Method and system for creating and storing a backup copy of file data stored on a computer
First Claim
1. A method for creating a backup copy of file data, stored on a client computer, on a backup computer, comprising the steps of:
- maintaining a first table, stored in a battery-powered memory of a hard disk controller in the client computer, identifying each sector on the storage medium of the client computer;
storing an entry in the table for each sector, wherein each entry identifying whether or not each respective sector contains changed data; and
writing to the backup computer only those sectors identified in the table as containing changed data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for prioritizing, securing, and reducing the amount of data transmitted and stored during the creation of a backup copy of file data. Sectors in which changes have been made are identified as are the actual changes made to the sectors. Only the actual changes within each changed sector, along with the HCS number and a byte offset identifying the location within the sector at which the changes occur, are transmitted to the backup site. Files that are to be transmitted to the backup site are prioritized according to ratings based on predetermined criteria. Higher rated files are transmitted to the backup site prior to lower rated files. The files that are to be transmitted to the backup site are encoded and double encrypted. All instances of predetermined client-specific data elements within each file are identified and replaced by a corresponding code prior to encryption. The file data is then encrypted using multiple, indirect encryption keys, variable block lengths, and variable algorithms based on a client-selected string of characters. The files are thereafter encrypted again at the client site prior to transmission to the backup site. A program registry is maintained at the backup site that contains a master copy of many commercially-available files. The incoming files received from the client site are compared to the files in the program registry. If an incoming file is located in the registry, the file is replaced by a token identifying the commercially-available file and the token is stored at the backup facility.
354 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for creating a backup copy of file data, stored on a client computer, on a backup computer, comprising the steps of:
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maintaining a first table, stored in a battery-powered memory of a hard disk controller in the client computer, identifying each sector on the storage medium of the client computer; storing an entry in the table for each sector, wherein each entry identifying whether or not each respective sector contains changed data; and writing to the backup computer only those sectors identified in the table as containing changed data.
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2. A method for creating a new backup copy of file data stored on a client computer, of which an old backup copy has been stored on a backup computer, comprising the steps of:
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storing the contents of all new sectors of a file containing changed data in the memory of the client computer; storing the contents of each old sector to which changes have been made in the memory of the client computer; comparing each respective old sector to the respective new sector containing changed data and identifying the changes; maintaining a first table in the memory of the client computer identifying each sector on the storage medium of the client computer; if the amount of the changes to a sector exceeds a predetermined amount, storing an entry in the table for the sector identifying the sector as containing changed data; writing to the backup computer only those sectors identified in the table; maintaining a second table in the memory of the client computer; if the amount of the changes to a sector is less than the predetermined amount, storing in the second table the HCS number of the changed sector, the location of each change within the sector by storing in the second table a byte offset from the beginning of the sector, and the actual changed data; and writing to the backup computer the contents of the second table. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for storing on a backup computer a backup copy of file data stored on a client computer, comprising the steps of:
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maintaining a registry including a master copy of predetermined files; determining whether a file to be backed up is included in the registry; if the file is included in the registry, substituting a token identifying the master copy and storing the token on the backup computer; if the file is not included in the registry, storing the file on the backup computer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for transmitting and storing a backup copy of file data, stored on a client computer, on a backup computer, comprising the steps of:
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examining each client file and identifying all instances of predetermined types of data elements; maintaining an encoding data base, stored in the memory of the client computer, containing a unique code for each type of data element; substituting the corresponding code for all instances of the predetermined data elements in each file; transmitting each file from the client computer to the backup computer; and storing a backup copy of each file on the backup computer. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for encrypting a copy of a file from a client computer to a backup computer, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a string of characters from a user of the client computer; transforming the string of characters to select a set of random numbers from a stored group of random numbers; using the set of random numbers to generate an initial encryption key, select an initial one of a predetermined number of encryption algorithms, and select an initial block length for defining the number of characters to be encrypted; and encrypting the initial block length of characters using the initial encryption key and initial encryption algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for creating a new backup copy of at least one file comprising data blocks of predetermined size, stored on a client computer, of which an old backup copy has been stored on a backup computer, comprising the steps of:
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maintaining a data base, stored in the memory of the client computer, for storing a unique code for each data block of each file; reading each data block of a predetermined file; generating a code associated with each data block; comparing each generated code to the codes stored in the data base; replacing each data block with a corresponding token and placing each token in a transmission file in the client computer if the respective generated code matches a code in the dam base; if the respective generated code does not match a code in the data base; placing each data block intact in the transmission file; writing the generated code to the data base; transmitting the transmission file to the backup computer; and storing the transmission file on the backup computer. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for transmitting and storing a backup copy of file data, stored on a client computer, on a backup computer, comprising the steps of:
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determining the available transmission channel capacity; rating each file stored on the client computer according to predetermined criteria; storing the rating of each file in a priority data base stored in the memory of the client computer; creating a transmission file of finite size, determined by the transmission channel capacity, in the memory of the client computer for determining the sequence of transmitting files from the client computer to the backup computer; storing files in the transmission file; transmitting the contents of the transmission file to the backup computer; and storing the contents of the transmission file on the backup computer. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification