Modification metadata set, abstracted from database write requests
First Claim
1. A method of operating a microprocessor-based computer system including a random access memory, a central processing unit, and storage means, the method comprising the step of:
- providing instructions stored in the memory to the central processing unit to cause said central processing unit to write data to at least one file stored in the storage means by generating a write request,extracting information for a modification data set from each said write request, andbuilding a database containing at least one said modification data set.wherein the write request comprises said modification data set which identifies a region of said file modified by said write request, andwherein the modification data set includes identification means for identifying said file, a starting position in said file and a length value corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to said file.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a microprocessor-based computer system, file backups are performed by monitoring modified areas of one or more files, through the write statements which give rise to the modifications. A meta-data database is constructed containing information relating to the locations of those modified areas. The backup database may then be modified by interrogating the meta-data database and thereby backing up only the data which has been modified in the database itself. Thus the size of the backup database may be reduced. The invention may be incorporated in a dedicated backup application and/or operating system or may interact with a conventional file-by-file backup application.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of operating a microprocessor-based computer system including a random access memory, a central processing unit, and storage means, the method comprising the step of:
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providing instructions stored in the memory to the central processing unit to cause said central processing unit to write data to at least one file stored in the storage means by generating a write request, extracting information for a modification data set from each said write request, and building a database containing at least one said modification data set. wherein the write request comprises said modification data set which identifies a region of said file modified by said write request, and wherein the modification data set includes identification means for identifying said file, a starting position in said file and a length value corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to said file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A microprocessor-based computer system including a random access memory, a central processing unit, and storage means, the system comprising
means for providing instructions stored in said memory to said central processing unit to cause said central processing unit to write data to at least one file stored in the storage means by generating a write request, means for extracting information for a modification data set from each said write request, and means for building a database containing at least one said modification data set. wherein the write request comprises said modification data set which identifies a region of said file modified by said write request, and wherein the modification data set includes identification means for identifying said file, a starting position in said file and a length value corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to said file.
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23. A method of operating a microprocessor-based computer system including a random access memory, a central processing unit, and a storage means, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an auxiliary database containing modification data sets which identify regions of a files on the storage means that have been modified by a write request, each modification data set including identification means for identifying a starting position in the file, and a length value corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to the file; and providing instructions stored in the random access memory to the central processing unit to command the following operations; interrogating the auxiliary database to establish which regions of the file have been modified; and creating a backup copy by backing up data stored in the storage means, using information from the auxiliary database to indicate which data to backup.
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24. Apparatus for operating a microprocessor-based computer system which includes a random access memory, a central processing unit, and a storage means,
an auxiliary database containing modification data sets which identify regions of a file on the storage means that have been modified by a write request, each modification data set including identification means for identifying a starting position in the file, and a length value corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to the file; -
means for providing instructions, stored in the random access memory, to the central processing unity means for interrogating the auxiliary database to establish which regions of the file have been modified; and means for creating a backup copy by backing up data stored in the storage means, using information from the auxiliary database to indicate which data to backup.
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25. A method of accessing data in a microprocessor-based computer system including a random access memory, a central processing unit, a main storage means, and a backup storage means, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an auxiliary database containing modification data sets which identify regions of a file on the storage means that have been modified, each modification data set including identification means for identifying a starting position in the file, and a length value corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to the file; providing a modification data file containing regions of the file identified by each modification data set; and providing instructions stored in the random access memory to the central processing unit to command the following operations; interrogating the auxiliary database to establish which regions of the file have been modified; and restoring data from the modification data file to the main storage means using information from the auxiliary database to indicate which data to restore.
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26. Apparatus for accessing data in a microprocessor-based computer system including a random access memory, a central processing unit, a main storage means, and a backup storage means, comprising:
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an auxiliary database containing modification data sets which identify regions of a file on the storage means that have been modified, each modification data set including identification means for identifying a starting position in the file, and a length value corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to the file; a modification data file containing regions of the file identified by each modification data set; means for providing instructions stored in the random access memory to the central processing unit; means for interrogating the auxiliary database to establish which regions of the file have been modified; and means for restoring data from the modification data file to the main storage means using information from the auxiliary database to indicate which data to restore.
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27. A method of operating a microprocessor-based computer system including a random access memory, a central processing unit, and storage means, the method comprising the step of:
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providing instructions stored in the memory to the central processing unit to cause said central processing unit to write data to at least one file stored in the storage means by generating a write request. extracting information for a modification data set from each said write request, and building a database containing at least one said modification data set, wherein the write request comprises said modification data set which identifies a region of said file modified by said write request, and wherein the modification data set includes identifications means for identifying said file, and a position identifier for said file corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to said file.
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28. A microprocessor-based computer system including a random access memory, a central processing unit, and storage means, the system comprising
means for providing instructions stored in said memory to said central processing unit to cause said central processing unit to write data to at least one file stored in the storage means by generating a write request, means for extracting information for a modification data set from each said write request, and means for building a database containing at least one said modification dasta set, wherein the write request comprises said modification data set which identifies a region of said file modified by said write request, and wherein the modification data set includes identification means for identifying said file, and a position identifier for said file corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to said file.
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29. A method of operating a microprocessor-based computer system including a random access memory, a central processing unit, and a storage means, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an auxiliary database containing modification data sets which identify regions of a file on the storage means that have been modified by a write request, each modification data set including identification means for identifying a position identifier for the file, corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to the file; and providing instructions stored in the random access memory to the central processing unit to command the following operations; interrogating the auxiliary database to establish which regions of the file have been modified; and creating a backup copy by backing up data stored in the storage means, using information from the auxiliary database to indicate which data to backup.
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30. Apparatus for operating a microprocessor-based computer system which includes a random access memory, a central processing unit, and a storage means, comprising:
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an auxiliary database containing modification data sets which identify regions of a file on the storage means that have been modified by a write request, each modification data set including identification means for identifying a position identifier for the file, corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to the file, means for providing instructions, stored in the random access memory, to the central processing unit; means for interrogating the auxiliary database to establish which regions of the file have been modified; and means for creating a backup copy by backing up data stored in the storage means, using information from the auxiliary database to indicate which data to backup.
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31. A method of accessing data in a microprocessor-based computer system including a random access memory, a central processing unit, a main storage means, and a backup storage means, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an auxiliary database containing modification data set which identify regions of a file on the storage means that have been modified, each modification data set including identification means for identifying a position identifier for the file corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to the file; providing a modification data file containing regions of the file identified by each modification data set; and providing instructions stored in the random access memory to the central processing unit to command the following operations; interrogating the auxiliary database to establish which regions of the file have been modified; and restoring data from the modification data file to the main storage means using information from the auxiliary database to indicate which data to restore.
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32. Apparatus for accessing data in a microprocessor-based computer system including a random access memory, a central processing unit, a main storage means, and a backup storage means, comprising:
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an auxiliary database containing modification data sets which identify regions of a file on the storage means that have been modified, each modification data set including identification means for identifying a position identifier for the file corresponding to the quantity of data to be written to the file; a modification data file containing regions of the file identified by each modification data set; means for providing instructions stored in the random access memory to the central processing unit; means for interrogating the auxiliary database to establish which regions of the file have been modified; and means for restoring data from the modification data file to the main storage means using information from the auxiliary database to indicate which data to restore.
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Specification