US5638509A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data storage and protection system
Assignee: Exabyte Corp
•
Filing: 1996-06-13
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Granted: 1997-06-10
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Expires: 2016-06-13
Abstract
Abstract The data storage and protection apparatus maintains an index of all data file activity on a computer system and stores copies of data files in a manner to enable a user to recreate the state of the computer system at any selected point in time. A data file monitor intercepts all communication between application programs and the file system to obtain data file status and activity information. This information is used to identify data files which are transmitted to a data file backup media for storage along with directory information that identifies the stored files to enable the system to later locate and retrieve data files that were stored on the backup media.
Inventors
- 👤 William E. Dunphy
- 👤 Steven M. Halladay
- 👤 Michael E. Moy
- 👤 Frederick G. Munro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1446; G06F11/1458; G06F11/30; G06F11/34; G06F11/3466
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A data storage and protection apparatus for safeguarding integrity of data files stored in a memory of a computer system, comprising: means for acquiring data indicative of data file activity on said computer system; means, responsive to said acquired data file activity data, for generating data indicative of data files that have been changed by said data file activity; means for retrieving only selected data files in their entirety, identified by said generated data and user-input data file backup identification data, that have been changed by said data file activity from said memory; and means for storing said retrieved data files in their entirety, exclusive of other data files stored in said memory, on a backup media to produce a time ordered sequence on said backup media of every version of said selected data files.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A data storage and protection apparatus for safeguarding integrity of data files stored in a memory of a computer system, comprising: means for acquiring data indicative of data file activity on said computer system; means, responsive to said acquired data file activity data, for generating data indicative of data files that have been changed by said data file activity; means for retrieving only selected data files in their entirety, identified by said generated data and user-input data file backup identification data, that have been changed by said data file activity from said memory; and means for storing said retrieved data files in their entirety, exclusive of other data files stored in said memory, on a backup media to produce a time ordered sequence on said backup media of every version of said selected data files.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said acquiring means comprises: means, interposed between application programs resident on said computer system and a file system maintained by said computer system, for intercepting communications between said application programs and said file system; and means for extracting data from said communications indicative of data file activity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said acquiring means further comprises: means for passing said intercepted communications to their original destination.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said generating means comprises: means for storing data indicative of data files that have been changed by said data file activity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said data file change data generating means further comprises: means for storing data indicative of type of change made to said data files that have been changed by said data file activity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said generating means further comprises: means for storing data indicative of temporal nature of a change made to said data files that have been changed by said data file activity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said generating means further comprises: means for creating a directory of data files that are to be written to said backup media.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said storing means comprises: means for writing each said data files listed in said directory on said backup media; and means for writing said directory on said backup media upon completion of writing said data files listed in said directory on said backup media.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said generating means further comprises: means for storing in memory a data file in its entirety in response to a user changing said data file.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said retrieving means comprises: means, responsive to said storing means storing a changed data file, for retrieving said stored data file from said memory; and means for transmitting said retrieved data file to said storing means for writing on said backup media.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a user requests access to said changed data file, said apparatus further comprises: means for retrieving said changed data file from said backup media.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means, responsive to a user requesting a specific temporal version of a data file, for recalling said requested data file from said backup media.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said recalling means comprises: means for reading said directory stored on said backup media to identify a location on said backup media wherein said requested data file is stored; and means for automatically reading said requested data file from said identified location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means, responsive to a user requesting a specific temporal version of said computer system memory, for recalling all data files extant on said computer system memory at a point in time identified by said user from said backup media.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said recalling means comprises: means for reading said directory stored on said backup media to identify a location on said backup media wherein each of said extant data files is stored; and means for automatically reading all said extant data files from said identified locations.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for safeguarding integrity of data files stored in a memory of a computer system, comprising the steps of: acquiring data indicative of data file activity on said computer system; generating, in response to said acquired data, data indicative of data files that have been changed by said data file activity; retrieving only selected data files in their entirety, identified by said generated data and user-input data file backup identification data, that have been changed by said data file activity from said memory and storing said retrieved data files in their entirety, exclusive of other data files stored in said memory, on a backup media to produce a time ordered sequence on said backup media of every version of said selected data files.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for safeguarding integrity of data files stored in a memory of a computer system, comprising the steps of: acquiring data indicative of data file activity on said computer system; generating, in response to said acquired data, data indicative of data files that have been changed by said data file activity; retrieving only selected data files in their entirety, identified by said generated data and user-input data file backup identification data, that have been changed by said data file activity from said memory and storing said retrieved data files in their entirety, exclusive of other data files stored in said memory, on a backup media to produce a time ordered sequence on said backup media of every version of said selected data files.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said step of acquiring comprises: intercepting communications between application programs resident on said computer system and a file system maintained by said computer system; and extracting data from said intercepted communications indicative of data file activity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said step of acquiring further comprises: passing said intercepted communications to their original destination.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said step of generating comprises: storing data indicative of data files that have been changed by said data file activity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said step of generating comprises: storing data indicative of type of change made to said data files that have been changed by said data file activity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said step of generating further comprises: storing data indicative of temporal nature of a change made to said data files that have been changed by said data file activity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said step of generating further comprises: creating a directory of data files that are to be written to said backup media.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said step of storing comprises: writing each said data files listed in said directory on said backup media; and writing said directory on said backup media upon completion of writing said data files listed in said directory on said backup media.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said step of generating further comprises: storing in a memory a data file in its entirety in response to a user changing said data file.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said step of retrieving comprises: retrieving, in response to said storing means storing a changed data file, said stored data file from said memory; and transmitting said retrieved data file for writing on said backup media.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 25 wherein a user requests access to said changed data file, said method further comprises the step of: retrieving said changed data file from said backup media.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: recalling, in response to a user requesting a specific temporal version of a data file, said requested data file from said backup media.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said step of recalling comprises: reading said directory stored on said backup media to identify a location on said backup media wherein said requested data file is stored; and automatically reading said requested data file from said identified location.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: recalling, in response to a user requesting a specific temporal version of said computer system memory, all data files extant on said computer system memory at a point in time identified by said user from said backup media.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said step of recalling comprises: reading said directory stored on said backup media to identify a location on said backup media wherein each of said extant data files is stored; and automatically reading all said extant data files from said identified locations.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
164 words
A tracking and preservation system installed on-board a computer for tracking and preserving the file system of a computer, the file tracking and preservation system comprising: a data file monitor which monitors communications affecting the data file system of the computer transmitted between an applications program executed by the computer and an operating system of the computer; an event log file maintained in a memory of the computer and in which the monitor creates an entry for a change in the file system of the computer; a database which reads the event log to determine what data files have been changed since execution of a last back-up operation; an extended file system wherein is stored temporally oriented versions of data files requiring back-up and a history log thereof; a driver which interfaces with a back-up media-handling device; a spine system which transmits one or more versions of selected data files in the extended file system to the driver when a back-up operation is requested.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
164 words
A tracking and preservation system installed on-board a computer for tracking and preserving the file system of a computer, the file tracking and preservation system comprising: a data file monitor which monitors communications affecting the data file system of the computer transmitted between an applications program executed by the computer and an operating system of the computer; an event log file maintained in a memory of the computer and in which the monitor creates an entry for a change in the file system of the computer; a database which reads the event log to determine what data files have been changed since execution of a last back-up operation; an extended file system wherein is stored temporally oriented versions of data files requiring back-up and a history log thereof; a driver which interfaces with a back-up media-handling device; a spine system which transmits one or more versions of selected data files in the extended file system to the driver when a back-up operation is requested.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 31, further comprising a stash can memory for temporarily storing data files deleted from the extended file system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 32, wherein the back-up operation is requested upon contents of the stash can memory reaching a predetermined level.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 31, wherein an oldest section of the history log of the extended file system is also transmitted by the spine system to the driver.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 31, further comprising a graphical interface which allows a user to view contents of at least a portion of the history log of the extended data file.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 31, wherein the graphical interface generates a display of the contents of at least a portion of the history log of the extended data file, the display including a depiction of note cards corresponding to versions of a selected data file.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 36, wherein the note cards are depicted in the display generated by the graphical interface as being in a predetermined order.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 36, wherein the note cards are depicted in the display generated by the graphical interface as including a graphical marker indicative of one of the following states: created, modified, deleted, restored.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 31, wherein the database has sufficient information from which a set of back-up media can be determined relative to a selected data file which is to be restored.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-09 | 2000-12-09 | 2001-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-09 | 2004-12-09 | 2005-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-09 | 2008-12-09 | 2009-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |