Process, data processing device, service provision server, back-up server and program modules for backing-up data

• US 6,704,849 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Steegmans, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THAN VINH
• Application Number:
  US09/801,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/218, 711/114, 711/161, 711/162, 714/5, 714/6
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for backing-up data stored on storage means (MEMA1, MEMA2, MEMA3) of a data processing device (TERA). The invention further relates to a data processing device (TERA), a service provision server (SM), a back-up server (BA1) and a respective program module for a data processing device, for a service provision server and for a back-up server for the backing-up of data. Following the determination of the data in the storage means (MEMA1, MEMA2, MEAM3) which are to be backed-up, a first connection (VA, VBA1) between the data processing device (TERA) and a first back-up server (BA1) spatially remote from the data processing device (TERA) and at least one second connection (VA, VBA2) between the data processing device (TERA) and at least one second back-up server (BA2) spatially remote from the data processing device (TERA) are established via a telecommunications network (NET). From the data to be backed-up, a first and at least one second data stream (DSBA1, DSBA2) are formed and transmitted from the data processing device (TERA) to the first and the at least one second back-up server (BA1, BA2).

Claims

1. A process for backing-up data stored on storage means of a data processing device comprising:

determination of data in the storage means which are to be backed-up;

establishment of a plurality of connections via a telecommunications network between the data processing device and each of a plurality of backup servers; and

transmission of respective data streams, formed from the data to be backed-up, from the data processing device to different ones of the plurality of back-up servers;

wherein the data streams are formed to be redundant only in part, such that the data to be backed up cannot be regenerated by only one of the data streams, but can be regenerated by combining fewer than all of the data streams.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the data streams is encrypted.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein a connection is established from the data processing device to a service provision server assigned to the telecommunications network, and that with the aid of the service provision server, the connections between the data processing device and the back-up servers are in each case established via the telecommunications network.

4. A process according to claim 3, wherein charges are calculated for the backing-up of the data.

5. A process according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmission of a first one of the data streams, formed from the data to be backed-up, from a first one of the plurality of back-up servers to the data processing device;

transmission of a second one of the data streams, formed from the data to be backed-up, from a second one of the plurality of backup servers to the data processing device; and

input of the first and second data streams in the storage means of the data processing device.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein a time control program module executed by the data processing device starts the steps of the process for backing-up data stored on storage means.

7. A process for backing-up data stored on storage means of a data processing device comprising:

determination of data in the storage means which are to be backed-up,

establishment of a first connection via a telecommunications network between the data processing device and a first back-up server spatially remote from the data processing device,

transmission of a first data stream, formed from the data to be backed-up, from the data processing device to the first back-up server,

establishment of at least one second connection via the telecommunications network between the data processing device and at least one second back-up server spatially remote from the data processing device, and

transmission of at least one second data stream, formed from the data to be backed-up, from the data processing device to the at least one second back-up server;

wherein the data to be backed-up from different sources of the storage means are combined to form a mixed data stream, and that the first and the at least one second data stream are formed from the mixed data stream and transmitted to the first and the at least one second back-up server respectively wherein, for a regeneration of the data backed-up in this way, the first and the at least one second data stream are loaded from the first and the at least one second back-up server into the data processing device, are combined to form a mixed data stream, and the data of the mixed data stream are divided between the different sources in the storage means.

8. A process according to claim 7, wherein the mixed data stream is encrypted.

9. A process for backing-up data stored on storage means of a data processing device comprising:

determination of data in the storage means which are to be backed-up,

establishment of a first connection via a telecommunications network between the data processing device and a first back-up server spatially remote from the data processing device,

transmission of a first data stream, formed from the data to be backed-up, from the data processing device to the first back-up server,

establishment of at least one second connection via the telecommunications network between the data processing device and at least one second back-up server spatially remote from the data processing device and spatially remote from the first back-up server, and

transmission of at least one second data stream, formed from the data to be backed-up, from the data processing device to the at least one second back-up server;

wherein at least one third connection is established via the telecommunications network between the data processing device and at least one third back-up server spatially remote from the data processing device, and that at least one third data stream, formed from the data to be backed-up, is transmitted to the at least one third back-up server, where the first, the second and the at least one third data stream are formed to be redundant only in part, such that the data to be backed-up cannot be regenerated by only one of the data streams, but can be regenerated by combining the first and the second data streams, or the first and the at least one third data streams, or the second and the at least one third data streams.

10. A data processing device for backing-up data comprising:

storage means with stored data;

recognition means for determining data in the storage means which are to be backed-up;

connection means for establishing a plurality of connections via a telecommunications network between the data processing device and each of a plurality of backup servers; and

transmitting means for transmitting respective data streams, formed from the data to be backed-up, from the data processing device to different ones of the plurality of back-up servers;

wherein the data streams are formed to be redundant only in part, such that the data to be backed up cannot be regenerated by only one of the data streams, but can be regenerated by combining fewer than all of the data streams.

11. A program module for a data processing device for backing-up data stored on storage means of the data processing device, the program module comprising program code which can be executed by control means of the data processing device, the program module comprising:

recognition means for determining data in the storage means which are to be backed-up;

connection means for establishing a plurality of connections via a telecommunications network between the data processing device and each of a plurality of backup servers; and

transmitting means for transmitting respective data streams, formed from the data to be backed-up, from the data processing device to different ones of the plurality of back-up servers;

wherein the data streams are formed to be redundant only in part, such that the data to be backed up cannot be regenerated by only one of the data streams, but can be regenerated by combining fewer than all of the data streams.

12. A computer readable medium, with a program module according to claim 11.

13. A service provision server for providing a service for backing-up data stored on storage means of a data processing device, comprising:

connection control means for establishing a connection to the data processing device, and establishing a plurality of connections via a telecommunications network between the data processing device and each of a plurality of backup servers; and

transmission control means for transmitting respective data streams, formed from the data to be backed-up, from the data processing device to different ones of the plurality of back-up servers;

wherein the data streams are formed to be redundant only in part, such that the data to be backed up cannot be regenerated by only one of the data streams, but can be regenerated by combining fewer than all of the data streams.

14. A service provision server according to claim 13, further comprising:

loading means for loading a service program module, executable by the data processing device, onto the data processing device, and

communications means for providing the back-up service in interaction with the service program module.

15. A program module, for a service provision server for backing-up data stored on storage means of a data processing device, containing program code executable by control means of the service provision server, the program module comprising:

connection means for establishing a connection to the data processing device;

connection control means for establishing a plurality of connections via a telecommunications network between the data processing device and each of a plurality of backup servers; and

transmission control means for transmitting respective data streams, formed from the data to be backed-up, from the data processing device to different ones of the plurality of back-up servers;

wherein the data streams are formed to be redundant only in part, such that the data to be backed up cannot be regenerated by only one of the data streams, but can be regenerated by combining fewer than all of the data streams.

16. A storage means, in particular a computer readable medium, with a program module according to claim 15.

17. A system, for backing-up data stored on storage means of a data processing device, comprising:

a data processing device having storage means with data to be backed up, a service provision server, a first back-up server spatially remote from the data processing device, and a second back-up server spatially remote from the data processing device and spatially remote from the first back-up server;

the service provision server establishing a connection to the data processing device, and establishing a first connection via a telecommunications network between the data processing device and the first back-up server;

a first data stream, formed from the data to be backed-up, being communicated from the data processing device to the first back-up server;

the service provision server establishing a second connection via the telecommunications network between the data processing device and the second back-up server; and

a second data stream, formed from the data to be backed-up, being communicated from the data processing device to the second back-up server via the telecommunications network,

wherein the data streams are formed to be redundant only in part, such that the data to be backed up cannot be regenerated by only one of the data streams, and can be regenerated by combining fewer than all of the data streams.

18. A data backup module configured to transmit data streams to back-up data stored in a storage area of a data processor system, said data backup module comprising:

p1 a data recognizer configured to determine the data to be backed up stored in the storage area; and

p1 a data transmitter configured to form a plurality of data streams from the data determined by the recognizer, and to transmit a data stream of the plurality of data streams to each backup server of the plurality of backup servers, each data stream being partially redundant, such that the determined data can be regenerated based on a combination of fewer than all of the data streams of the plurality of data streams and cannot be regenerated based on only one data stream of the plurality of data streams.

19. The data backup module of claim 18, wherein the module is a module of a service provision server physically separate from the data processor system, and connected to the data processor system via a telecommunications network.

20. The data backup module of claim 18, wherein the module is a module of the data processor system.

21. The data backup module of claim 18, wherein each backup server of the plurality of backup servers is geographically remote from every other backup server of the plurality of backup servers and from the data processor system, and is connected to the data processor system via a telecommunications network.