US6484186B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for backing up consistent versions of open files
Assignee: Micro Focus Software Inc
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Filing: 2000-02-15
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Granted: 2002-11-19
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Expires: 2020-02-15
Abstract
Abstract Whenever a file is opened for writing, a snapshot of the file is created. The snapshot includes a copy of the file's metadata. A snapshot file map is initialized, pointing nowhere. A bitmap of the blocks in the file map is initialized. As new data are written to a block in the file, the original contents of the block are copied to a duplicate block. The bitmap is updated to indicate that the contents of the block have changed. The snapshot file map is updated to point to the duplicate block, and the new data are written to the original block. To archive the file, the file system uses the bitmap to identify which blocks have changed since the file was opened. Unchanged blocks are read through the original file map, and changed blocks are read through the snapshot file map. Finally, when the file is closed and the archive operation is complete, the bitmap and the resources used by the snapshot are returned to the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Vandana S. Rungta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1446; G06F11/1458; G06F11/1466; G06F16/00; G06F16/10; G06F16/11; G06F16/128; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/84; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99954
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for backing up a consistent version of an open file on a computer system, wherein the open file includes one or more blocks of data and metadata on a disk, and the metadata includes a file map specifying an order for the blocks of data, the method comprising: creating a snapshot of the open file on the disk; archiving the open file according to the snapshot; and releasing the snapshot of the open file.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for backing up a consistent version of an open file on a computer system, wherein the open file includes one or more blocks of data and metadata on a disk, and the metadata includes a file map specifying an order for the blocks of data, the method comprising: creating a snapshot of the open file on the disk; archiving the open file according to the snapshot; and releasing the snapshot of the open file.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein creating a snapshot includes duplicating in memory the metadata of the open file.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein duplicating in memory the metadata of the open file includes initializing a blank duplicate file map.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein duplicating in memory the metadata of the open file includes initializing a bitmap to identify blocks that have changed since the open file was opened.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein creating a snapshot includes updating the file map of the open file as new data are written to a first block of the open file.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein updating the file map includes: updating a bitmap to identify the first block as having changed; copying the first block of the open file to a duplicate first block before new data are written to the first block of the open file; updating a file map of the snapshot to point to the duplicate first block; and writing the new data to the first block of the open file.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein creating a snapshot includes creating the snapshot of the open file as the file is opened.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein archiving the open file includes: accessing a bitmap to determine if any block has changed; reading the unchanged blocks pointed to by the file map; reading the changed blocks pointed to by a file map in the snapshot; and archiving the blocks in the order indicated by the file map.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein releasing the snapshot includes releasing a bitmap and any memory and blocks used by the snapshot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer-readable medium storing a computer program for backing up a consistent version of an open file on a computer system, wherein the open file includes one or more blocks of data and metadata on a disk, and the metadata includes a file map specifying an order for the blocks of data, the program comprising: snapshot-creation software to create a snapshot of the open file on the disk; archiving software to archive the open file according to the snapshot; and release software to release the snapshot of the open file.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer-readable medium storing a computer program for backing up a consistent version of an open file on a computer system, wherein the open file includes one or more blocks of data and metadata on a disk, and the metadata includes a file map specifying an order for the blocks of data, the program comprising: snapshot-creation software to create a snapshot of the open file on the disk; archiving software to archive the open file according to the snapshot; and release software to release the snapshot of the open file.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer-readable medium storing a computer program according to claim 10 wherein the snapshot-creation software to create a snapshot includes metadata-duplication software to duplicate in memory the metadata of the open file.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer-readable medium storing a computer program according to claim 10 wherein the snapshot-creation software to create a snapshot includes file map-updating software to update the file map of the open file as new data are written to a first block of the open file.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
A computer-readable medium storing a computer program according to claim 12 wherein the file map-updating software to update the file map includes: bitmap-updating software to update a bitmap to identify the first block as having changed; block-copying software to copy the first block of the open file to a duplicate first block before new data are written to the first block of the open file; file map-updating software to update a file map of the snapshot to point to the duplicated first block; and block-writing software to write the new data to the first block of the open file.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
A computer-readable medium storing a computer program according to claim 10 wherein the archiving software includes: bitmap-access software to access a bitmap to determine if any block has changed; first reading software to read the unchanged blocks pointed to by the file map; second reading software to read the changed blocks pointed to by a file map in the snapshot; and archiving software to archive the blocks in the order indicated by the file map using an archive tool.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for backing up a consistent version of an open file on a computer system, the system comprising: a computer, the computer including a file storage; a file, the file including one or more blocks of data stored in the file storage of the computer and a file map specifying a logical order of the blocks of data comprising the file; and a snapshot, the snapshot including a snapshot file map locating copies of blocks of data comprising the file before the blocks of data were changed.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for backing up a consistent version of an open file on a computer system, the system comprising: a computer, the computer including a file storage; a file, the file including one or more blocks of data stored in the file storage of the computer and a file map specifying a logical order of the blocks of data comprising the file; and a snapshot, the snapshot including a snapshot file map locating copies of blocks of data comprising the file before the blocks of data were changed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 15 , the system further comprising a bitmap identifying which blocks of data comprising the file have changed since the file was last in a consistent state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 16 , the system further comprising an archive tool archiving the file according to the snapshot and the bitmap.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 15 , the system further comprising the copies of blocks of data before the blocks of data were changed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein: the file further includes metadata about the file; and the snapshot further includes snapshot metadata copying the metadata of the file when the file was last in a consistent state.
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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) | 2005-11-18 | 2006-05-20 | 2006-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-18 | 2010-05-20 | 2010-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-18 | 2014-05-20 | 2014-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |