Virtual Drive Shared Storage Arbitration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data sharing solutions between operating systems and pre-boot applications face challenges such as duplication and synchronization failures, leading to security risks and inefficiencies in data protection and updates.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a virtual drive shared between operating systems and pre-boot applications, with encryption and a driver to arbitrate access, allowing secure and efficient data sharing without repartitioning the computer-readable media.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If data is shared between operating systems and pre-boot applications using traditional methods, then data accessibility is improved, but data security and synchronization reliability deteriorate due to duplication and synchronization failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidsynchronization reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a virtual drive as an intermediary storage layer between the operating system and pre-boot applications. This virtual drive acts as a mediator that both can access simultaneously without direct interaction, eliminating synchronization failures while maintaining data security through controlled access paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage system is segmented into distinct layers: the virtual drive layer for shared data, the operating system layer, and the pre-boot application layer. This segmentation allows each layer to access data independently through its own interface, preventing synchronization conflicts while maintaining data integrity across layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If encryption is implemented to protect data security, then security is improved, but data sharing efficiency deteriorates due to access complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoiddata sharing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual drive serves as an encrypted intermediary that both the operating system and pre-boot applications can access. The encryption is managed at the virtual drive level, allowing secure data storage while maintaining efficient access paths for authorized applications without requiring each application to implement its own encryption logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If virtual drive is introduced for shared storage, then data security and synchronization are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata synchronizationVSAvoidstorage system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual drive is designed as a universal storage interface that serves multiple functions: it provides shared storage for both operating systems and pre-boot applications, implements encryption, and ensures synchronization. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8578142B2System and method for shared data storage

Publication Date: 2013.11.05 MCAFEE LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods for sharing data storage on an electronic device are disclosed. A system may include a memory and a processor, an operating system executing on the electronic device, a preboot application executing on the electronic device, and a virtual drive. The operating system may be configured to mount the virtual drive and the preboot application may also be configured to mount the virtual drive.