Virtual Storage Agent for Removable Media Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Removable storage devices are prone to data loss or security breaches when lost or stolen, and they have limited storage capacity, with users often failing to back up their data, leading to potential identity theft and intellectual property breaches.
Innovation Solution
A virtual storage device method and apparatus that executes a virtual storage agent on removable storage devices to establish an interface with remote storage locations, allowing data to be stored and accessed from these locations, with features like erasure encoding and encryption for security and caching for accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If data is stored on removable storage devices, then data accessibility and portability are improved, but data security and reliability deteriorate when devices are lost or stolen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data storage function from the removable storage device itself and relocates it to a remote server. The device retains only the virtual storage agent software, which manages data access remotely. This separation allows the device to remain portable and accessible while the actual data resides in a secure remote location, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual storage agent acts as an intermediary between the user and the remote data storage. It establishes virtual file systems and manages data access requests without exposing the actual data to the device. This intermediary layer enables secure remote storage while maintaining local access functionality, addressing both accessibility and security requirements.
2Ease of operation
If data is stored on removable storage devices, then data portability is improved, but data backup reliability deteriorates as users fail to backup data
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically storing data in the cloud before the user needs it or before potential data loss occurs. The virtual storage agent continuously manages data synchronization with remote servers, ensuring backups are already in place without requiring user intervention. This eliminates the need for users to manually backup data while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual storage agent provides self-service functionality by automatically managing data synchronization, storage, and retrieval without user intervention. The system handles backup operations autonomously, ensuring data is continuously protected and synchronized across devices without requiring users to perform manual backup tasks.
3Reliability
If data is stored remotely instead of locally, then data security is improved, but access speed and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data into different storage locations based on access frequency and importance. Frequently accessed data can be cached locally or stored in faster remote locations, while less critical data resides in standard remote storage. This segmentation allows the system to optimize access speed for critical data while maintaining security for all data through remote storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual storage agent dynamically manages data access by establishing virtual file systems that adapt to user needs. It can cache frequently accessed data locally, pre-fetch data based on usage patterns, and dynamically allocate storage resources. This dynamic approach maintains security through remote storage while optimizing access speed based on actual usage requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If virtual storage agents are executed on multiple removable storage devices, then data synchronization capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual storage agent is designed as a universal, standardized software component that can be deployed on any removable storage device regardless of the device's specific hardware characteristics. This multi-functional design allows the same agent to handle data management, synchronization, and security tasks across diverse devices, improving synchronization capability without increasing individual device complexity since the functionality is provided by the software rather than hardware modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for a virtual storage device is provided. In one example, data to be stored at a removable storage device is received. A virtual storage agent is executed on the removable storage device. An interlace is established with at least one remote storage location. The data is stored at the at least one remote storage location. In another example, a request to access data associated with a removable storage device is received. A virtual storage agent on the removable storage device is executed. An interface is established with at least one remote storage location. The data is fetched from the at least one remote storage location.