Read-only storage device having network interface, a system including the device and a method of distributing files over a network

A storage device comprising:

• a storage means;
• a computer interface;
• a network interface;
• and
• a device processor communicably connected to each of the storage means, the computer interface, and the device interface, the computer interface communicably coupling the device processor to a computer processor, and the device processor being configured to:
• communicate over a network through the network interface only with one or more predetermined servers;
• receive a file request from the computer processor, the computer processor configured to direct the file request to the storage device and to make the file request for the computer processor to access a first file from the storage means;
• if the first file is not stored on the storage means, retrieve the first file from a first of the one or more predetermined servers and store the first file on the storage means;
• and
• provide the first file to the computer processor.

A computer network comprising:

• one or more first servers communicably coupled to a network;
• a computing device including a computer processor;
• a storage device comprising:
• a device processor communicably coupled to the computer processor through the interface bus;
• storage means communicably coupled to the device processor;
• and
• a first network interface communicably coupling the device processor to the network;
• wherein the device processor is configured to:
• communicate through the first network interface only with the one or more first servers, the one or more first servers being predetermined;
• receive a file request from the computer processor, the computer processor configured to direct the file request to the storage device and to make the file request for the computer processor to access a first file from the storage means;
• if the first file is not stored on the storage means, retrieve the first file from a first of the one or more predetermined servers and store the first file on the storage means;
• and
• provide the first file to the computer.

A computing device comprising:

• a computer processor disposed internal to the computing device;
• an interface bus communicably coupled to the computer processor, the interface bus being disposed internal to the computing device and enabling communication between components internal to the computing device;
• and
• a storage device disposed internal to the computing device, the storage device comprising:
• a device processor communicably coupled to the computer processor through the interface bus;
• storage means communicably coupled to the device processor;
• and
• a first network interface communicably coupling the device processor to a network;
• wherein the device processor is configured to:
• communicate through the first network interface only with one or more predetermined servers;
• receive a file request from the computer processor, the computer processor configured to direct the file request to the storage device and to make the file request for the computer processor to access a first file from the storage means;
• if the first file is not stored on the storage means, retrieve the first file from a first of the one or more predetermined servers and store the first file on the storage means;
• and
• provide the first file to the computer on a read-only basis.

A computing device comprising:

• a computer processor;
• an interface bus communicably coupled to the computer processor;
• and
• a storage device comprising:
• a device processor communicably coupled to the computer processor through the interface bus;
• storage means communicably coupled to the device processor;
• and
• a first network interface communicably coupling the device processor to a network;
• wherein the device processor is configured to:
• communicate through the first network interface only with one or more predetermined servers;
• receive a file request from the computer processor, the computer processor configured to direct the file request to the device processor and to make the file request for the computer processor to access a first file from the storage means;
• if the first file is not stored on the storage means, retrieve the first file from a first of the one or more predetermined servers and store the first file on the storage means;
• and
• provide the first file to the computer on a read-only basis.