Method and apparatus for storage backup
First Claim
1. A method for backing up data, comprising:
- breaking down a specified data set to be backed up into a plurality of data blocks;
generating for each data block a corresponding data block digest and associating the data block digest with the data block; and
storing the data block and the associated generated data block digest in a database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for backing up data to a database are provided. A specified data set to be backed up is broken down into a plurality of data blocks, each data block is associated with a data block digest, and the data blocks and associated data block digests are stored in the database. When one or more data blocks are subsequently changed, an update to the backup may be performed by adding to the backup data only the data blocks that have changed since the initial backup. Methods and apparatuses for restoring backup data from a database are also provided. Timestamp information associated with the data blocks in the database is used to select the data blocks to be restored.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for backing up data, comprising:
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breaking down a specified data set to be backed up into a plurality of data blocks;
generating for each data block a corresponding data block digest and associating the data block digest with the data block; and
storing the data block and the associated generated data block digest in a database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for restoring backup data from a database, said backup data being stored in the database as a plurality of data blocks, the method comprising:
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receiving specification of a time to which data restoration is desired;
comparing the specified time to timestamp information stored for each data block of the backup data in the database; and
retrieving a selected data block of the backup data, if the selected data block has an associated timestamp at or earlier than the specified time and no other data blocks of the backup data which correspond to the selected data block have more contemporaneous timestamps between the specified time and the associated timestamp of the selected data block. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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24. The method of 23, wherein the timestamp information is retrieved from a database catalog.
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30. A method for restoring backup data from a database, comprising:
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retrieving timestamp information for a group of corresponding data blocks in the backup data from a database catalog;
comparing the timestamp information for the data blocks in the group;
selecting a data block in the group having the most recent timestamp as compared to the other corresponding data blocks in the group; and
restoring the data block having the most recent timestamp. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An apparatus for backing up data to a database comprising:
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means for breaking down a specified data set to be backed up into a plurality of data blocks;
means for generating for each data block a corresponding data block digest and associating the data block digest with the data block; and
means for storing the data block and the associated generated data block digest in a database. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. An apparatus for restoring backup data from a database, said backup data being stored in the database as a plurality of data blocks, the system comprising:
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means for receiving specification of a time to which data restoration is desired;
means for comparing the specified time to timestamp information stored for each data block of the backup data in the database; and
means for retrieving a selected data block of the backup data, if the selected data block has an associated timestamp at or earlier than the specified time and no other data blocks of the backup data which correspond to the selected data block have more contemporaneous timestamps between the specified time and the associated timestamp of the selected data block.
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38. An apparatus for restoring backup data from a database, the system comprising:
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means for retrieving timestamp information for a group of corresponding data blocks in the backup data from a database catalog;
means for comparing the timestamp information for the data blocks in the group;
means for selecting a data block in the group having the most recent timestamp as compared to the other corresponding data blocks in the group; and
means for restoring the data block having the most recent timestamp.
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Specification