System and method for containerized data storage and tracking

• US 20070162359A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Gokhale, Parag, Kottomtharayil, Rajiv
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for automatically aggregating data items and storage media and placing each in a container, based on a storage preferences. The items in the container are generally of a similar type or classification. The container may be tracked by the system instead of individually tracking and monitoring each of the data items and storage media contained in the container. The location of the container is tracked within the storage system and at offsite storage, for administrative, reporting or other uses.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a location of electronic data stored to removable media, the method comprising:

receiving a storage preference, the storage preference including a data characteristic and a retention characteristic;

identifying at least one data item that satisfies the data characteristic and the retention characteristic and identifying a first set of one or more removable media including the at least one data item;

copying the at least one data item from the first set of one or more removable media to a copy set of one or more removable media;

aggregating the copy set of one or more removable media in a container; and

tracking a location of the container.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking the container comprises updating an index with data relating to the current location of the container and not tracking the copy set of one or more removable media location individually.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the retention characteristic indicates that data satisfying the data characteristic is due for one or more of:

an export operation or a migration operation.

7. A method for tracking a location of data stored to a removable medium, the method comprising:

receiving one or more removable media from a plurality of storage devices;

receiving a storage preference, the storage preference including a data characteristic and a retention characteristic;

determining whether the one or more removable media includes data satisfying the storage preference; and

aggregating the one or more removable media in a container; and

tracking a location of the container, and not a location of the one or more removable media, individually.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein tracking the container comprises updating an index with data relating to the current location of the container.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the retention characteristic indicates that data satisfying the data characteristic is due for one or both of:

an export operation or a migration operation.

13. A method for tracking data stored to a removable medium, the method comprising:

storing an identifier for a first data item, of a plurality of data items, in an index entry;

receiving a storage characteristic, the storage characteristic including a data classification and a retention characteristic;

determining that the first data item satisfies the storage characteristic;

aggregating the first data item in a container;

updating the index entry for the first data item with data pointing to the container; and

tracking a location of the container.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein tracking a location of the container comprises updating an index entry for the container with data indicating a location of the container.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the index entry is updated with tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the index entry is updated with tracking data received from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.

18. A method for managing electronic data, the method comprising:

identifying a set of data satisfying a first storage characteristic;

among the identified set of data;

identifying a first subset of data satisfying a second storage characteristic and a second subset of data satisfying a third storage characteristic;

aggregating media including the first subset of data;

aggregating media including the second subset of data;

exporting the media including the first subset of data to a first container; and

exporting the media including the second subset of data to a second container.

19. A computer readable storage medium including computer executable code, which when executed causes a computer to perform a method for tracking a location of electronic data stored to removable media, the method comprising:

receiving a storage preference, the storage preference including a data characteristic and a retention characteristic;

identifying at least one data item that satisfies the data characteristic and the retention characteristic and identifying a first set of one or more removable media including the at least one data item;

copying the at least one data item from the first set of one or more removable media to a copy set of one or more removable media;

aggregating the copy set of one or more removable media in a container; and

tracking a location of the container.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein tracking the container comprises updating an index with data relating to the current location of the container and not tracking the copy set of one or more removable media location individually.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein the retention characteristic indicates that data satisfying the data characteristic is due for one or more of:

an export operation or a migration operation.

25. A computer readable storage medium including computer executable code, which when executed causes a computer to perform a method for tracking a location of data stored to a removable medium, the method comprising:

receiving one or more removable media from a plurality of storage devices;

receiving a storage preference, the storage preference including a data characteristic and a retention characteristic;

determining whether the one or more removable media includes data satisfying the storage preference; and

aggregating the one or more removable media in a container; and

tracking a location of the container, and not a location of the one or more removable media, individually.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25 wherein tracking the container comprises updating an index with data relating to the current location of the container.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25 wherein the retention characteristic indicates that data satisfying the data characteristic is due for one or both of:

an export operation or a migration operation.

31. A computer readable storage medium including computer executable code, which when executed causes a computer to perform a method for tracking data stored to a removable medium, the method comprising:

storing an identifier for a first data item, of a plurality of data items, in an index entry;

receiving a storage characteristic, the storage characteristic including a data classification and a retention characteristic;

determining that the first data item satisfies the storage characteristic;

aggregating the first data item in a container;

updating the index entry for the first data item with data pointing to the container; and

tracking a location of the container.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein tracking a location of the container comprises updating an index entry for the container with data indicating a location of the container.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein the index entry is updated with tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein the index entry is updated with tracking data received from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.

36. A computer readable storage medium including computer executable code, which when executed causes a computer to perform a method for managing electronic data, the method comprising:

identifying a set of data satisfying a first storage characteristic;

among the identified set of data;

identifying a first subset of data satisfying a second storage characteristic and a second subset of data satisfying a third storage characteristic;

aggregating media including the first subset of data;

aggregating media including the second subset of data;

exporting the media including the first subset of data to a first container; and

exporting the media including the second subset of data to a second container.