Unified File System Interface for Mobile Storage Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data synchronization methods face complications due to storage limitations on mobile devices with multiple file systems, leading to issues like file deletion, corruption, or duplication when managing data across different storage systems.
Innovation Solution
A unified file system interface is introduced, which provides alias files accessible via an alias file path structure, independent of the actual storage locations, allowing for seamless interaction and management across multiple storage systems without disrupting synchronization processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data is synchronized across multiple storage systems on mobile devices, then data accessibility and synchronization capability are improved, but storage management complexity and risk of file corruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a unified file system interface as an intermediary layer between applications and multiple physical storage systems. This interface abstracts the complexity of managing multiple storage devices, providing a single view of the file system while handling the actual data distribution and synchronization across multiple storage systems internally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the file system into two distinct layers: a unified file system interface layer that handles user interactions and application requests, and multiple underlying physical storage system layers that actually store the data. This segmentation allows each layer to operate independently with optimized functionality.
2Productivity
If files are moved between storage systems to optimize storage usage, then storage efficiency is improved, but file path stability and access reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the file system structure at the interface layer that mirrors the physical file system hierarchy. This virtual file system allows files to be moved between physical storage systems while maintaining consistent path references in the virtual layer, ensuring that applications continue to access files through the same path regardless of physical location changes.
3Ease of operation
If a unified file system interface is implemented to simplify access, then ease of operation is improved, but system complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The unified file system interface is designed to handle multiple functions through a single standardized interface: file creation, reading, writing, deletion, and movement operations. This universal interface supports operations across multiple physical storage systems without requiring separate handling logic for each storage device, simplifying the programming model while managing complexity internally.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product for managing data storage and access on a computing device. The computing device includes at least a first storage system (232) and a second storage system (234). A unified file system interface (205) is provided for facilitating interaction with the computing device, the unified file system interface (2050 configured as a file system capable of facilitating interaction with content of both the first storage system (232) and the second storage system (234). Storage of content across the first storage system and the second storage system is managed in accordance with a rule set. File locations within the unified file system interface are independent of locations of corresponding content of the first storage system and the second storage system.