Efficient computer file backup system and method
First Claim
1. A method for deciding whether a specific file on a target computer should be backed up to a central storage system, said method comprising the steps of:
- computing a specific hashing key from the content of said specific file;
verifying if said specific hashing key is already present in a local, wherein, for each computer file on said target computer which has been previously backed up, said local database comprises a record including;
a file hashing key computed from said computer file; and
a local file path in said target computer where said computer file should be restored, said file path being associated with said file hashing key;
if said specific hashing key is not present in said local database, backing up said specific file by performing the steps of;
A. creating a backup file which is a duplicate of said specific file;
B. renaming said backup file to said specific hashing key;
C. storing said renamed backup file in said central storage system; and
D. storing in said local database a new record including said specific hashing key and a specific path in said target computer where said specific file should be restored; and
if said specific hashing key is present in said local database not backing up said specific file in said central storage system;
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for efficiently backing up and restoring computer files to a central storage system. A hashing key is computed for each file to be backed up on a target computer. The hashing key is compared to a list of hashing keys stored locally to see if the local file has been previously backed up. If the hashing key is not listed locally, then the hashing key is compared to a list of hashing keys of centrally backed up files. Only if the hashing key is not present in both the local and the central list is the file backed up. Backed up files may be renamed to their hashing key for further efficiencies.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for deciding whether a specific file on a target computer should be backed up to a central storage system, said method comprising the steps of:
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computing a specific hashing key from the content of said specific file;
verifying if said specific hashing key is already present in a local, wherein, for each computer file on said target computer which has been previously backed up, said local database comprises a record including;
a file hashing key computed from said computer file; and
a local file path in said target computer where said computer file should be restored, said file path being associated with said file hashing key;
if said specific hashing key is not present in said local database, backing up said specific file by performing the steps of;
A. creating a backup file which is a duplicate of said specific file;
B. renaming said backup file to said specific hashing key;
C. storing said renamed backup file in said central storage system; and
D. storing in said local database a new record including said specific hashing key and a specific path in said target computer where said specific file should be restored; and
if said specific hashing key is present in said local database not backing up said specific file in said central storage system;
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17)
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7. A method for restoring a specific file to a target computer, said method comprising the steps of:
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requesting a specific hashing key corresponding to said specific file from a local database storing a previously computed hashing key for each backed up computer file;
requesting a specific path location associated with said specific hashing key from said local database;
using said specific hashing key to retrieve a backup file from a central storage server, said backup file being a duplicate of said specific file; and
saving said backup file to said specific path location on said target computer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A system for backing up a specific file on a target computer comprising:
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means for computing a specific hashing key from the content of said specific file;
means for verifying if said specific hashing key is already present in a local database, wherein, for each computer file on said target computer which has been previously backed up, said local database comprises a record including;
a file hashing key computed from said computer file; and
a local file path in said target computer where said computer file should be restored, said file path being associated with said file hashing key;
means for backing up said specific file if said specific hashing key is not present in said local database, said backing up comprising the steps of;
A. creating a backup file which is a duplicate of said specific file;
B. renaming said backup file to said specific hashing key;
C. storing said renamed backup file in said central storage system; and
D. storing in said local database a new record including said specific hashing key and a specific path in said target server where said specific file should be restored;
wherein, if said specific hashing key is present in said local database, said specific file is not backed up. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification