TWI489281B - A storage device with automatic backup and synchronization - Google Patents

Description

Storage device with automatic backup and synchronization

The invention relates to a backup and file synchronization technology, in particular to a storage device with automatic backup and synchronization functions.

At present, portable storage devices such as USB flash memory devices and USB hard disk cartridges are quite common, and their storage space is increasing with the advancement of technology, and some are added to portable storage devices. Additional features have also been developed, such as: US Patent No. 6,754,725 discloses a USB storage device that can automatically install a driver on a computer.

Taiwan Patent No. 278747 discloses a USB portable device having a program storage unit and a data storage unit. The program storage unit is a non-volatile memory (such as a flash memory or an electronic erase memory) that stores related programs required for the portable device to be connected to a computer, that is, Automatic execution of programs, drivers, backup programs and data protection programs. The data storage unit is an external hard disk for storing data. Wherein, when the USB portable device is connected to the computer, the computer starts to execute the foregoing program in sequence, and when the backup program is executed, the data in the specific file directory of the computer is automatically backed up to the data. Storage unit.

The Taiwanese M380536 patent discloses a USB memory device for automatic backup and restoration, which has a flash memory inside, and the flash memory has an optical drive for automatically executing the program (Auto Run CD- The first part of the ROM) and the first part of the removable disks for storing data. When the automatic backup and restore USB memory device is connected to a USB port of a personal computer (PC) or a notebook computer (NB), the first part of the CD player for automatically executing the program will immediately execute its own Carry the application and back up the important files in the computer to the first part, or restore the previously backed up data in the first part to the original location. The patent also mentions an automatic backup and restore program. If the user selects the backup function, the file location to be backed up is searched according to the parameter specification, and the file to be backed up is copied to the specified location. If the user selects the restore function, it reads the original location of the file to be restored and restores the file to the specified location.

Although the USB memory device in the M380536 patent has the function of automatically backing up and restoring files, the patent does not provide an automatic update version to update the automatic backup and restore program. The other patents mentioned above also lack the function of synchronously updating the files and automatically updating the programs, so that the programs cannot be updated.

The invention provides a storage device with automatic backup and synchronization function, which comprises a shell, a hard disk and an automatic backup and synchronization program. The housing has a connector for connecting to a computer. The hard disk is disposed in the casing and electrically connected to the connector, the hard disk having a read-only storage space and an accessible space. The automatic backup and synchronization program is stored in the read-only storage space of the hard disk. When the connector is connected to the computer, the automatic backup and synchronization program can be executed by the computer. The automatic backup and synchronization program includes a synchronization module for creating a synchronization folder in the accessible space of the hard disk, and backing up the synchronization file in the computer to the synchronization folder, or the synchronization The sync file in the folder is restored to this computer.

Preferably, the automatic backup and synchronization program further includes a determination module for determining whether the synchronization file of the computer and the synchronization file in the synchronization folder are new. If it is determined that the synchronization file of the computer is newer than the synchronization file in the synchronization folder, the new synchronization file of the computer is backed up to the synchronization folder, and the old synchronization file of the synchronization folder is overwritten. If it is determined that the synchronization file of the synchronization folder is newer than the synchronization file of the computer, the new synchronization file of the synchronization folder is backed up to the computer, and the old synchronization file of the computer is overwritten.

Preferably, the automatic backup and synchronization program further includes a backup module and a restoration module. The backup module is configured to create a backup folder corresponding to the computer name in the accessible space of the hard disk according to the name of the computer, and back up the file in the computer to the backup folder. The restore module is used to restore the files in the backup folder to the computer.

Preferably, the automatic backup and synchronization program further includes an update module for updating an automatic backup and synchronization program on a network location to the hard disk.

The storage device of the present invention can provide a user to back up files in a personal computer device such as a mobile phone, a computer and a notebook computer to the storage device, and enable the user to identify the computer device to which the folder belongs by using the backup folder name. It is better to select one or the other files as a synchronized file, which can be selected and modified by each computer device for the convenience of the user. In addition, the automatic backup and synchronization program of the storage device can be updated through the network and the updated program will not replace the original automatic backup and synchronization program, so even if an error occurs during the update, the storage device will not be caused. The environment for this automatic backup and synchronization program is available.

Further invention and its effects will be disclosed in the following description.

The block diagram shown in the first figure is used to indicate a preferred embodiment of the storage device 1 having the automatic backup and synchronization function of the present invention. The storage device 1 includes a casing 10, a hard disk 11, and an automatic backup cum. Synchronize program 12.

The case 10 has a connector 101 for connecting to a computer 2. The connector 10 is a connector that supports USB transmission specifications, and other connectors are also available.

The hard disk 11 is disposed in the casing 10 and electrically connected to the connector 101. The hard disk 11 has a read-only storage space 110 and an accessible space 111. The read-only storage space 110 can be recognized by the computer 2 as a virtual device, such as a virtual disk drive or an external USB hard disk. The access space 111 can be recognized by the computer 2 as an external storage device.

The automatic backup and synchronization program 12 is stored in the read-only storage space 110 of the hard disk 11. After the connector 101 is connected to the computer 2, the automatic backup and synchronization program 12 can be executed by the computer 2, and the execution mode can be automatically performed by the computer 2, or manually clicked by the user. The automatic backup and synchronization program 12 is launched and executed. The automatic backup and synchronization program 12 includes a synchronization module. The synchronization module is configured to establish a synchronization folder 114 in the accessible space 111 of the hard disk 11 and back up the synchronization file in the computer 2 to the synchronization folder 114, or to the synchronization folder 114. The synchronized file in the file is restored to the computer 2 so that the synchronized data in the computer 2 or the sync folder 114 is consistent.

The automatic backup and synchronization program 12 includes a determination module for determining whether the synchronization file of the computer 2 and the synchronization file in the synchronization folder 114 are new. If it is determined that the synchronization file of the computer 2 is newer than the synchronization file in the synchronization folder 114, the new synchronization file of the computer 2 is backed up to the synchronization folder 114, and the old synchronization file of the synchronization folder 114 is overwritten. On the other hand, if it is determined that the synchronization file of the synchronization folder 114 is newer than the synchronization file of the computer 2, the new synchronization file of the synchronization folder 114 is backed up to the computer 2, and the old synchronization file of the computer 2 is overwritten. In this way, the synchronized file in the computer 2 or the sync folder 114 only retains the latest sync file, and does not occupy the accessible space 111 of the hard disk 11 because of the old data.

The automatic backup and synchronization program 12 further includes a synchronization reminder module for generating a synchronization reminder message when the synchronization file of the synchronization folder 114 is newer than the synchronization file of the computer 2, for confirming whether the synchronization is to be performed. The synchronized file of the folder 114 is backed up to the computer 2, and the old sync file of the computer 2 is overwritten. The synchronization reminder message can be a text message displayed on the computer or a voice message.

The synchronization program further includes a synchronization recording module for recording the location of the synchronization file in the computer 2 and the name of the computer 2 for use by the determination module. In this way, the storage device 1 can provide multiple computers (for example, personal computers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, and tablets) for file synchronization services. More specifically, when a new computer is connected to the connector 101 of the storage device 1, the user can select the new computer to join the synchronization service through the synchronous recording module of the automatic backup and synchronization program 12. In this way, the synchronization file in the synchronization folder 114 is backed up to the new computer. Once the new computer or the computer 2 has modified the synchronization file and is connected to the storage device 1, the modified synchronization file is synchronized to the synchronization folder 114, and the above-mentioned synchronization reminder message is sent to Remind whether to accept the synced update of the sync file.

In addition, if the storage device 1 is connected to a router, all computers connected to the routing path can be selected to join the synchronization service, so that each computer can obtain the same synchronization with the synchronization folder 114 through the network synchronization. Synchronize the file and the sync file is up to date.

The synchronization module has a synchronization selection unit, and the synchronization selection unit provides a plurality of synchronization options for selection. Each synchronization option is used to represent each synchronization file of the computer 2, and the synchronization module only those The synchronization file of the selected synchronization option is backed up to the corresponding synchronization folder 114 of the accessible space, so that the plurality of synchronization options (ie, multiple synchronization files) can be separately selected in the computer 2 to share the file. The purpose of other computers 2.

In addition, the automatic backup and synchronization program 12 further includes a backup module and a synchronization module. The backup module is configured to establish a backup folder 112 corresponding to the computer 2 in the accessible space 111 of the hard disk 11 according to the name of the computer 2, so that the name of the backup folder 112 and the computer 2 are The names are the same, and the files in the computer 2 are backed up to the backup folder 112 of the accessible space 111, or the backup files in the backup folder 112 of the accessible space 111 are restored to the computer 2, The file described herein may be the same as the above-described synchronization file, with the difference that there are two folders (i.e., backup folder 112 and synchronization folder 114) in the accessible space 111. The automatic backup and synchronization program 12 preferably includes a recording module for recording the location of the files in the computer 2 and the name of the computer 2 for the restoration module to perform the restoration processing. The recording module and the synchronous recording module described above can also be combined into one. In this way, the storage device 1 can be used to provide backup and restore services to multiple computers, and each computer has a backup folder 112 with the same name in the accessible space 111 of the hard disk 11, and the backup The file structure in the folder 112 is the same as the original file structure of the original computer. In addition, the storage device 1 can also be connected to a router as described above, so that all the computers connected to the routing path can use the backup and synchronization functions provided by the storage device 1, so that each computer can have its own file. Backing up to the storage device 1, and restoring the backup file belonging to itself to the computer from the storage device 1.

In addition, the backup module preferably has a selection unit that provides a plurality of classification options for selection, and each classification option is used to represent a certain type of file. In this embodiment, the classification options include a movie type option (referred to as a file in .3G2, .3PG2, .3GP, .AMC, ..., etc.), and a file type option (referred to as .CDT, .CPT, .DBF, .DOCM, ... format files), Email type options (referred to as .DBX, .EML, .MSG, .OFT, ... format files), music type options, image type options, Desktop folder options, my file folder options, my favorite folder options....etc. When the backup module performs backup processing, only those files whose types belong to the selected classification option are backed up into the accessible space 111.

Preferably, the automatic backup and synchronization program 12 further includes an update module for updating a new version of the automatic backup and synchronization program 3 on a network location to the hard disk, so that the automatic backup and synchronization in the hard disk The program is maintained in the latest version.

The problem that the storage device 1 cannot be used to avoid the version update failure. The storage device 1 further includes an additional automatic backup and synchronization program 113 stored in the second space 112 of the hard disk. The version of the automatic backup and synchronization program 113 is generally higher than the automatic backup and synchronization program 12 in the read-only storage space 111. It's still new, and it was originally downloaded from a network location. Moreover, the update module is configured to implement an update method. As shown in the second figure, the updating method includes: determining, according to the step S1, whether the additional automatic backup and synchronization program 113 is present in the accessible space 111; when the determination result is "Yes", executing a first A version judgment program 4, however, when the judgment result is "NO", a second version judgment program 5 is executed.

The first version determining program 4 includes: determining, according to the step S2, whether the version of the automatic backup and synchronization program 3 on the network location is newer than the automatic backup and synchronization program 113 of the accessible space 111; When the result is "Yes", an update procedure (or download procedure) is executed to update the automatic backup and synchronization program 113 in the accessible space 111 to be the same as the automatic backup and synchronization program on the network location. And executing the updated automatic backup and synchronization program 113 in the accessible space 111, which means that the latest version of the automatic backup and synchronization program is currently being executed.

When the judgment result is "No", the update program is not executed, and the automatic backup and synchronization program 113 originally in the accessible space 111 is continued, which indicates that the original automatic backup and synchronization program is currently being executed.

The second version determining program 5 includes: determining whether the version of the automatic backup and synchronization program 3 on the network location is newer than the automatic backup and synchronization program 12 in the read-only storage space 110; when the determination result is "Yes" At this time, a downloading program is executed to download and execute the automatic backup and synchronization program 3 on the network location to the accessible space 111, and the downloaded automatic backup and synchronization program 3 is the above-mentioned beginning. The automatic backup and synchronization program 113 is said; when the determination result is "No", the downloading process is not executed, and the automatic backup and synchronization program 12 in the read-only storage space 110 is continued.

Although the above mentioned automatic backup and synchronization programs 12, 3 and 113, these three actually refer to the same program, but the version may be different.

As can be seen from the above description, as long as the automatic backup and synchronization program 113 exists in the accessible space 111, the automatic backup and synchronization program 113 is used to perform the above backup and restore processing, and when updating the version, only The automatic backup and synchronization program 113 in the accessible space 111 is updated, so that the latest version of the program is executed each time. In case the update fails, the automatic backup and synchronization program 113 can not be found in the accessible space 111. At this time, the automatic backup and synchronization program 12 in the read-only storage space 110 is executed. To perform the above backup and restore processing. If the automatic backup and synchronization program 12 needs to be updated, a new version of the automatic backup and synchronization program 113 is automatically downloaded to the accessible space 111 and executed. This means that the automatic backup and synchronization program 12 in the read-only storage space 110 is equivalent to a standby program, which is not changed when updating, so that it can always maintain normal operation. In this way, it can be ensured that the storage device 1 will not be unusable due to the update failure.

The above update module can also be applied to a storage device having other types of programs, particularly a portable storage device, which can be an application for providing a specific function. In this way, the program in the storage device can be updated as described above, and there is no need to worry that the storage device cannot be used because of the update failure.

Compared with the prior art, the storage device of the present invention can not only back up files to a storage device when connected to a computer, but also provide a restore service to the computer when needed, and more importantly, a synchronization service of the storage device. It can provide multiple computers to share files in the synchronization folder in the storage device, and the automatic backup and synchronization program in the storage device can be updated to improve the performance, and there is no need to worry about the failure of the update, the storage device cannot be used. .

In any event, anyone can obtain sufficient teaching from the above description, and it is understood that the present invention is indeed different from the prior art, and is industrially usable and progressive. It is the invention that has indeed met the patent requirements and has filed an application in accordance with the law.

The first figure is a block diagram of a system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The second figure is a flow chart of the operation of the update module of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A storage device with an automatic backup and synchronization function, comprising: a casing having a connector for connecting to a computer; a hard disk disposed in the casing and electrically connected to the connector, wherein the hard disk has a read-only storage space and an accessible space; and an automatic backup and synchronization program stored in the read-only storage space of the hard disk, the automatic backup and synchronization program can be used when the connector is connected to the computer Computer-implemented, the automatic backup and synchronization program includes a synchronization module and an update module, the synchronization module is configured to establish a synchronization folder in the accessible space of the hard disk, and synchronize files in the computer Backing up to the synchronization folder, or restoring the synchronization file in the synchronization folder to the computer, the update module is used to implement an update method, the update method includes: determining whether there is one stored in the accessible space An additional automatic backup and synchronization program; when the determination result is "Yes", a first version determination program is executed; when the determination result is "No", a second version determination program is executed; The first version determining program includes: determining whether the version of the automatic backup and synchronization program on a network location is newer than the automatic backup and synchronization program of the accessible space; when the determination result is "Yes", executing one An update program for updating the automatic backup and synchronization program in the accessible space to an automatic backup and synchronization program identical to the network location, and performing the update in the accessible space After the automatic backup and synchronization program; when the determination result is "No", the update program is not executed, and the automatic backup and synchronization program originally in the accessible space is continued; the second version determining program includes: determining the Whether the version of the automatic backup and synchronization program on the network location is newer than the automatic backup and synchronization program in the read-only storage space; when the determination result is "Yes", a download procedure is executed to use the network location The automatic backup and synchronization program is downloaded to the accessible space and executed; when the determination result is "No", the downloading process is not executed, and the automatic backup and synchronization program in the read-only storage space is continued. The storage device with automatic backup and synchronization function according to claim 1, wherein the automatic backup and synchronization program further comprises: a judgment module for determining a synchronization file of the computer and the synchronization folder The synchronization file is new. If it is determined that the synchronization file of the computer is newer than the synchronization file in the synchronization folder, the new synchronization file of the computer is backed up to the synchronization folder, and the old synchronization of the synchronization folder is overwritten. The file, if it is determined that the synchronization file of the synchronization folder is newer than the synchronization file of the computer, the new synchronization file of the synchronization folder is backed up to the computer, and the old synchronization file of the computer is overwritten. The storage device with the automatic backup and synchronization function described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the automatic backup and synchronization program further comprises: a synchronization reminding module, wherein the synchronization file of the synchronization folder is compared When the synchronization file of the computer is new, a synchronization reminder message is generated to confirm whether the synchronization file of the synchronization folder is backed up to the computer, and the old synchronization file of the computer is overwritten. case. The storage device with automatic backup and synchronization function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the automatic backup and synchronization program further comprises: a synchronous recording module for recording the position of the synchronous file in the computer; And the name of the computer for use by the judgment module. The storage device with automatic backup and synchronization function according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization module has a synchronization selection unit, and the synchronization selection unit provides a plurality of synchronization options for selection, and each synchronization option is used. Representing each sync file in the computer, the sync module only backs up the sync files of the selected sync options to the sync folder of the accessible space. The storage device with automatic backup and synchronization function according to claim 1, wherein the automatic backup and synchronization program further comprises: a backup module for accessing the hard disk according to the name of the computer; A backup folder corresponding to the computer name is created in the space, and the file in the computer is backed up to the backup folder; and a restore module is used to restore the file in the backup folder to the computer. The storage device with automatic backup and synchronization function according to claim 6, wherein the automatic backup and synchronization program further comprises: a recording module for recording the location of the files in the computer and the computer The name is used by the restore module. The storage device with the automatic backup and synchronization function described in claim 6 wherein the backup module has a selection unit, the selection unit provides a plurality of classification options for selection, and each classification option is used to indicate a certain One type Archive, the backup module only backs up files whose type belongs to the selected classification option into the accessible space. A storage device having a read-only storage space, an accessible space, and a program stored in the read-only storage space, the storage device being connectable to a computer, wherein an update module in the program can be Executing, the update module is configured to implement an update method to update and execute a newer version of the program from a network location to the accessible space, the update method comprising: determining the accessible space Whether there is a newer version of the program; when the judgment result is "Yes", a first version judgment program is executed; when the judgment result is "No", a second version judgment program is executed; wherein the first version The determining program includes: determining whether the version of the program at the network location is newer than the version of the program of the accessible space; when the determination result is “Yes”, performing an update procedure for using the accessible space The program in the program is updated to be the same as the program on the network location, and the updated program in the accessible space is executed; when the judgment result is "No", the update program is not executed, and the execution is continued. The program in the accessible space; the second version determining program includes: determining whether the version of the program at the network location is newer than the program in the read-only storage space; when the determination result is "Yes", Execute a download procedure for Download the program on the network location to the accessible space and execute it; when the judgment result is No, the download program is not executed, and the program in the read-only storage space is continued. An update method is performed by a storage device having a read-only storage space, an accessible space, and a program stored in the read-only storage space, the storage device being connectable to a computer, in the program An update module is executable by the computer, the update module for implementing the update method to update a newer version of the program from a network location to the accessible space and execute the update The method includes: determining whether there is a newer version of the program in the accessible space; when the determination result is “Yes”, executing a first version determining program; when the determining result is “No”, executing a second version a determining program; wherein the first version determining program comprises: determining whether a version of the program at a network location is newer than a version of the program of the accessible space; and when the determination result is "Yes", performing an update procedure For updating the program in the accessible space to a program identical to the network location and executing the updated program in the accessible space; when the determination result is "No" The update is not executed, and the program continues in the original space is accessible; the second version of the judgment program comprising: determining the version of the program on the web than the position is read-only The program in the storage space is new; when the judgment result is "Yes", a downloading program is executed to download the program at the network location to the accessible space and execute it; when the judgment result is "No" When the download process is not executed, the program in the read-only storage space is continued.