GROUP BASED COMPLETE AND INCREMENTAL COMPUTER FILE BACKUP SYSTEM, PROCESS AND APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A method for managing an electronic data backup system, comprising:
- receiving a first inventory of electronic data stored on a first remote storage medium, wherein the first inventory comprises at least one descriptor;
comparing the at least one descriptor of the first inventory to a list of descriptors associated with a second inventory of electronic data stored on a backup data storage medium, wherein the second inventory of electronic data comprises electronic data from a plurality of storage mediums different from the first remote storage medium;
determining that a first descriptor from the at least one descriptor of the first inventory substantially matches a second descriptor from the list of descriptors associated with the second inventory; and
reporting to the first remote storage medium that electronic data associated with the first descriptor is already stored in the backup data storage medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is capable of determining the rights to a file based on providing a descriptor. The descriptor can be calculated using an algorithm, which may be cryptographic and/or non-cryptographic. The descriptor may further be based on the file contents, metadata of the file, other file data, or any combination thereof to uniquely identify the file in a shared file repository. Since the descriptor is generated based on file data it will be the same regardless of which user generates it. Accordingly, only one copy of the file needs to be maintained in the shared file repository, thereby reducing the amount of network bandwidth required to assure the file is backed up and further reducing the amount of storage required to backup the files. This results in a vastly more efficient method of backup in terms of processing time, network bandwidth, and storage requirements.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for managing an electronic data backup system, comprising:
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receiving a first inventory of electronic data stored on a first remote storage medium, wherein the first inventory comprises at least one descriptor;
comparing the at least one descriptor of the first inventory to a list of descriptors associated with a second inventory of electronic data stored on a backup data storage medium, wherein the second inventory of electronic data comprises electronic data from a plurality of storage mediums different from the first remote storage medium;
determining that a first descriptor from the at least one descriptor of the first inventory substantially matches a second descriptor from the list of descriptors associated with the second inventory; and
reporting to the first remote storage medium that electronic data associated with the first descriptor is already stored in the backup data storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device for managing an electronic data backup system, comprising:
a backup application adapted to receive a first inventory of electronic data stored on a first remote storage medium, wherein the first inventory comprises at least one descriptor, compare the at least one descriptor of the first inventory to a list of descriptors associated with a second inventory of electronic data stored on a backup data storage medium, wherein the second inventory of electronic data comprises electronic data from a plurality of storage mediums different from the first remote storage medium, determine that a first descriptor from the at least one descriptor of the first inventory substantially matches a second descriptor from the list of descriptors associated with the second inventory, and report to the first remote storage medium that electronic data associated with the first descriptor is already stored in the backup data storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An electronic data backup system, comprising:
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means for storing a first set of electronic data for a plurality of remote storage mediums at least two of which are associated with different users;
means for receiving a request to backup a second set of electronic data from a first remote storage medium;
means for determining that at least a first electronic file is in the first set of electronic data and the second set of electronic data by comparing descriptors of the at least first electronic file in both the first set of electronic data and the second set of electronic data;
means for notifying the first remote storage medium that the at least first electronic file already resides in the first set of electronic data;
means for transferring, from the first remote storage medium to the means for storing a first set of electronic data, electronic files associated with the second set of electronic data less the at least first electronic file; and
means for adding the electronic files associated with the second set of electronic data less the at least first electronic file to the means for storing the first set of electronic data. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification