Providing file management of backup data stored on one or more removable storage media

• US 20040220899A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ellen M. Nelson, Keith Schwols, Rock D. Barney
• Original Assignee: Ellen M. Nelson, Keith Schwols, Rock D. Barney
• Inventors: Nelson, Ellen M., Barney, Rock D., Schwols, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1435 using file system or storage system metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A data protection system that integrates a database with Windows Explorer in the Microsoft Windows 9X and NT Environments that mimics the Windows Explorer user interface, enabling the user to apply already known use paradigms. The data protection system appears as an extension to Windows Explorer and visibly appears as a folder item called the data vault. The data vault is a virtual disk that represents the underlying database. The database creates records and stores information about files backed up to removable secondary storage medium. Files may be backed up manually or automatically. A schedule can be set up for automatic protection of selected files and file types. The database can be searched to find files for restoration purposes without having to load secondary storage medium. Once a file or files are selected, the data protection system indicates which labeled removable secondary storage medium must be loaded for retrieval.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A method of providing file management of backup data stored on one or more removable storage media in a system, comprising:

displaying, in a file management display output screen, a hierarchical tree structure representing content of a removable storage medium, the content including backup copies of data on a primary storage medium of the system, wherein displaying the hierarchical tree structure in the file management display output screen is performed while the removable storage medium is off-line; and

changing the display of the hierarchical tree structure in the file management display output screen in response to receipt of user selection of an item in the displayed hierarchical tree structure while the removable storage medium is off-line.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying the hierarchical tree structure while the removable storage medium is off-line comprises:

displaying a first folder item representing a domain corresponding to the backup copies of data in the file management display output screen.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein changing the display of the hierarchical tree structure comprises:

expanding additional folder items under the first folder item in response to receiving user input selecting the first folder item while the removable storage medium is off-line.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

displaying, in the file management display output screen, a second hierarchical tree structure representing content of a second removable storage medium that is off-line, the content of the second removable storage medium including backup copies of data on the primary storage medium; and

changing the display of the second hierarchical tree structure in response to user selection of an item in the displayed second hierarchical tree structure while the second removable storage medium is off-line.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying a first folder item representing a domain corresponding to the backup copies of data on the removable storage media.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising expanding additional folder items under the first folder item in response to user selection of the first folder item while the removable storage media are off-line.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying, in the file management display output screen, a second hierarchical tree structure of content of the primary storage medium.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating copying of an item of the second hierarchical tree structure to an item of the hierarchical tree structure representing content of the removable storage medium; and

in response to the user input indicating the copying, causing a backup operation to be performed of data from the primary storage medium to the removable storage medium.

14. A system comprising:

a primary storage medium;

a storage device to receive a removable storage medium;

a display to present a file management display output screen;

a processor; and

software executable on the processor to;

display, in the file management display output screen, a hierarchical tree structure of backup data contained on the removable storage medium while the removable storage medium is not loaded in the storage device, wherein the backup data on the removable storage medium includes backup data of data on the primary storage medium, and

change the display of the hierarchical tree structure in the file management display output screen in response to receipt of user selection of items in the displayed hierarchical tree structure while the removable storage medium is not loaded in the storage device.

15. The system of claim 14, the primary storage medium to store a database relating to backup data contained on the removable storage medium, wherein the software is executable to display the hierarchical tree structure of content of the removable storage medium based on the database.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the database contains records to track information about the backup data on the removable storage medium.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the backup data contains files, and the tracking information includes source directory and path of each file, a name of the removable storage medium, and file characteristics.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the software is executable to further:

display, in the file management display output screen, a second hierarchical tree structure of backup data on a second removable storage medium that is not loaded in the storage device, and

change the display of the second hierarchical tree structure in response to user input while the second removable storage medium is not loaded in the drive.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the software is executable to further:

display a third hierarchical tree structure of content of the primary storage medium in the file management display output screen.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the software is executable to further:

receive user input indicating copying of an item from the hierarchical tree structure of content of the primary storage medium to an item in one of the hierarchical tree structures of the removable storage media, and

in response to user input indicating the copying, perform a backup operation of data on the primary storage medium corresponding to the first item to a selected one of the removable storage media.