US6463501B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method, system and program for maintaining data consistency among updates across groups of storage areas using update times
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1999-10-21
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Granted: 2002-10-08
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Expires: 2019-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A system, method, and program for maintaining data consistency among updates to data storage areas are provided. Each update has an update time the update was made. There are multiple groups of data storage areas. For each group, updates to the data storage area in the group are stored in a journal for storing updates to the group, wherein there are multiple journals. An indication is made in a memory area for each group of a group update time comprising a most recent update time of the updates in the group. The update time for each update in the group is not greater than the group update time. A determination is made of a minimum group update time across all the groups. At least one update is applied to storage if the update time for the update does not exceed the minimum group update time. The data storage areas may be partitioned among a plurality of computer systems, and may be maintained in at least one primary and secondary storage. The data storage areas may also comprise volumes, with each group including at least one volume. The groups of updates may also be maintained in a journal.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Maynard Kern
- 👤 Gregory Edward McBride
- 👤 David Michael Shackelford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F12/00; G06F12/16; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2053; G06F11/2056; G06F11/2082; G06F11/14; G06F11/1471; G06F11/2058; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/82; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for maintaining data consistency among updates to data storage areas, wherein each update has an update time the update was made, comprising: defining multiple groups of data storage areas; for each group, storing updates to the data storage area in the group in a journal for storing updates to the group, wherein there are multiple journals; for each group, indicating in a memory area a group update time of a most recent update time of the updates in the journal for the group, wherein the update time for each update in the group is not greater than the group update time; determining a minimum group update time across all the groups; and applying at least one update to storage from each journal if the update time for the update does not exceed the minimum group update time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for maintaining data consistency among updates to data storage areas, wherein each update has an update time the update was made, comprising: defining multiple groups of data storage areas; for each group, storing updates to the data storage area in the group in a journal for storing updates to the group, wherein there are multiple journals; for each group, indicating in a memory area a group update time of a most recent update time of the updates in the journal for the group, wherein the update time for each update in the group is not greater than the group update time; determining a minimum group update time across all the groups; and applying at least one update to storage from each journal if the update time for the update does not exceed the minimum group update time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the data storage areas are partitioned among a plurality of computer systems and wherein the groups are capable of defining updates to data storage areas across computer systems.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the data storage areas are maintained in at least one primary and secondary storage device and wherein applying the update comprises writing the update to the data storage area in the secondary storage device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving one update to one data storage area in one group; and setting the most recent update time for the group including the received update to the update time for the received update.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: storing received updates in a storage device, wherein applying the updates comprises writing the updates from the storage device to a storage system; and during data recovery, applying updates in the storage device to the storage system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining for one group a point-in-time as of which no updates have been received for the storage areas within the group; and setting the most recent update time for the one group to the determined point-in-time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the data storage areas comprise volumes, and wherein each group includes at least one volume.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein one data mover program is associated with each group, wherein, for each group, the data mover program stores the updates in the journal for the group and indicates in the memory area the group update time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the updates to the journal in each group are arranged in at least one consistency group such that the consistency group includes dependent updates and the updates from which the dependent updates depend as of a consistency time, and wherein consistency groups are formed in each journal independently of the consistency groups in the other journals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising applying all the updates in groups to storage if the update time of the update is less than the minimum group update time, wherein after applying the updates to storage, the data in the storage is consistent as of the minimum group update time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein updates in the journal for each group are defined into at least one consistency group having a consistency time, further comprising: selecting one consistency group within the journal for each selected group; determining whether the consistency time of the selected consistency group is less than the minimum group update time; and applying all the updates in the selected consistency group to storage if the consistency time of the selected consistency group is less than the minimum group update time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising reconsidering whether the consistency time of the selected consistency group is less than a current minimum group update time after a predetermined period of time if the consistency time is greater than the minimum group update time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein updates in the journal for each group are defined into at least one consistency group having a consistency time, wherein consistency groups are formed in each journal independently of the consistency groups in the other journals, further comprising applying updates in consistency groups to storage if the update time of the update is less than the minimum group update time, wherein after applying the updates to storage, the data in the storage is consistent as of the minimum group update time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the updates in the consistency group are applied to storage during a data recovery operation, whereby not all of the updates in one consistency group will be applied to the secondary storage if the update time of at least one update in the consistency group is greater than the minimum group update time.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for maintaining data consistency, comprising: data storage areas; updates to the data storage areas, wherein each update has an update time the update was made; a plurality of journals, wherein there is one journal for each group; means for storing updates for each group to the data storage area in the group in the journal for storing updates to the group, wherein there are multiple journals; means for defining multiple groups of data storage areas; means for indicating in a memory area a group update time of a most recent update time of the updates in the journal for one group, wherein the update time for each update in the group is not greater than the group update time; means for determining a minimum group update time across all the groups; and means for applying at least one update to storage from each journal if the update time for the update does not exceed the minimum group update time.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for maintaining data consistency, comprising: data storage areas; updates to the data storage areas, wherein each update has an update time the update was made; a plurality of journals, wherein there is one journal for each group; means for storing updates for each group to the data storage area in the group in the journal for storing updates to the group, wherein there are multiple journals; means for defining multiple groups of data storage areas; means for indicating in a memory area a group update time of a most recent update time of the updates in the journal for one group, wherein the update time for each update in the group is not greater than the group update time; means for determining a minimum group update time across all the groups; and means for applying at least one update to storage from each journal if the update time for the update does not exceed the minimum group update time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the data storage areas are partitioned among a plurality of computer systems and wherein the groups are capable of defining data storage areas across computer systems.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the data storage areas are maintained in at least one primary and secondary storage device and wherein the means for applying the update comprises writing the update to the data storage area in the secondary storage device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 15 , further comprising: means for receiving one update to one data storage area in one group; and means for setting the most recent update time for the group including the received update to the update time for the received update.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 15 , further comprising: means for storing received updates in a storage device, wherein the means for applying the updates comprises writing the updates from the storage device to a storage system; and means for applying updates in the storage device co the storage system during data recovery.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 15 , further comprising: means for determining for one group a point-in-time as of which no updates have been received for the storage areas within the group; and means for setting the most recent update time for the one group to the determined point-in-time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the data storage areas comprise volumes, and wherein each group includes at least one volume.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 15 , further comprising: a plurality of data mover programs, wherein one data mover is associated with each group, and wherein the data mover for each group stores the updates in the journal for the group and indicates in the memory area the group update time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the updates to the journal in each group are arranged in at least one consistency group such that the consistency group includes dependent updates and the updates from which the dependent updates depend as of a consistency time, and wherein consistency groups are formed in each journal independently of the consistency groups in the other journals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein the means for applying at least one update further performs applying all the updates in groups to storage if the update time of the update is less than the minimum group update time, wherein after applying the updates to storage, the data in the storage is consistent as of the minimum group update time.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
100 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein updates in the journal for each group are defined into at least one consistency group having a consistency time, further comprising: means for selecting one consistency group within the journal for each selected group; means for determining whether the consistency time of the selected consistency group is less than the minimum group update time, wherein the means for applying at least one update further performs applying all the updates in the selected consistency group to storage if the consistency time of the selected consistency group is less than the minimum group update time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 25 , further comprising means for reconsidering whether the consistency time of the selected consistency group is less than a current minimum group update time after a predetermined period of time if the consistency time is greater than the minimum group update time.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
97 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein updates in the journal for each group are defined into at least one consistency group having a consistency time, wherein consistency groups are formed in each journal independently of the consistency groups in the other journals, wherein the means for applying at least one update further performs applying updates in consistency groups to storage if the update time of the update is less than the minimum group update time, wherein after applying the updates to storage, the data in the storage is consistent as of the minimum group update time.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the updates in the consistency group are applied to storage during a data recovery operation, whereby not all of the updates in one consistency group will be applied to the secondary storage if the update time of at least one update in the consistency group is greater than the minimum group update time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
166 words
An article of manufacture for use in maintaining data consistency among updates to data storage areas, wherein each update has an update time the update was made, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including at least one computer program embedded therein capable of causing a processor to perform: defining multiple groups of data storage areas; for each group, storing updates to the data storage area in the group in a journal for storing updates to the group, wherein there are multiple journals; for each group, indicating in a memory area a group update time of a most recent update time of the updates in the journal for the group, wherein the update time for each update in the group is not greater than the group update time; determining a minimum group update time across all the groups; and applying at least one update to storage from each journal if the update time for the update does not exceed the minimum group update time.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
166 words
An article of manufacture for use in maintaining data consistency among updates to data storage areas, wherein each update has an update time the update was made, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including at least one computer program embedded therein capable of causing a processor to perform: defining multiple groups of data storage areas; for each group, storing updates to the data storage area in the group in a journal for storing updates to the group, wherein there are multiple journals; for each group, indicating in a memory area a group update time of a most recent update time of the updates in the journal for the group, wherein the update time for each update in the group is not greater than the group update time; determining a minimum group update time across all the groups; and applying at least one update to storage from each journal if the update time for the update does not exceed the minimum group update time.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , wherein the data storage areas are partitioned among a plurality of computer systems and wherein the groups are capable of defining updates to data storage areas across computer systems.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , wherein the data storage areas are maintained in at least one primary and secondary storage device and wherein applying the update comprises writing the update to the data storage area in the secondary storage device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , further comprising: receiving one update to one data storage area in one group; and setting the most recent update time for the group including the received update to the update time for the received update.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
47 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , further comprising: storing received updates in a storage device, wherein applying the updates comprises writing the updates from the storage device to a storage system; and during data recovery, applying updates in the storage device to the storage system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
46 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , further comprising: determining for one group a point-in-time as of which no updates have been received for the storage areas within the group; and setting the most recent update time for the one group to the determined point-in-time.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , wherein the data storage areas comprise volumes, and wherein each group includes at least one volume.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
51 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , wherein the at least one computer program comprises one data mover program associated with each group, wherein, for each group, the data mover program stores the updates in the journal for the group and indicates in the memory area the group update time.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
65 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , wherein the updates to the journal in each group are arranged in at least one consistency group such that the consistency group includes dependent updates and the updates from which the dependent updates depend as of a consistency time, and wherein consistency groups are formed in each journal independently of the consistency groups in the other journals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
54 words
The article of manufacture of claim 37 , further comprising applying all the updates in groups to storage if the update time of the update is less than the minimum group update time, wherein after applying the updates to storage, the data in the storage is consistent as of the minimum group update time.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
88 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , wherein updates in the journal for each group are defined into at least one consistency group having a consistency time, further comprising: selecting one consistency group within the journal for each selected group; determining whether the consistency time of the selected consistency group is less than the minimum group update time; and applying all the updates in the selected consistency group to storage if the consistency time of the selected consistency group is less than the minimum group update time.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
47 words
The article of manufacture of claim 39 , further comprising reconsidering whether the consistency time of the selected consistency group is less than a current minimum group update time after a predetermined period of time if the consistency time is greater than the minimum group update time.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
90 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , wherein updates in the journal for each group are defined into at least one consistency group having a consistency time, wherein consistency groups are formed in each journal independently of the consistency groups in the other journals, further comprising applying updates in consistency groups to storage if the update time of the update is less than the minimum group update time, wherein after applying the updates to storage, the data in the storage is consistent as of the minimum group update time.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
62 words
The article of manufacture of claim 41 , wherein the updates in the consistency group are applied to storage during a data recovery operation, whereby not all of the updates in one consistency group will be applied to the secondary storage if the update time of at least one update in the consistency group is greater than the minimum group update time.
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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) | 2005-10-07 | 2006-04-08 | 2006-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-07 | 2010-04-08 | 2010-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-07 | 2014-04-08 | 2014-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |