System and method for creating list of backup files based upon program properties

• US 20060106896A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Herman, Carlson, Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US10/988,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106896A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents

Abstract

Provided is a method for creating comprehensive backup files in a computing system on an application by application basis. An application is selected for backup and the output of the application is monitored with regard to the creation and modification of files. Files designated for backup may be stored on the same computer system as the selected application or accessible via a network. A properties menu enables a user to designate a particular application, either at the time of installation, retroactively or subsequently, as a “backup monitor” application by setting an application monitor flag within a configuration file associated in the alternative with the application, the operating system or with the backup monitor application. In addition, a number of security settings, or “filters,” may be designated to cull the files listed for backup based upon some property of the file.

Claims

1. A method for creating a list of files for backup based upon program properties, comprising:

creating a backup monitor process;

marking an executable file for monitoring;

signaling the backup monitor process that a file has been accessed;

determining that the access was by the executable file; and

including a reference to the file accessed by the executable file in a list of files to be backed up.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

marking a file as special;

detecting an access of the special file;

including a reference to the special file in the list of files to be backed up.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filtering a file to be included in the list of files to be backed up based upon whether the file exhibits a particular characteristic.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the particular characteristic is that the files are stored on a particular computing system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the particular characteristic is that the access is a modification.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the claimed functionality is integrated into an operating system.

7. The method of claim 1, the determination that the access was by the executable file further comprising correlating the signal with a particular marked executable file.

8. A backup monitor device for creating a list of files for backup based upon program properties, comprising:

logic for marking an executable file for monitoring;

logic for signaling the backup monitor process that a file has been accessed;

logic determining that the access was by the executable file; and

logic for including a reference to the file accessed by the executable file in a list of files to be backed up.

9. The backup monitor device of claim 8, further comprising:

logic for marking a file as special;

logic for detecting an access of the special file;

logic for including a reference to the special file in the list of files to be backed up.

10. The backup monitor device of claim 8, further comprising logic for filtering a file to be included in the list of files to be backed up based upon whether the file exhibits a particular characteristic.

11. The backup monitor device of claim 10, wherein the particular characteristic is that the files are stored on a particular computing system.

12. The backup monitor device of claim 10, wherein the particular characteristic is that the access is a modification.

13. The backup monitor device of claim 8, wherein the device is integrated into an operating system.

14. The backup monitor device of claim 8, the logic for determining that the access was by the executable file further comprising logic for correlating the signal with a particular marked executable file.

15. A computer programming product for creating a list of files for backup based upon program properties, comprising:

a memory;

a backup monitor process, stored on the memory, comprising;

logic, stored on the memory, for marking an executable file for monitoring;

logic, stored on the memory, for signaling the backup monitor process that a file has been accessed;

logic, stored on the memory, determining that the access was by the executable file; and

logic, stored on the memory, for including a reference to the file accessed by the executable file in a list of files to be backed up.

16. The computer programming product of claim 15, the backup monitor process further comprising:

logic, stored on the memory, for marking a file as special;

logic, stored on the memory, for detecting an access of the special file;

logic, stored on the memory, for including a reference to the special file in the list of files to be backed up.

17. The computer programming product of claim 15, the backup monitor process further comprising logic, stored on the memory, for filtering a file to be included in the list of files to be backed up based upon whether the file exhibits a particular characteristic.

18. The computer programming product of claim 17, wherein the particular characteristic is that the files are stored on a particular computing system.

19. The computer programming product of claim 17, wherein the particular characteristic is that the access is a modification.

20. The computer programming product of claim 15, wherein the computer programming product is integrated into an operating system.