface such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) or IEEE 1394 (e.g. FireWire).