US6397308B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for differential backup and restoration of data in a computer storage system
Assignee: EMC Corp
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Filing: 1998-12-31
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Granted: 2002-05-28
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Expires: 2018-12-31
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for generating partial backups of logical objects in a computer storage system are disclosed. Changed data blocks are identified and stored as differential abstract block sets. The differential abstract block set may include data blocks in any order and metadata identifying the relative position of the data block in the logical object. The invention includes methods for formatting updated backups using the differential backups.
Inventors
- 👤 Yuval Ofek
- 👤 Zoran Cakeljic
- 👤 Mathieu Gagne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1446; G06F11/1448; G06F11/1451; G06F11/1458; G06F11/1464; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953; Y10S707/99955
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of generating a backup for a logical object, comprising steps of: identifying data blocks of the logical object that have changed since an earlier point in time; and storing the changed data blocks as a differential abstract block set.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of generating a backup for a logical object, comprising steps of: identifying data blocks of the logical object that have changed since an earlier point in time; and storing the changed data blocks as a differential abstract block set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of tracking whether a data block may have changed since the earlier point in time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of storing comprises steps of: storing the changed data blocks; and storing metadata including information sufficient to distinguish the location in the logical object of the changed data blocks of the differential abstract block set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the changed data blocks and the metadata are stored on the same media.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the changed data blocks are stored on one or more tapes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the metadata comprises a plurality of labels, each label associated with one or more of the data blocks and a table associating the labels with a relative position in the logical object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the metadata comprises physical memory addresses corresponding to the location in a primary storage device of logical data blocks of the logical object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the metadata comprises a physical address associated with an extent of physical data blocks storing the logical data blocks, and a table specifying the relative position of the extents in the logical object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of storing comprises a step of storing segments of data blocks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the segments correspond to tracks of a disk in a primary storage device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the segments includes a data block that is not included in the logical object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A storage device comprising: a memory; means for identifying data blocks of a logical object stored in the memory that have changed since an earlier point in time; and means for transmitting a differential abstract block set from the memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A storage device comprising: a memory; means for identifying data blocks of a logical object stored in the memory that have changed since an earlier point in time; and means for transmitting a differential abstract block set from the memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The storage device of claim 12 , wherein the memory comprises a cached disk array.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The storage device of claim 12 , wherein the means for identifying comprises a bit associated with storage segments of the memory.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of forming an updated abstract block set, the method comprising steps of: providing a full abstract block set; providing a first differential abstract block set; and combining the full abstract block set and the first differential abstract block set.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of forming an updated abstract block set, the method comprising steps of: providing a full abstract block set; providing a first differential abstract block set; and combining the full abstract block set and the first differential abstract block set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the first differential abstract block set comprises a plurality of changed data blocks and metadata associated with the changed data blocks; and the step of combining comprises steps of adding the changed data blocks to the full abstract block set, and adding the metadata to the full abstract block set.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of combining further comprises a step of removing data blocks from the full abstract block set which correspond to changed data blocks of the first differential abstract block set.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of combining further comprises a step of combining the metadata of the first differential abstract block set with metadata for the full abstract block set.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15 , further comprising a step of providing a second differential abstract block set; and wherein the step of combining comprises a step of combining the full abstract block set, the first differential abstract block set, and the second differential abstract block set.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of forming an updated backup of a logical object, the method comprising steps of: providing a first backup of the logical object; providing a first differential backup of the logical object, the first differential backup including a plurality of backup data blocks that have changed since the first backup was formed; adding the backup data blocks to the first backup; and adding metadata identifying an order of data blocks in the updated backup.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of forming an updated backup of a logical object, the method comprising steps of: providing a first backup of the logical object; providing a first differential backup of the logical object, the first differential backup including a plurality of backup data blocks that have changed since the first backup was formed; adding the backup data blocks to the first backup; and adding metadata identifying an order of data blocks in the updated backup.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the first backup is an abstract block set for the logical object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the first backup is a second differential abstract block set for the logical object.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A secondary storage device, comprising: a secondary storage media; and a controller programmed to combine a first backup and a differential abstract block set to form a full abstract block set.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A secondary storage device, comprising: a secondary storage media; and a controller programmed to combine a first backup and a differential abstract block set to form a full abstract block set.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 23 , wherein the first backup and a differential abstract block set are stored on the secondary storage media.
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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) | 2005-05-27 | 2005-11-26 | 2006-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-05-27 | 2009-11-26 | 2010-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-05-27 | 2013-11-26 | 2014-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |