BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of a storage apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a file list;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating data flow between the storage apparatus of FIG. 1 and a host connected thereto;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for selecting files by utilizing the storage apparatus of FIG. 1 with a preferred embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of the apparatus with an alternative embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for selecting files by utilizing the storage apparatus of FIG. 5 with an alternative embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of a storage apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 1 can be storage devices, such as flash memory drives and removable hard disk drives. The apparatus 1 includes an interface 11, a micro controlling unit (MCU) 12, and a storage unit 13. The interface 11 is configured for connecting to a host 3 (see FIG. 3). The host 3 could be a computer that is capable of controlling the apparatus 1. For example, the apparatus 1 is a USB flash memory drive, while the USB flash drive connects to a USB port of the computer, the computer can operate the USB flash memory drive, e.g., read, write or delete files stored in the USB flash memory drive.
The storage unit 13 is configured for storing files and attributes associated with the files. The attributes mainly include a filename, data path, file size, and timestamps such as creation time, last modification time, and last access time. Each of the attributes can be used as a sort field for sorting the files. Accordingly, the files may have one or more sorted orders corresponding to the sort fields. The storage unit 13 further stores a plurality of file lists, each of which corresponds to one of the sorted orders and stores a predetermined number of file records sorted by a corresponding sort field. Each of the file records corresponds to one of the files and stores the attributes associated with the corresponding file (see file records 31 in FIG. 2). That is, the file records of each of the file lists are sorted according to a distinct sort field (namely, a distinct attribute). For example, file records of a file list 30 (see FIG. 2) are sorted according to the last access time. Typically, files accessed most recently are listed at a top of the file list 30, whereas, files having the least recent accessed time are listed at a bottom of the file list 30. For example, in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the file record No. 1 with a most recent access time, is listed ahead of file No. 2 with a lesser accessed time of file No. 1.
The MCU 12 includes a list control module 121, a sort field presenting module 122, an acquiring module 123, a list presenting module 124, and an executing module 125. The list control module 121 is configured for updating orders of the file records of the file lists according to the corresponding sort fields in response to changes of the corresponding attributes. For example, in the file list 30, if a file “C.PPT” is recently accessed, namely where the attribute “last access time” of the file “C.PPT” is changed and the file “C.PPT” is accordingly the most recently accessed file in the storage unit 13, the list control module 121 updates the order of the file records of the file list 30, as a consequence, a file record corresponds to the file “C.PPT” becomes the first file record in the file list 30.
Referring to FIG. 3, the sort field presenting module 122 is configured for generating a sort field presenting signal and sending the sort field presenting signal to the host 3 connected thereto. The host 3 presents a sort field selection interface 32 of the sort fields of the file lists (e.g., filename, file size, last access time, etc.,) according to the sort field presenting signal. Accordingly, users can perform an sort field selection operation to select one of the presented sort fields. The host 3 generates a sort field selection signal according to the sort field selection operation, and sends the sort field selection signal to the acquiring module 123. The acquiring module 123 is configured for acquiring a corresponding file list according to the sort field selection signal. The list presenting module 124 is configured for generating a list presenting signal according to the acquired file list, and sending the list presenting signal to the host 3. The host 3 presents the acquired file list according to the list presenting signal, thus users can perform a file selection operation to select one of the files in the presented file list. The host 3 generates a file selection signal according to the file selection operation, and sends the file selection signal to the executing module 125. The executing module 125 is configured for reading a corresponding file from the storage unit 13 according to the file selection signal and sending the read file to the host 3. The host 3 executes the read file.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for selecting files by utilizing the storage apparatus of FIG. 1 with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
In step S101, the sort field presenting module 122 generates the sort field presenting signal and sends the sort field presenting signal to the host 3 while the apparatus 1 connects to the host.
In step S102, the host 3 presents the sort fields of the file lists, and generates the sort field selection signal according to the sort field selection operation.
In step S103, the acquiring module 123 acquires a corresponding file list according to the sort field selection signal.
In step S104, the list presenting module 124 generates a list presenting signal according to the acquired file list, and sends the list presenting signal to the host 3.
In step S105, the host 3 presents the file list according to the list presenting signal, and generates a file selection signal according to the file selection operation on the presented file list.
In step S106, the executing module 125 receives the file selection signal, and reads a corresponding file from the storage unit 13 according to the file selection signal.
In step S107, the host executes the read file.
In step S108, the list control module 121 updates orders of the file records of the file lists according to the corresponding sort fields in response to changes of the attributes.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of hardware infrastructure of a storage apparatus in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Here, like components to those of FIG. 1 have the same reference numerals and therefore, the description configurations, and functions of these like components are omitted. The differences between the preferred embodiment and the alternative embodiment are: in the preferred embodiment, the storage unit 13 stores a plurality of file lists each corresponding to a sort field, and the host presents the sort fields to be selected; in the alternative embodiment, a storage unit 23 stores only one file list, the sort field selection operation is unnecessary, so the apparatus 2 does not include the sort field presenting module 122 as the apparatus 1 does. While the apparatus 2 connects to the host 3, the acquiring module 123 acquires the file list automatically, and the list presenting module 124 presents the acquired file list.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for selecting files by utilizing the storage apparatus of FIG. 5 with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
In step S201, the acquiring module 123 acquires the file list from the storage unit 13.
In step S202, the list presenting module 124 generates the list presenting signal according to the acquired file list.
In step S203, the host 3 presents the file list according to the list presenting signal, and generates a file selection signal according to the file selection operation on the presented file list.
In step S204, the executing module 125 receives the file selection signal, and reads a corresponding file from the storage unit 13 according to the file selection signal.
In step S205, the host executes the read file.
In step S206, the list control module 121 updates order of the file records of the file list according to the corresponding sort field in response to changes of the corresponding attributes.
Therefore, by utilizing the apparatus 1 or the apparatus 2, users can select files stored in the apparatus 1 and 2 in a certain sort order, and easily find a file that is, for example, with largest size, or with latest time of last accessed, and this brings convenience to the users.
Although the present invention has been specifically described on the basis of preferred embodiments and preferred methods thereof, the invention is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment and method without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Patent Application
20080033948
