System and method for backing up data
First Claim
1. A method for backing up a data block having a data block location, the method comprising:
- generating a digital fingerprint for the data block using a substantially collision-free algorithm;
comparing the digital fingerprint to digital fingerprints stored in a database; and
if the digital fingerprint does not match one of the stored digital fingerprints, backing up the data block and adding to the database the digital fingerprint and the data block location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hash-optimized backup system and method takes data blocks and generates a probabilistically unique digital fingerprint of the content of each data block using a substantially collision-free algorithm. The process compares the generated fingerprint to a database of stored fingerprints and, if the generated fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint, the data block is determined to already have been backed up, and therefore does not need to be backed up again. Only if the generated fingerprint does not match a stored fingerprint is the data block backed up, at which point the generated fingerprint is added to the database of stored fingerprints. Because the algorithm is substantially collision-free, there is no need to compare actual data content if there is a hash-value match. The process can also be used to audit software license compliance, inventory software, and detect computer-file tampering such as viruses and malware.
37 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for backing up a data block having a data block location, the method comprising:
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generating a digital fingerprint for the data block using a substantially collision-free algorithm; comparing the digital fingerprint to digital fingerprints stored in a database; and if the digital fingerprint does not match one of the stored digital fingerprints, backing up the data block and adding to the database the digital fingerprint and the data block location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for backing up a data block having a data block location, the system comprising:
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a backup server having access to a digital fingerprint database; and a source computer connected to the backup server via a communication path, the source computer configured to; generate a digital fingerprint of the data block using a substantially collision-free algorithm; and the backup server being configured to back up the data block and add to the database the digital fingerprint and the data block location, if the digital fingerprint does not match any digital fingerprint stored in the database. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for backing up a data block having a data block location, the system comprising:
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means for generating a digital fingerprint for a data block using a substantially collision-free algorithm; means for comparing the digital fingerprint to digital fingerprints of backed up data blocks stored in a database; and means for backing up the data block and adding to the database the digital fingerprint and the data block location, if the digital fingerprint does not match one of the stored digital fingerprints.
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Specification