Method and apparatus for automatically synchronizing data to electronic devices across a communications network

• US 20010034728A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Davidson, Troy, Polson, Russell Glen, McBride, Stephen Larry
• Application Number:
  US09/747,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034728A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments

Abstract

A data file mirroring application that monitors data files stored in a source directory for archiving to a remote storage medium at a destination node through a communications network. The mirroring application archives the data files to the remote storage medium in accordance with user-configured settings, and without user intervention. The data files may be archived based on a time period elapsing or a data file being revised and saved. The application may identify the remote storage medium in accordance with a unique identifier.

Claims

1. A system for backing up electronic data and data files stored in a computer-readable format, said system comprising:

at least two nodes; and

a communications network over which said nodes communicate with each other;

wherein a first said node comprises a first data storage device on which original electronic data is stored, a processor, and a communications interface for interfacing said first node with said communications network; and

wherein said first node further comprises an agent application executed by said processor of said first node, said agent application monitoring said original electronic data stored in said first data storage device and transmitting said electronic data through said communications network to a second node for storage in a second data storage device of said second node.

2. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said agent application monitors said original electronic data and transmits said electronic data to said second node in accordance with predetermined configuration settings.

3. The system of

claim 2

, wherein said predetermined configuration settings cause said agent application to access said electronic data periodically and transmit said electronic data to said second node if said electronic data has been changed since last accessed by said agent application.

4. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said electronic data is an electronic data file and said second node stores a new version of the electronic data file each time the data file is transmitted by said agent application.

5. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said second data storage device comprises a removable data storage medium in a storage medium drive for writing data to and reading data from said removable data storage medium.

6. The system of

claim 5

, wherein said removable data storage medium is identified by said agent application by a unique identifier.

7. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said agent application further comprises a user interface for receiving configuration settings from a user.

8. The system of

claim 7

, wherein said configuration settings include a designation of particular electronic data to be monitored by said agent application.

9. The system of

claim 7

, wherein said system comprises three or more nodes and said configuration settings include a designation of which node is said second node to which said first node transmits said electronic data.

10. The system of

claim 7

, wherein said configuration settings include a period of time, wherein at an end of each such period of time, said agent application checks said electronic data in said first data storage device for changes.

11. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said communications network further comprises first and second interconnected networks.

12. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said communications network comprises the Internet

13. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said communications network comprises a telecommunications network.

14. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said first node is a computer.

15. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said second node is a mobile telephone unit and said electronic data is telephone directory data.

16. The system of

claim 15

, wherein said first node is a mobile telephone unit and said communications network is a telecommunications network.

17. A method for backing up electronic data and data files stored in a computer-readable format, said method comprising monitoring original electronic data stored in a first data storage device of a first node and transmitting said electronic data through a communications network to a second node for storage in a second data storage device of said second node.

18. The method of

claim 17

, wherein said monitoring and transmitting are performed in accordance with predetermined user-controlled configuration settings.

19. The method of

claim 17

, wherein monitoring is performed periodically and said transmitting is performed only if said electronic data has been changed.

20. The method of

claim 17

, wherein said electronic data is an electronic data file and said method further comprises storing a new version of the electronic data file on said second node each time the data file is transmitted from said first node.

21. The method of

claim 18

, further comprising inputting into said configuration settings a designation of particular electronic data in said first data storage device to be monitored in said monitoring step.

22. The method of

claim 18

, wherein three or more nodes are in electronic communication via said communications network and said method further comprises inputting into said configuration settings a designation of which node is said second node to which said first node transmits said electronic data.

23. The method of

claim 18

, further comprising inputting into said configuration settings a period of time, wherein at an end of each such period of time, said monitoring is performed to check said electronic data in said first data storage device for changes.

24. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions, comprising:

a configuration module containing configuration settings;

a reading module to read data files contained within a source directory on a selected storage medium in accordance with the configuration settings; and

a sending module to send the data files to a destination node storage medium in accordance with the configuration settings if changes are detected in said data files by said reading module.