US6496949B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Emergency backup system, method and program product therefor
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1999-08-06
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Granted: 2002-12-17
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Expires: 2019-08-06
Abstract
Abstract An emergency backup system, method and computer program product for backing up data on one or more computers located in an identified danger zone. When an emergency occurs, computers in the danger zone are connected to a network. The computers may be distributed at various remote locations. The protected locations each include a sensor for sensing an emergency situation and signaling the local computer of an impending emergency. The sensor also signals remote computers of the occurrence of the emergency. The computers may have been connected together over a network or, upon receiving an emergency signal, may connect together into a backup network. Local computers in the danger zone are connected across the network to remote computers with sufficient available storage to backup data from a connected local computer. The backup may be a full backup, a partial backup or a selective backup. The computers may include PCs, PDAs and servers. The network may be a LAN, a wireless network, a phone network or a WAN.
Inventors
- 👤 Dimitri Kanevsky
- 👤 Wlodek Zadrozny
- 👤 Alexander Zlatsin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1446; G06F11/1458; G06F11/1461; G06F11/1456; G06F11/1464; G06F11/1469
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An emergency backup system for backing up data on one or more computers located in an identified danger zone, said backup system comprising: a network of computers at distributed locations; at least one sensor at one or more of said locations coupled to at least one local computer connected to said network, said sensor sensing the occurrence of an emergency and transmitting an emergency signal in response to said sensed emergency; and at least one receiver at a remote location coupled to a remote computer connected to said network, said receiver receiving said emergency signal, said remote computer having sufficient available storage to store selected data from said local computer, said local computer transferring data to said remote computer further in response to said emergency signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An emergency backup system for backing up data on one or more computers located in an identified danger zone, said backup system comprising: a network of computers at distributed locations; at least one sensor at one or more of said locations coupled to at least one local computer connected to said network, said sensor sensing the occurrence of an emergency and transmitting an emergency signal in response to said sensed emergency; and at least one receiver at a remote location coupled to a remote computer connected to said network, said receiver receiving said emergency signal, said remote computer having sufficient available storage to store selected data from said local computer, said local computer transferring data to said remote computer further in response to said emergency signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 1 , wherein each said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of fire detectors,earthquake detectors, water sensors, air pressure sensors, pressure sensors, smell sensors and heat sensors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 1 , wherein the transmitted emergency signal is selected from the group consisting of a fire alarm, an earthquake alarm, a flood alarm and a volcano alarm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 1 , wherein all data stored on said local computer is transferred to said remote computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 1 , wherein all data determined to have changed since a last backup is transferred to said remote computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 1 , wherein said network is a backup network, said computers being connected together upon receiving said emergency signal to form said backup network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 6 , wherein said network of computers includes a mainframe computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 6 , wherein said network of computers includes a handheld computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 6 , wherein said network of computers includes a network server.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 6 wherein said network of computers includes one or more personal computers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 10 , wherein at least one of said personal computers includes local storage for backing up data locally on said at least one personal computer in response to said emergency signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
147 words
A emergency backup system for backing up data on one or more computers located in an identified danger zone, said backup system comprising: means for coupling a plurality of computers together, each of said plurality of computers being located at one of two or more locations; sensing means at one or more of said locations coupled to at least one local computer, said sensing means for sensing an emergency and transmitting an emergency signal in response to said sensed emergency; receiving means for receiving said emergency signal at a remote location, said receiving means coupled to a remote computer; data storage means for storing backup data at said remote computer; data selection means for selecting data being stored at said local computer by said data storage means; and means for transferring selected data to said remote computer from said local computer in response to said emergency signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
147 words
A emergency backup system for backing up data on one or more computers located in an identified danger zone, said backup system comprising: means for coupling a plurality of computers together, each of said plurality of computers being located at one of two or more locations; sensing means at one or more of said locations coupled to at least one local computer, said sensing means for sensing an emergency and transmitting an emergency signal in response to said sensed emergency; receiving means for receiving said emergency signal at a remote location, said receiving means coupled to a remote computer; data storage means for storing backup data at said remote computer; data selection means for selecting data being stored at said local computer by said data storage means; and means for transferring selected data to said remote computer from said local computer in response to said emergency signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 12 , wherein the means for coupling the plurality of computers together comprises means for forming a wireless network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 12 , wherein the means for coupling the plurality of computers together connects the computers together to form a local area network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 12 , wherein the data selection means comprises prioritization means for prioritizing data for backup.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 15 , wherein the prioritization means prioritizes data according to data sensitivity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 15 , further comprising: means for establishing an emergency data backup protocol.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 17 , wherein the emergency data backup protocol comprises: a schedule for device to channel connection; a capacity schedule of each connected channel; and a destination computer for data being backed up.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 17 , further comprising: encryption means for encrypting sensitive data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An emergency backup system as in claim 19 , wherein the encryption means includes means for estimating a time to encrypt data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
84 words
A disaster recovery method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting an emergency signal in response to an identified danger; b) for each device within an identified danger zone, establishing a connection with at least one other device not within said danger zone; c) transferring data from said each device in said identified danger zone to said at least one other device, said data being stored temporarily at said other device for subsequent recovery; d) encrypting identified secured data; and e) copying said encrypted data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
84 words
A disaster recovery method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting an emergency signal in response to an identified danger; b) for each device within an identified danger zone, establishing a connection with at least one other device not within said danger zone; c) transferring data from said each device in said identified danger zone to said at least one other device, said data being stored temporarily at said other device for subsequent recovery; d) encrypting identified secured data; and e) copying said encrypted data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A disaster recovery method as in claim 21 , wherein prior to encrypting data, an estimation is made of the time for said encryption.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
A disaster recovery method as in claim 21 , further comprising the step of: f) determining if said identified danger extends to locations not previously identified as being in said danger zone and repeating steps a-e for any devices in determined extended danger zone locations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
A disaster recovery method as in claim 23 , wherein in the step (b) of establishing the connection to a device not in said danger zone, establishes said connection to corresponding devices not in said danger zone responsive to a maximum amount of data to be transferred, a rate of data transfer and the determined likelihood of destruction of data in each of said corresponding devices.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A disaster recovery method as in claim 23 wherein, in the step (b) of establishing the connection to a device not in said danger zone, the connected device overrides an initial selection.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
139 words
A computer program product for disaster recovery of data stored locally in one or more computers, having a computer readable medium with computer readable program code stored thereon, said computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code means for transmitting an emergency signal in response to an identified danger; computer readable program code means for establishing a connection between each device located in an identified danger zone with at least one other device not within said danger zone; computer readable program code means for transferring data from said each device in said identified danger zone to said at least one other device, said data being stored temporarily at said other device for subsequent recovery; computer readable program code means for encrypting data identified as being secured data; and computer readable program code means for transferring said encrypted data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
139 words
A computer program product for disaster recovery of data stored locally in one or more computers, having a computer readable medium with computer readable program code stored thereon, said computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code means for transmitting an emergency signal in response to an identified danger; computer readable program code means for establishing a connection between each device located in an identified danger zone with at least one other device not within said danger zone; computer readable program code means for transferring data from said each device in said identified danger zone to said at least one other device, said data being stored temporarily at said other device for subsequent recovery; computer readable program code means for encrypting data identified as being secured data; and computer readable program code means for transferring said encrypted data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
66 words
A computer program product for disaster recovery of claim 26 , having a computer readable medium with computer readable program code stored thereon, said computer readable program code further comprising: computer readable program code means for determining if said identified danger extends to locations not previously identified as being in said danger zone and backing up data for any devices in determined extended danger zone locations.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer program product for disaster recovery of claim 26 , having a computer readable medium with computer readable program code stored thereon, said computer readable program code further comprising: computer readable program code means for means for establishing the connection between devices establishes said connection from said each device to a corresponding device in said danger zone responsive to a maximum amount of data to be transferred, a rate of data transfer and the determined likelihood of destruction of data in each of said corresponding devices.
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) | 2005-12-16 | 2006-06-17 | 2006-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-16 | 2010-06-17 | 2010-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-16 | 2014-06-17 | 2014-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |