WO2007042954A2

WO2007042954A2 - Data duplication method between storage devices and devices using the method

Info

Publication number: WO2007042954A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/053485
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jun Shi; Xiaofeng Liu
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2005-10-09
Filing date: 2006-09-26
Publication date: 2007-04-19
Also published as: WO2007042954A3

Abstract

The invention provides a data duplication method for duplicating data from an original data storage device to a target data storage device, comprising steps of: receiving a duplication instruction that comprises a piece of identification information of the data to be duplicated and a piece of identification information of the target storage device; according to the duplication instruction, transmitting the data to be duplicated to the target storage device directly. With the method and device of the invention, it is possible to transfer data between two mobile storage devices, without a control device as a relay for the data transfer, so as to ensure data -sharing function of mobile storage devices while ensuring the mobility thereof.

Description

DATA DUPLICATION METHOD BETWEEN STORAGE DEVICES AND DEVICES USING THE METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a storage device, particularly, to a data duplication method between storage devices and a corresponding mobile storage device using the method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently storage devices, particularly mobile storage devices, such as mobile hard disk, U disk, etc., are increasingly used. Quite a number of the mobile storage devices do not have user interfaces, and are accordingly called as "blind devices". Due to lack of a user interface, access operations to a "blind device" must be performed through additional control devices rather than performed directly by a user.

Generally a user may perform various operations to the mobile storage devices, such as storing data, transferring data and sharing data, through a control device with an operation interface, for example, a PC or a laptop.

When sharing data between two mobile storage devices, it's necessary to connect the two storage devices to a common control device such as a PC individually or jointly. For example, when transferring data between two USB storage disk, the two U disks must be connected to a PC through USB data interfaces which PC functions as a control device to control data-sharing between the two U disks. Data exchange between the two U disks is implemented with the PC as a medium.

To embody better mobility, mobile storages are tended to be produced with smaller volumes, so as to be portable and be usable under various circumstances by users, as a result, it is less possible to configure the mobile storages to have a user interface.

A problem occurring frequently is that under a circumstance where there are no control devices such as a PC or the like, it's impossible to duplicate data between two mobile storage devices. This negatively affects the mobility of mobile storage devices greatly, and usage of the mobile storage devices is seriously restricted.

Therefore, it is expected to provide a data duplication method, which can perform data duplication between two mobile storage devices easily, and a device, which uses the method.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method for duplication of data between storage devices by which duplication of data between two mobile storage devices can be implemented directly without transferring data to a control device as an intermediate step, the invention provides a device using the method as well.

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for duplicating data from an original storage device to a target storage device, comprising steps of: receiving a duplication instruction, which includes a piece of identification information of the data to be duplicated and an piece of identification information of the target storage device; according to the duplication instruction, transferring the data to be duplicated to the target storage device directly.

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a device for duplicating data from an original storage device to a target storage device, comprising: a communication unit for receiving a duplication instruction, the duplication instruction includes a piece of identification information of the data to be duplicated and a piece of identification information of the target storage device; a transceiving control unit for transferring the data to be duplicated to the target storage device directly according to the duplication instruction.

Using the mobile storage device and the method of data transferring of the present invention, data can be transferred directly between two mobile storage devices without relay through a control device, wherein only a user interface of the control device is used, accordingly, secrecy of the data is enhanced, and the storage device has a data- sharing function while the mobility thereof is secured.

Further, using the mobile storage device and the method of data transferring of the present invention, after the two mobile storage devices communicate their requests for transferring data with each other by the aid of a control device, the control device will not involve with the transferring process of data to be transferred, and therefore could be removed.

The other objects and achievements of the present invention will become apparent, and the invention will be comprehensively understood through the description of the invention with reference to the drawings and claims as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a view showing schematically data-sharing between mobile storage devices according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a functional block diagram of a mobile storage device according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a flow chart showing a method of data- sharing between mobile storage devices according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a flow chart showing the method of data- sharing between mobile storage devices according to another embodiment of the invention.

In all the above-mentioned drawings, the same reference signs indicate the same, similar or corresponding characteristics or functions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Next, preferred embodiments of the invention will by described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGURE 1 shows schematically data- sharing between mobile storage devices according to one embodiment of the invention.

Two mobile storage devices 200 and 300 are depicted in the embodiment, which are "blind devices", in other words, the two mobile storage devices, such as a USB storage disk a or portable hard disk, are not equipped with a operation display interface.

In general, to duplicate data from the mobile storage device 200 to the mobile storage device 300, conventionally one has to connect the two mobile storage devices 200 and 300 to a common PC, operations are performed on the two mobile storage devices 200 and 300 as accessorial storage devices of the PC by the CPU of the computer. Data stored in the two storage devices 200 and 300 are actually transferred from one storage device to the other by means of the PC. For example, in the case of duplicating data in the mobile storage device 200 to the mobile storage device 300, the data are first copied to the PC, and then transferred from the PC to the mobile storage device 300.

According to one embodiment of the invention, in a case where no PC is provided, data transfer between the two mobile storage devices 200 and 300 can be achieved and monitored through a mobile device with a display interface, such as a cellular phone 100.

When duplicating data from the mobile storage device 200 to the mobile storage device 300, the data are transferred directly from the mobile storage device 200 to the mobile storage device 300 without going through the cellular phone 100 as an intermediate step. The cellular phone 100 only takes a role of monitoring the data transferring process between the mobile storage devices 200 and 300.

The cellular phone 100 sends instructions to the mobile storage devices 200 and 300 in a wireless manner so as to control the data transfer between them. Data transmission and data reception are only performed and completed between the mobile storage devices 200 and 300. The mobile storage devices 200 and 300 can transmit information indicating status of the data transfer to the cellular phone 100 during the process of data transfer.

The two mobile storage devices 200 and 300 communicate to each other either in a wireless manner, such as Blue Tooth or NFC(Near Field Communication), or by means of data lines, such as a USB data line.

Those skilled in the art should understand that other communication units with an operation display interface, such as a PDA with communication functions, could be used in the invention instead of the above-described cellular phone 100. It's also easily understand by those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention are applicable to those "blind" storage devices which are not mobile.

Those skilled in the art should understand that the cellular phone 100 as disclosed in the invention is employed for monitoring duplication of data between the two mobile storage devices 200 and 300, the monitoring function is achieved through software installed therein.

FIGURE 2 is a functional block diagram of a mobile storage device according to one embodiment of the invention.

A mobile storage device 200 according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a transceiving control unit 210 for controlling data transmitting/receiving between the mobile storage device 200 and an external device. The mobile storage device 200 also comprises a communication unit 212 for transmitting/receiving data by a specific data transfer protocol, the protocol comprising wireless data transfer(such as Blue Tooth) or wired data transfer(such as USB).

The communication unit 212 may comprise a wired interface 2122 and/or a wireless interface 2124, through which data are transmitted and received under the control of the transceiving control unit 210 conforming to a specific wired(such as USB) or wireless (such as Blue Tooth) data transfer protocol.

Via the transceiving control unit 210 and the communication unit 212, the mobile storage device 200 can directly transmit or receive data to or from other mobile storage devices, and receive control instructions from a monitoring device(not shown) or other mobile storage devices(not shown), which control instructions may be, for example, data- duplicating instructions or data-receiving instructions, meanwhile, corresponding information indicating status of the data-transferring can also be sent to the control device via the transceiving control unit 210 and the communication unit 212.

The mobile storage device also comprises a right verification unit 214 for verifying right on data access requests from external devices. Further, the right verification unit 214 is used to verify PIN code when the mobile storage device 200 "pairs" with another device by connecting to the another device. For instance, the right verification unit 214 may verify a data access request from a control device. The data access request is used for displaying data stored in the mobile storage device 200 or storage information (such as directory tree, list of files) on the user interface of the control device.

Further, the mobile storage device 200 comprises a storage medium 250 for storing data thereon, which might be, for example, a magnetic memory or a flash memory.

Still further, the mobile storage device 200 comprises a reading/writing control unit 216 for reading from or writing into the storage medium 250. For example, the reading/writing control unit 216 may read data from or write data into the storage medium 250 under the control of the transceiving control unit 210.

Still further, the mobile storage device 200 comprises a power supply control unit 240 for controlling an external power supply to provide electric power to the mobile storage device 200. The external power supply could be an accessory battery of the mobile storage device 200.

FIGURE 3 is a flow chart showing a method of data- sharing between mobile storage devices according to one embodiment of the invention.

First, in step S310, cellular phone 100 searches for an available mobile storage device 200 within a certain scope of a physical space, the scope of the physical space with which the searching is performed depends on data transfer protocol being employed by the cellular phone 100, for example, the searching scope of a Blue Tooth device from a Blue Tooth network is around 10 m in dimension. Within a Blue Tooth network, two devices will not communication with each other before they are "paired". When connecting two devices to each other, a PIN(Personal Identification Number) code of 8 bits is set generally for mutual verification of identification. In step S320, the mobile storage device 200 and the cellular phone 100 perform access right verification for each other, so as to complete "pairing" process. It's possible that access right of the cellular phone 100 is limited to accessing directory of files stored in the mobile storage device 200, in such a case, the privacy of contents stored in the mobile storage are ensured. Obviously, the access right of the cellular phone 100 could include the right for accessing files themselves that are stored in the mobile storage device

200.

Then in step S325, the cellular phone 100 transmits a request for accessing a files list to the mobile storage device 200 to request to access a list of all of the files available in the mobile storage device 200.

Next, in step S330, the mobile storage device 200 transmits an accessible files list to the cellular phone 100, which list is displayed on the user interface of the cellular phone 100 for a user to select files from, for example, a user could select some of the files from the files list as files to be duplicated.

According to one embodiment of the invention, before transmitting an accessible files list to the cellular phone 100, the mobile storage device 200 may verify the access right for the request for accessing a files list. The files list is transmitted to the cellular phone 100 if the verification is successful. Of course, in a mutually-trusted environment, the access right verification may not be performed.

In step S340, pieces of identification information of the files to be duplicated are obtained through the cellular phone 200 according to the user's choice, which pieces of identification information may comprise titles of the files to be duplicated, locations of the files, such as the locations in the files list.

After the above described configuration has been finished, the mobile storage device 200 starts to wait for a request for data transferring or for accessing data. In the following steps S350 and S360, the cellular phone 100 searches for another available mobile storage device 300 within a certain scope of a physical space, and pairs with the mobile storage device 300, the two steps are similar to aforementioned steps S310 and S320, detailed descriptions of which will be omitted.

It should be understood that the searching processes in steps S350 and S310 could be performed simultaneously by the cellular phone 100, after that, the cellular phone 100 "pairs" with the mobile storage devices 200 and 300 respectively.

In the following steps S376 and S378, searching process and "pairing" process are performed between the mobile storage devices 300 and 200, connection between the mobile storage devices 300 and 200 has already set up, the processes performed in steps S376 and S378 are similar to those in steps S310 and S320, hence, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

Next, in step S370, the cellular phone 100 transmits the above described identification information of data to be duplicated, and identification information of the mobile storage device 200(such as, name of the device, ID code, etc.) to the mobile storage device 300, so that the mobile storage device 300 transmits a duplication instruction to the mobile storage device 200 based on the pieces of identification information.

After the step S370 is finished, the cellular phone 100 is optionally removed, and the subsequent steps will be completed by the mobile storage devices 200 and 300.

In step 380, the mobile storage device 300 transmits a duplication instruction to the mobile storage device 200, wherein, the duplication instruction also includes the identification information of the data to be duplicated. Obviously, since the duplication instruction is transmitted from the mobile storage device 300, the duplication instruction also comprises identification information of the mobile storage device 300, such as, name and ID of the mobile storage device 300.

In step S390, after receiving the instruction including the duplication instruction from the mobile storage device 300, the mobile storage device 200 transfers corresponding data to be duplicated to the mobile storage device 300 directly until completion of the transfer of all the data.

Finally, in an optional step S395, during the process of transfer of the data to be duplicated, the mobile storage device 200 may periodically transmits a piece of status information to the cellular phone 100, so that the user could monitor the transfer status of the data by cellular phone 100, and based on which the user can send an instruction through the cellular phone 100 to pause the transfer of the data at any time.

Reference now is made to FIG 4, which is a flow chart showing the method of data-sharing between mobile storage devices according to another embodiment of the invention.

The steps S410, S420, S425 and S430 are substantially the same as the steps S310, S320, S325 and S330, detailed descriptions thereof are therefore omitted.

In step S440, cellular phone 100 transmits a duplication instruction to the mobile storage device 200, the instruction comprising identification information of the data to be duplicated and identification information of the target storage device. After this step, the cellular phone 100 could be optionally removed, and the subsequent steps will be completed by the two mobile storage devices 200 and 300.

Wherein the identification information may comprises name of the file of data to be duplicated, and the location where data are stored in the mobile storage device 200, such as the location in the files list etc. The identification information of the target storage device comprises device name and ID code etc. of a target storage device.

In the following steps S450 and S460, the mobile storage device 200 searches within a certain scope of physical space for another available mobile storage device 300 according to the identification information of the target storage device, and "pairs" with the mobile storage device 300. The two steps are substantially similar to the above-described steps S410 and S420, hence, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. In step S490, after completion of "pairing", according to the received duplication instruction aforementioned, the mobile storage device 200 transmits the data to be duplicated to the mobile storage device 300 directly until all of the data have been transmitted.

Finally, in an optional step S395, during the process of transfer of the data to be duplicated, the mobile storage device 200 may periodically transmits a piece of status information to the cellular phone 100, so that the user could monitor the transfer status of the data by cellular phone 100, and based on which the user can send a instruction through the cellular phone 100 to pause the transfer of the data at any time.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements could be made with respect to the storage device and the data-sharing method above-disclosed without departing from the principle and spirits of the invention. Thus, the scope of protection of the invention shall be defined by the contents of appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A data duplication method for duplicating data from an original data storage device to a target data storage device, comprising steps of: receiving a duplication instruction comprising a piece of identification information of the data to be duplicated and a piece of identification information of the target storage device; according to the duplication instruction, transmitting the data to be duplicated to the target storage device directly.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the piece of identification information of the data to be duplicated in the duplication instruction comes from a control device equipped with a user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the piece of identification information of the data to be duplicated in the duplication instruction comes from the target storage device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of: receiving an access request for requesting displaying storage information of data stored in the original storage device through a control device with a user interface.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising steps of: verifying access right of the access request.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of: transmitting a piece of status information that indicates duplicating status of the data to be duplicated.

7. A storage device for duplicating data to a target storage device, comprising: a communication unit, for receiving a duplication instruction, the duplication instruction comprising a piece of identification information of the data to be duplicated and a piece of identification information of target storage device; a transceiving control unit, for transmitting the data to be duplicated to the target storage device directly according to the duplication instruction.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the piece of identification information of the data to be duplicated in the duplication instruction comes from a control device equipped with a user interface.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the piece of identification information of the data to be duplicated in the duplication instruction comes from the target storage device.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the communication unit is operable to receive an access request for requesting displaying storage information of data stored in the original storage device through a control device with a user interface.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising: an right verification unit for verifying access right of the access request.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the communication unit is also operable to transmit a piece of status information that indicates duplicating status of the data to be duplicated.