US6631480B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and systems for protecting data from potential corruption by a crashed computer program
Assignee: Arctera US LLC
•
Filing: 1999-11-10
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Granted: 2003-10-07
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Expires: 2019-11-10
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed toward creating backup copies of previously saved data before it is modified by a crashed computer program executing in a preemptive multitasking operating system environment. The invention is advantageous in that it protects against data loss and corruption caused by operating system calls issued by malfunctioning, crashed computer programs. A method in accordance with the invention comprises the steps of: (a) monitoring operating system calls made by a crashed program; (b) intercepting a selected group of operating system calls made by a crashed program before they are executed by an operating system; (c) logging a subset of the selected group of intercepted operating system calls in a memory; (d) creating backup copies of data potentially modified by a further subset of the selected group of intercepted operating system calls; and (e) passing intercepted operating system calls to an operating system. In one embodiment of the present invention, backup copies of data are stored in backup files extracted from data appended to an undo file. In another embodiment of the present invention, backup copies of data are stored directly in backup files.
Inventors
- 👤 Art Zeigler
- 👤 Scott Elliott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/0796; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/1415; G06F11/1446
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A machine-implemented method for protecting stored data from potential corruption comprising the steps of: (a) intercepting an operating system call issued by an apparently crashed program, wherein said intercepted call requests a modification to said data; and (b) backing up said data before said data is potentially modified by said intercepted call.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
A machine-implemented method for protecting stored data from potential corruption comprising the steps of: (a) intercepting an operating system call issued by an apparently crashed program, wherein said intercepted call requests a modification to said data; and (b) backing up said data before said data is potentially modified by said intercepted call.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said apparently crashed program is an apparently crashed application program subject to an attempted revival by an unfreezing program.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said intercepted call is one of: a request to rename an object; a request to write to a file; a request to open a file for writing thereto; a request to create a file; or a request to delete a file.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: (c) communicating said backing up step to a user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: (c) logging said backing up step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: (c) passing said intercepted call to said operating system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of: (d) modifying said intercepted call prior to said passing step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said backing up step stores said data in at least one backup file.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said backing up step stores said data in an appendable undo file.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A computer adapted to protect stored data from potential corruption, said computer comprising: (a) a memory adapted to store program code; and (b) a processor in communication with said memory, said program code capable of causing said processor to: (b.1) intercept an operating system call issued by an apparently crashed program, wherein said intercepted call requests a modification to said data; and (b.2) back up said data before said data is potentially modified by said intercepted call.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
A computer adapted to protect stored data from potential corruption, said computer comprising: (a) a memory adapted to store program code; and (b) a processor in communication with said memory, said program code capable of causing said processor to: (b.1) intercept an operating system call issued by an apparently crashed program, wherein said intercepted call requests a modification to said data; and (b.2) back up said data before said data is potentially modified by said intercepted call.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer of claim 10 , wherein said apparently crashed program is an apparently crashed application program subject to an attempted revival by an unfreezing program.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer of claim 10 , wherein said intercepted call is one of: a request to rename an object; a request to write to a file; a request to open a file for writing thereto; a request to create a file; or a request to delete a file.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer of claim 10 , said program code capable of further causing said processor to: (b.3) communicate said back up to a user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer of claim 10 , said program code capable of further causing said processor to: (b.3) log said back up.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer of claim 10 , said program code capable of further causing said processor to: (b.3) pass said intercepted call to said operating system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer of claim 15 , said program code capable of further causing said processor to: (b.4) modify said intercepted call prior to causing said passing.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
52 words
An apparatus for protecting stored data from potential corruption, comprising: (a) means for intercepting an operating system call issued by an apparently crashed program, wherein said intercepted call requests a modification to said data; and (b) means for backing up said data before said data is potentially modified by said intercepted call.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
52 words
An apparatus for protecting stored data from potential corruption, comprising: (a) means for intercepting an operating system call issued by an apparently crashed program, wherein said intercepted call requests a modification to said data; and (b) means for backing up said data before said data is potentially modified by said intercepted call.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said apparently crashed program is an apparently crashed application program subject to an attempted revival by an unfreezing program.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said intercepted call is one of: a request to rename an object; a request to write to a file; a request to open a file for writing thereto; a request to create a file; or a request to delete a file.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising: (c) means for communicating said backing up to a user.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising: (c) means for logging said backing up.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising: (c) means for passing said intercepted call to said operating system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising: (d) means for modifying said intercepted call prior to said passing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
An instruction conveying apparatus structured to convey code to an instructable machine, said code causing said machine to: (a) intercept an operating system call issued by an apparently crashed program, wherein said intercepted call requests a modification to stored data; and (b) back up said data before said data is potentially modified by said intercepted call.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
56 words
An instruction conveying apparatus structured to convey code to an instructable machine, said code causing said machine to: (a) intercept an operating system call issued by an apparently crashed program, wherein said intercepted call requests a modification to stored data; and (b) back up said data before said data is potentially modified by said intercepted call.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said apparently crashed program is an apparently crashed application program subject to an attempted revival by an unfreezing program.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said intercepted call is one of: a request to rename an object; a request to write to a file; a request to open a file for writing thereto; a request to create a file; or a request to delete a file.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , said code further causing said machine to: (c) communicate said back up to a user.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , said code further causing said machine to: (c) log said back up.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , said code further causing said machine to: (c) pass said intercepted call to said operating system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , said code further causing said machine to: (d) modify said intercepted call prior to said pass.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
A manufactured instructing signal structured for causing an instructable machine to: (a) intercept an operating system call issued by an apparently crashed program, wherein said intercepted call requests a modification to stored data; and (b) back up said data before said data is potentially modified by said intercepted call.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
A manufactured instructing signal structured for causing an instructable machine to: (a) intercept an operating system call issued by an apparently crashed program, wherein said intercepted call requests a modification to stored data; and (b) back up said data before said data is potentially modified by said intercepted call.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The signal of claim 31 , wherein said apparently crashed program is an apparently crashed application program subject to an attempted revival by an unfreezing program.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
48 words
The signal of claim 31 , wherein said intercepted call is one of: a request to rename an object; a request to write to a file; a request to open a file for writing thereto; a request to create a file; or a request to delete a file.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The signal of claim 31 , said signal further structured for causing said machine to: (c) communicate said back up to a user.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The signal of claim 31 , said signal further structured for causing said machine to: (c) log said back up.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
The signal of claim 31 , said signal further structured for causing said machine to: (c) pass said intercepted call to said operating system.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The signal of claim 36 , said signal further structured for causing said machine to: (d) modify said intercepted call prior to causing said passing.
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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) | 2006-10-06 | 2007-04-07 | 2007-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-06 | 2011-04-07 | 2011-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-06 | 2015-04-07 | 2015-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |