Backup system and backup method

• US 20040243652A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Furuta, Toshio
• Application Number:
  US10/854,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243652A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments

Abstract

A server updates data in a first database according to a request from a terminal and sends updated data in the first database to a network by an e-mail. A relay apparatus receives data from the network and forwards only an e-mail to a second database. A second server updates data in the second database according to an e-mail received from the relay apparatus.

Claims

1. A backup system comprising:

a first element that updates data in a first storage according to a request from at least one terminal and that sends updated data in the first storage to a network by an e-mail;

a second element that receives data from the network and that forwards only an e-mail to a second storage; and

a third element that updates data in the second storage according to an e-mail received from the second element.

2. A backup system comprising:

a first server that updates data in a first database according to a request from at least one terminal and that sends updated data in the first database to a network by an e-mail;

a relay apparatus that receives data from the network and that forwards only an e-mail to a second database; and

a second server that updates data in the second database according to an e-mail received from the relay apparatus.

3. A backup system comprising:

a database for storing data;

a server that updates data stored in the database according to a request from at least one terminal connected to the Internet;

a backup database for storing the same data as data stored in the database;

a backup server that is connected to a network connected to the Internet and that updates data stored in the backup database based on data received from the server; and

a firewall that permits data fulfilling a predetermined condition out of data transmitted/received by communication

between the Internet and the network to go through, wherein, the server transmits data showing updated contents to the backup server by an e-mail when the update of data stored in the database is required from the terminal, and

the firewall permits only data to which an e-mail port is added out of data transmitted/received by communication started from the Internet to go through.

4. A backup system as claimed in claim 3,

wherein said firewall permits data to which at least one of an e-mail port and an http port is added out of data transmitted/received by communication started from said network to go through.

5. A backup system as claimed in claim 3,

wherein said server enciphers data showing the updated contents of data stored in the database and transmits the enciphered data to said backup server by an e-mail.

6. A backup system as claimed in claim 3,

wherein said network is an intranet.

7. A backup system comprising:

a database for storing data;

a server that is connected to a first network connected to the Internet and that updates data stored in the database according to a request from at least one terminal connected to the Internet;

a backup database for storing the same data as data stored in the database;

a backup server that is connected to a second network connected to the Internet and that updates data stored in the backup database based on data received from the server;

a first firewall that permits data fulfilling a predetermined condition out of data transmitted/received by communication between the Internet and said first network to go through; and

a second firewall that permits data fulfilling a predetermined condition out of data transmitted/received by communication between the Internet and the second network to go through, wherein,

the server transmits data showing updated contents to the backup server by an e-mail when the update of data stored in the database is required from the terminal, and

the second firewall permits only data to which an e-mail port is added out of data transmitted/received by communication started from the Internet to go through.

8. A backup system as claimed in claim 7,

wherein said first firewall permits data to which at least one of an e-mail port and an http port is added out of data transmitted/received by communication from the Internet to go through and permits data to which an e-mail port is added out of data transmitted/received by communication started from said first network to go through.

9. A backup method comprising:

updating data in a first storage according to a request from at least one terminal;

sending updated data in the first storage to a network by an e-mail;

receiving data from the network;

forwarding only an e-mail to a second storage; and

updating data in the second storage according to an received e-mail.

10. A computer-readable storage medium recording thereon a computer program to be executed by a backup system, comprising:

means for updating data in a first database according to a request from a terminal;

means for sending updated data in the first database to a network by an e-mail;

means for receiving data from the network;

means for forwarding only an e-mail to a second database; and

means for updating data in a second database according to an received e-mail.