US5758359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for performing retroactive backups in a computer system
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
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Filing: 1996-10-24
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Granted: 1998-05-26
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Expires: 2016-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism for performing retroactive backups in a computer system is presented. The retroactive backup mechanism employs a backup policy dictating that certain backups are to be performed at set times and for set backup levels, but subject to user-defined selection criteria so that the backups are of a retroactive nature. The selection criteria comprises a retroactive backup date upon which the scheduled backup is made effective. It is selected to correspond to the backup date of a previous backup or save set. Alternatively, the retroactive backup date upon which the scheduled backup is made effective is determined by controlling the amount of data to be backed up. Thus, the selection criteria comprises a maximum size threshold, selected by a user or system administrator as the amount of data that can be backed up in an allotted backup time. The retroactive backup copies to a new save set only data that has not been modified or deleted since the date indicated as the retroactive backup date.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul David Saxon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1446; G06F11/1458; G06F11/1461
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A method of retroactively backing up files in a computer system, comprising: establishing a backup schedule employing one or more backup levels having selection criteria associated therewith, the associated selection criteria operating to define a point through which the backup at the backup level with which the selection criteria is associated is to be taken; maintaining one or more save sets, each storing one or more files backed up in accordance with the backup schedule; associating attributes with each save set and each file stored therein; detecting that a backup is scheduled to occur; determining the established level of the scheduled backup; identifying any save sets created since a last lower level save set or last same level save set if the established level of the scheduled retroactive backup is the lowest level; reading the selection criteria associated with the established level of the scheduled backup; ascertaining which of the identified save sets has files eligible for backup by testing the attributes associated with the files against the selection criteria until the selection criteria is satisfied; backing up the eligible files, thereby creating a new save set at the scheduled backup level; and timestamping the new save set with a date corresponding to the backup date of the most recent one of the identified save sets having files eligible for backup.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
221 words
A method of retroactively backing up files in a computer system, comprising: establishing a backup schedule employing one or more backup levels having selection criteria associated therewith, the associated selection criteria operating to define a point through which the backup at the backup level with which the selection criteria is associated is to be taken; maintaining one or more save sets, each storing one or more files backed up in accordance with the backup schedule; associating attributes with each save set and each file stored therein; detecting that a backup is scheduled to occur; determining the established level of the scheduled backup; identifying any save sets created since a last lower level save set or last same level save set if the established level of the scheduled retroactive backup is the lowest level; reading the selection criteria associated with the established level of the scheduled backup; ascertaining which of the identified save sets has files eligible for backup by testing the attributes associated with the files against the selection criteria until the selection criteria is satisfied; backing up the eligible files, thereby creating a new save set at the scheduled backup level; and timestamping the new save set with a date corresponding to the backup date of the most recent one of the identified save sets having files eligible for backup.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein the selection criteria comprises a maximum size threshold, the maximum size threshold being the amount of data that may be backed up in an allotted backup period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
193 words
A method of retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system according to claim 2, wherein the step of ascertaining comprises: examining the attributes associated with the identified save sets and files stored therein; selecting, from each identified save set, files not subsequently modified or deleted; adding the sizes of the selected files to give a new save set size; computing a total size by adding together the new save set sizes; comparing the total size to the maximum size threshold; and if the total size exceeds the maximum size threshold, then repeatedly performing until the total size reaches the maximum size threshold the steps of: identifying a most recent save set from among the identified save sets; determining that there is a next most recent save set; eliminating the most recent save set by subtracting the new save set size of the most recent save set from the total size, thereby making the next most recent save set the most recent save set; and comparing the total size to the maximum size threshold; and whereby the selected files on any remaining ones of the identified save sets are eligible for backup.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein the selection criteria specifies a retroactive backup date corresponding to a date of a previous backup.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method of retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system according to claim 4, wherein the step of ascertaining comprises: examining the associated file attributes of the files in the identified save sets; identifying the one or more of the identified save sets created on or prior to the retroactive backup date; and selecting as eligible those files from each of the identified save sets that have not be subsequently modified or deleted.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
207 words
A method of retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system, comprising: establishing one or more backup levels, each backup level having an associated selection criteria for performing a backup at the backup level, the associated selection criteria specifying a retroactive backup date corresponding to a date of a previous backup; associating file attributes with each file; scheduling backups to be performed at the established backup levels; detecting that a backup is scheduled to occur; determining the established level of the scheduled backup; ascertaining which of the files are eligible for backup, the eligibility being defined by the established level of the scheduled backup and the retroactive backup date specified by the selection criteria; selecting for backup ones of the files having a date of last modification occurring between the date of a last backup having an established level lower than the established level of the scheduled backup or equal to the established level of the scheduled backup if the established level is the lowest established level and the specified retroactive backup date; creating a new save set at the established scheduled backup level, the new save set including copies of the selected files; and timestamping the new save set with the specified retroactive backup date.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
207 words
A method of retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system, comprising: establishing one or more backup levels, each backup level having an associated selection criteria for performing a backup at the backup level, the associated selection criteria specifying a retroactive backup date corresponding to a date of a previous backup; associating file attributes with each file; scheduling backups to be performed at the established backup levels; detecting that a backup is scheduled to occur; determining the established level of the scheduled backup; ascertaining which of the files are eligible for backup, the eligibility being defined by the established level of the scheduled backup and the retroactive backup date specified by the selection criteria; selecting for backup ones of the files having a date of last modification occurring between the date of a last backup having an established level lower than the established level of the scheduled backup or equal to the established level of the scheduled backup if the established level is the lowest established level and the specified retroactive backup date; creating a new save set at the established scheduled backup level, the new save set including copies of the selected files; and timestamping the new save set with the specified retroactive backup date.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system, comprising: a backup schedule employing one or more backup levels, each backup level having selection criteria associated therewith, the associated selection criteria operating to define a point through which the backup at the backup level with which the selection criteria is associated is taken; at least one save set, each save set storing one or more files backed up in accordance with the backup schedule, each save set and file having attributes associated therewith; means for detecting that a backup is scheduled to occur; means for determining the established level of the scheduled backup; means for identifying any save sets created since a last lower level save set or last same level save set if the established level of the scheduled backup is the lowest level; means for reading the selection criteria associated with the established level of the scheduled backup; means for ascertaining which of the identified save sets has files eligible for backup by testing the attributes associated with the files against the selection criteria; and means, responsive to the means for ascertaining, for backing up the eligible files, the means for backing up the eligible files thereby creating a new save set at the scheduled backup level, the new save set being timestamped with a date corresponding to the backup date of the most recent one of the identified save sets having files eligible for backup.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system, comprising: a backup schedule employing one or more backup levels, each backup level having selection criteria associated therewith, the associated selection criteria operating to define a point through which the backup at the backup level with which the selection criteria is associated is taken; at least one save set, each save set storing one or more files backed up in accordance with the backup schedule, each save set and file having attributes associated therewith; means for detecting that a backup is scheduled to occur; means for determining the established level of the scheduled backup; means for identifying any save sets created since a last lower level save set or last same level save set if the established level of the scheduled backup is the lowest level; means for reading the selection criteria associated with the established level of the scheduled backup; means for ascertaining which of the identified save sets has files eligible for backup by testing the attributes associated with the files against the selection criteria; and means, responsive to the means for ascertaining, for backing up the eligible files, the means for backing up the eligible files thereby creating a new save set at the scheduled backup level, the new save set being timestamped with a date corresponding to the backup date of the most recent one of the identified save sets having files eligible for backup.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system according to claim 7, wherein the selection criteria comprises a maximum size threshold, the maximum size threshold being the amount of data that may be backed up in an allotted backup period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
An apparatus for retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system according to claim 8, wherein the means for ascertaining comprises: means for examining the attributes associated with the identified save sets and files stored therein; means for selecting, from each identified save set, files not subsequently modified or deleted; means for adding the sizes of the selected files to give a new save set size; means for computing a total size by adding together the new save set sizes; means for comparing the total size to the maximum size threshold; and means for repeatedly performing until the total size reaches the maximum size threshold if the total size exceeds the maximum size threshold, the steps of: identifying a most recent save set from among the identified save sets; determining that there is a next most recent save set; eliminating the most recent save set by subtracting the new save set size of the most recent save set from the total size, thereby making the next most recent save set the most recent save set; and comparing the total size to the maximum size threshold; and whereby the selected files on any remaining ones of the identified save sets are eligible for backup.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system according to claim 7, wherein the selection criteria specifies a retroactive backup date corresponding to a date of a previous backup.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for retroactively backing up files stored in a computer system according to claim 10, wherein the means for ascertaining comprises: means for examining the associated file attributes of the files in the identified save sets; means for identifying the one or more of the identified save sets created on or prior to the retroactive backup date; and means for selecting as eligible those files from each of the identified save sets that have not be subsequently modified or deleted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-25 | 2001-11-24 | 2002-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-25 | 2005-11-24 | 2006-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-25 | 2009-11-24 | 2010-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |