Abstract:
A method of managing local and remote data storage including displaying to a user, as a single logical volume, file names referencing both local data files and remote data files. The user individually selects file names and assigns a location attribute to the file names: residing only on the remote data storage, residing only the local data storage; residing on both the local data storage and the remote data storage. The location attribute of residing only on the remote data storage causes the local data file to be erased. The location attribute of residing only on the local data storage causes the remote data file to be erased. The location attribute, of residing on both the local data storage and the remote data storage, causes the files to be synchronized.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit from U.S. provisional application 60/590,847 filed Jul. 26, 2004 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to data storage systems, and more particularly to a method for simultaneously managing data files in both local and remote data storage.  
         [0003]     Computer systems allow processing of massive quantities of data for a variety of purposes. As the ability to process data has increased, so has the need for versatile data storage systems that provide massive data storage capabilities combined with fast access.  
         [0004]     Network-based remote file storage is becoming increasingly popular, particularly with the advent of global wireless coverage. Large quantities, i.e. terabytes of file storage are accessible over wide area networks, e.g. the Internet. backup services are also accessible offering secure and remote storage for a monthly fee. Internet storage services enable. global access to data typically based on FTP (File Transfer Protocol), or HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol).  
         [0005]     Another feature required by many businesses and industries is portability. Portable systems such as personal computers, USB drives, mobile phones and other handheld devices have local storage, e.g. hard disk drives, flash memory drives, etc. Portable systems generally do not provide massive data storage that is generally accessible in fixed storage systems.  
         [0006]     Using current file management schemes, e.g. Microsoft Windows®, files stored remotely, e.g. via the Internet, are displayed in a remote logical volume using a file browsing utility. Files stored locally and not stored remotely are displayed in a local logical volume different from the remote logical volume. Many users find multiple logical volumes to be unintuitive and complicated to use.  
         [0007]     In other prior art file management schemes, e.g. a PALM® operating system a single logical volume, e.g. Addresses, is used for displaying simultaneously both local and remote storage when all the files of the single logical volume are synchronized, that is the files of the single logical volume are maintained in local storage and copies of the files are periodically updated, for instance, for back-up in remote storage. The prior art does not include a method for managing individual files simultaneously in both local and remote data storage in a single logical volume.  
         [0008]     There is thus a need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have a method for managing individual files simultaneously in both local and remote data storage in a single logical volume.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     According to the present invention there is provided a method of managing data storage in a computer. The data storage includes local data storage storing local data files and remote data storage storing remote data files. The method includes displaying to a user of the computer, as a single logical volume, file names referencing data files including the local data files and the remote data files on a display operatively connected to the computer. The user individually assigns for one or more file names a location attribute. The location attribute is selected from: (i) residing solely on the remote data storage, (ii) residing solely on the local data storage; or iii) residing on both the remote data storage and the local data storage. Preferably, the method further includes merging the local data files and the remote data files into the single logical volume. Preferably, the location attribute is further displayed to the user. Preferably, when the location attribute of the file name referencing the data file is: (i) residing solely on the remote data storage; the method further includes erasing the data file on the local data storage. Preferably, when the location attribute of the file name referencing the data file is: (ii) residing solely on the local data storage; the method further includes erasing the data file on the remote data storage. More preferably, when solely the local data storage is connected to the computer, the erasing is performed upon connecting the remote data storage to the computer. Preferably, when the location attribute of the file name referencing the data file is: (iii) residing on both the remote data storage and the local data storage; the method further includes: synchronizing the data file on both the remote data storage and the local data storage. More preferably, when solely the local data storage is connected to the computer, the synchronization is performed upon connecting the remote data storage to the computer.  
         [0010]     According to the present invention there is provided a system for managing data storage in a computer including local data storage storing local data files and remote data storage storing remote data files, the system includes a display operatively connected to the computer for displaying in a single logical volume one or more file names referencing data files including the local data files and the remote data files; and an input mechanism for individually assigning for one or more of the file names a location attribute in the data storage. The location attribute is selected from: (i) residing on the remote data storage, (ii) residing on the local data storage; or iii) residing on both the remote data storage and the local data storage. Preferably, the display presents to the user the location attribute of the data files. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  (prior art) is a drawing of a conventional computer system with a connection to a network;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  (prior art) is a drawing of a computer display showing file management of local and remote storage in multiple logical volumes;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of a method for file management, according to the present invention; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a drawing of a computer display showing a file management system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     The present invention is a method for simultaneously managing data files in both local and remote data storage in a single logical volume. The principles and operation of managing data files in local and remote data storage simultaneously in a single logical volume, according to the present invention, may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.  
         [0017]     It should be noted, that although the discussion herein relates to a general purpose file management system used for instance to manage files in a standard file browser of a personal computer, the present invention may, by non-limiting example, alternatively be configured as well in specialized computer applications and other systems requiring file management. The term “computer” as defined herein includes a desktop computer, a portable computer, a notebook computer, a handheld computer, a mobile telephone or any other computerized device. The term “logical volume” is defined herein as one or more areas of memory on one or more storage devices, e.g. disk drive that a user or application considers as a single entity. The term “file names” refers also to names of file folders. The term “synchronizing” as used herein refers to maintaining equivalent copies of a data file in different storage devices. The term “storage” refers to analog media, and digital storage media including random access memory, flash memory, magnetic media, optical media and EEPROM. The term “local storage” refers to storage that, in normal use, is always connected to a computer. The term “remote storage” refers to storage that is sometimes connected and sometimes disconnected such as with a network connection, e.g. the Internet. It should be noted that while the discussion herein is directed primarily to remote storage using the Internet, the principles of the present invention may be adapted for use in, and provide benefit for other types of remote storage such as a portable disk drive or otherwise connectable storage media such as USB flash memory. Further the interface mechanism for connecting and disconnecting storage to a computer may be of any such mechanisms known in the art including a physical interface, e.g. cable, a network interface or a wireless network interface.  
         [0018]     Before explaining embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of design and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0019]     By way of introduction, a principal intention of the present invention is to provide to a user a file management system of both local and remote storage that is simpler to use and more intuitive than prior art file management systems. The present invention provides the user with a versatile and intuitive file management system.  
         [0020]     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is an illustration showing some of the components of a prior art computer  10 , used for implementing an embodiment of the present invention. Computer  10  includes a processor  101 , a storage mechanism including a memory bus  107  to store information in a memory  109 . Computer  10  further includes a display  115 , local storage  113 , e.g. a hard disk drive, and an input mechanism  114 , e.g. a mouse or keyboard.  FIG. 1  further illustrates a network interface  105  connecting computer  10  via a wide area network  111  to remote storage  110 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a prior art example of logical volumes as displayed to the user on a display  115   a.  Display  115   a  shows two logical volumes C: and F. Logical volume C: includes files stored on local storage  113 . Logical volume F: includes files stored in remote storage  110 . Files “aaa” and “bbb” are common to both logical volume C: and logical volume F. Files “aaa” and “bbb” are, for instance, synchronized in both local storage  113  and remote storage  110 . For a typical user, the division of files between different logical volumes, in this case remote and local logical volumes is somewhat arbitrary and unintuitive. Furthermore, the repetition of synchronized files, for instance “aaa” and “bbb” in two different logical volumes A: and F: is a potential source of confusion.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a method, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the user logs in (step  301 ) to remote storage  110 . Files in both local storage  113  and remote storage  110  are merged (step  303 ) into a single logical volume, “My files”. Merging (step  303 ) typically includes tagging the files, to be included in logical volume “My files”. The merged logical volume “My files” is displayed (step  305 ) to the user.  
         [0023]     Reference is now made also to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a display  115   b,  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Display  115   b  displays to the user a directory of files residing both on local storage  113  and remote storage  110 . The directory is always stored locally and synchronized with the remote logical volume F. Even if remote storage  110  is not connected to computer  10 , the user can always see all the file names in “My files”, as well as optionally assign (decision block  307 ) location attributes to each file name individually. If remote storage  110  is currently not connected to computer  10 , actions involving remote storage  110  specified by the attributes for each file name are performed upon connecting computer  10  to remote storage  110 . A remote/local location attribute can be individually assigned (decision block  307 ) using input mechanism  114 , e.g. mouse. For example, a mouse click on the file name brings up a menu with three options (a) residing only on remote storage  110 , (b) residing only on local storage  113 , or (c) residing on both local storage  113  and remote storage  110 . The user specifies individually (decision block  307 ), i.e. on an individual file-specific basis, where each file is stored; in remote storage  110  only, local storage  113  only, or both the local storage  113  and remote storage  110 . When the location attribute for a file name is: residing only on remote storage  110 , then the corresponding local file is deleted (step  313 ) from local storage  113 . Similarly, when the location attribute for a file name is: residing only on remote storage  110  only, then the corresponding remote file is deleted (step  311 ). If remote storage  110  is not connected to computer  10 , then delete (step  311 ) is performed upon connecting to remote storage  110 . When the location attribute for a file name is: residing on both local storage  113  and remote storage  110 , then the corresponding files are synchronized, i.e. maintained with identical information. If remote storage  110  is not connected to computer  10 , then synchronization (step  309 ) is performed upon connecting to remote storage  110 . Synchronization (step  309 ) is performed automatically, manually or periodically according to a previously defined schedule.  
         [0024]     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the location attribute, local, remote or both is displayed with an “x” in columns labeled “local” and “remote”. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the user can differentiate between local or remote location attributes based on visual differentiation using for instance color-coding or status icons. For example, a file name of a file stored exclusively in remote storage  110  appears in black. A file stored both in remote storage  110  and local storage  113  will have a file name appear in blue, and a file stored exclusively in local storage  113  will have a file name appear in gray.  
         [0025]     The following examples illustrate embodiments of the present invention.  
       EXAMPLE I  
       [0026]     Sam has a 500 Gigabytes “C:” hard drive (local storage  113 ) installed on his personal computer  10 . Sam is also subscribed to an Internet-network-based disk storage (block  110 ) service that enables him access to an extra 100 Gigabytes. When Internet connectivity is detected, Sam the user is automatically, or manually prompted to enter a user name/password or other authentication mechanism and logged in (step  301 ) to remote storage  110 . Both local and remote logical volumes C: and F: are combined to create a single logical volume, “My Files” in this example, with a total storage of 600 Gigabytes.  
       EXAMPLE II  
       [0027]     Rosie has a mobile phone including local storage  113  of 128 megabytes. She is also subscribed to an Internet storage service that enables her access to an extra 256 megabytes of Internet-network-based disk storage (block  110 ). When Internet broadband connectivity is detected, Rosie is authenticated and she logs in (step  301 ) to her remote storage service. Both local storage  113  and remote storage  110  are combined (step  303 ) and displayed (step  305 ) to create a single logical volume “My files” of 384 megabytes.  
       EXAMPLE III  
       [0028]     Elanor has a 512 megabytes personal USB storage device (remote storage  110 ). Elanor regularly uses a laptop computer  10  with 500 gigabyte disk drive (local storage  113 ). When Elanor plugs remote storage  110 , e.g. USB personal storage device to host laptop computer  10 , both the USB storage device (block  110 ) and one or more file folders stored in the disk drive (local storage  113 ) are merged (step  303 ) and displayed (step  305 ) as a single logical volume “My files” with capacity greater than 512 megabytes. Elanor regularly uses a file folder for digital images requiring collectively more than 512 megabytes. She finds the present invention convenient storing all of her digital images in local storage  113  in her laptop computer  10  while storing some of her digital images in the USB storage device (remote storage  110 ) and managing all her digital images as a single logical volume both when the USB storage device is connected to her laptop and when the USB storage is not connected.  
         [0029]     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact design and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.  
         [0030]     While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.