Consistent back up of electronic information

• US 20080034016A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Giampaolo, Dominic, Cisler, Pavel, McInerney, Peter, Weiss, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,311,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1466 to make the backup process non-disruptive

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for performing backup operations while a user is using a device. In one implementation, a method is provided. A backup operation of data including a plurality of related items is initiated. Modifications to one or more items of the plurality of related items are monitored for during the backup operation. The backup operation is completed. If a modification occurred to one or more items, a second backup operation is performed for the modified items.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

initiating a backup operation of data including a plurality of related items;

monitoring for modifications to one or more items of the plurality of related items during the backup operation;

completing the backup operation; and

if a modification occurred to one or more items, performing a second backup operation for the modified items.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining which items of data are related.

3. The method of claim 1, where monitoring for modifications comprises identifying event notifications associated with an item of the plurality of related items.

4. The method of claim 1, where performing a second backup operation includes replacing the backup data for an item with backup data from the second backup.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring for modifications to one or more items of the plurality of related items during the second backup operation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a maximum number of backup operations to perform to complete a backup operation without modifications occurring during the backup operations.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

if the maximum number of backup operations is reached, generating an alert.

8. The method of claim 7, generating an alert includes notifying a user.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

if the maximum number of backup operations is reached, suspending the backup operation for a predefined period of time.

10. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

initiating a backup operation of data including a plurality of related items;

monitoring for modifications to one or more items of the plurality of related items during the backup operation;

completing the backup; and

if a modification occurred to one or more items, performing a second backup operation for the modified items.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:

determining which items of data are related.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, where monitoring for modifications comprises identifying event notifications associated with an item of the plurality of related items.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, where performing a second backup operation includes replacing the backup data for an item with backup data from the second backup.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:

monitoring for modifications to one or more items of the plurality of related items during the second backup operation.

15. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a maximum number of backup operations to perform to complete a backup operation without modifications occurring during the backup operations.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

if the maximum number of backup operations is reached, generating an alert.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, generating an alert includes notifying a user.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

if the maximum number of backup operations is reached, halting the backup operation for a predefined period of time.

19. A system comprising:

means for initiating a backup operation of data including a plurality of related items;

means for monitoring for modifications to one or more items of the plurality of related items during the backup operation;

means for completing the backup; and

if a modification occurred to one or more items, means for performing a second backup operation for the modified items.

20. A method comprising:

defining a criterion for capturing a state of a view of a user interface;

capturing the state of the view in accordance with the criterion, where capturing the state includes;

monitoring for modification of the state of the view during the capture, and

performing a second capture for the modification of the state of the view;

receiving a prompt to suspend presentation of a current view and present a captured view; and

reinstating the captured view into the current view of the user interface.