Abstract: The embodiments provide an external drive that is configured to coordinate with an online data backup service and having a visual or an audiovisual indication of the status and progress of the backup. In particular, upon the user's request or as an automatic function, the external drive backs up its contents to a backup storage. In some embodiments, the backup storage is provided by an online backup service remotely via a network, such as the Internet. The external drive comprises a visual or an audiovisual indicator, such as one or more indicator lights, that provide a status of the backup. The various stages of the backup process may be indicated, for example, by changes in the color of the indicator lights, flashing patterns, or any combination of these indication signals.

Abstract: A method of operating a peripheral data storage system(PDSS) for use with a host system configured to perform scheduled backup operations to PDSS comprising a user-actuated backup signaling subsystem(UBSS), a user-notifying device comprising first and second notifying states, and a host interface adapted for communication with the host system. The method comprises receiving a first signal from UBSS; communicating first signal to host system via host interface; receiving an acknowledgement signal from host system in response to communicating; and switching user-notifying device between first notifying state and second notifying state in response to received acknowledgement signal. Another method comprises receiving in host system a first request from PDSS for performing a task corresponding to a host-scheduled backup operation for a scheduled backing up of data to PDSS; completing the task by host system based on received first request; and notifying PDSS of completion of the task by host system.