Systems and methods for classifying and transferring information in a storage network

• US 7,734,593 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Brockway, Brian, Schwartz, Jeremy A., Ngo, David, Prahlad, Anand, Muller, Marcus S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Isaac M
• Application Number:
  US11/564,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 707600-831
• US Class Current: 707/640
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1435 using file system or storage system metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1461 Backup scheduling policy
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1466 to make the backup process non-disruptive
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1471 involving logging of persistent data for recovery
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/11 File system administration, e.g. details of archiving or snapshots file system backup G06F11/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/119 Details of migration of file systems migration mechanisms in storage systems G06F3/0647
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/122 using management policies backup systems G06F11/1446; file migration policies for HSM systems G06F16/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/134 Distributed indices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/14 Details of searching files based on file metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/148 File search processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1727 Details of free space management performed by the file system saving storage space on storage systems G06F3/0608; management of blocks in storage devices G06F3/064
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1734 Details of monitoring file system events, e.g. by the use of hooks, filter drivers, logs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2228 Indexing structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 : Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/80 : Database-specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 : Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 : by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0649 : Lifecycle management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0685 : Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 : Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 : Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 : Archiving or backup

Abstract

Systems and methods for data classification to facilitate and improve data management within an enterprise are described. The disclosed systems and methods evaluate and define data management operations based on data characteristics rather than data location, among other things. Also provided are methods for generating a data structure of metadata that describes system data and storage operations. This data structure may be consulted to determine changes in system data rather than scanning the data files themselves.

Claims

1. A method of classifying data stored within a storage management system, wherein the method is performed by a computing system having a processor and memory, the method comprising:

receiving two or more criteria connected via Boolean connectors;

receiving one or more user classifications to be associated with data objects that satisfy the two or more criteria within the storage management system,

wherein the one or more user classifications are defined by a user, and wherein the one or more user classifications can describe characteristics of a data object and facilitate storage operations for the data object;

receiving multiple data objects during a data management operation and at a data monitoring agent within the storage management system;

determining which data objects in the received multiple data objects satisfy the two or more criteria;

automatically associating, by the computing system, the one or more user classifications to the data objects that satisfy the two or more criteria;

storing in an index the one or more user classifications as metadata associated with the data objects that satisfy the two or more criteria; and

performing a data storage operation based on the one or more user classifications, by

analyzing the index to identify the data objects associated with the one or more classifications; and

performing the data storage operation on the identified data objects.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving 1) two or more criteria connected via Boolean connectors;

and

     2) one or more user classifications to be associated with data objects that satisfy the two or more criteria within the storage management system comprises displaying a graphical user interface for receiving user input.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving 1) two or more criteria connected via Boolean connectors;

and

     2) one or more user classifications to be associated with data objects that satisfy the two or more criteria within the storage management system comprises displaying a list of available classifications.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving 1) two or more criteria connected via Boolean connectors;

and

     2) one or more user classifications to be associated with data objects that satisfy the two or more criteria within the storage management system comprises providing an interface for a user to create new classifications based on a user'"'"'s purpose for interacting with the selected data object.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more classifications comprise classifications related to a source of at least some of the multiple data objects.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more classifications comprise classifications related to a purpose of at least some of the multiple data objects.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more classifications comprise classifications related to intended consumers of at least some of the multiple data objects.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more classifications comprise classifications related to content of at least some of the multiple data objects.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more classifications comprise classifications related to a pattern of interaction with at least some of the multiple data objects.

10. A system for classifying data stored within a storage management system, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

means for receiving

     1) two or more criteria connected via Boolean connectors; and

     2) one or more user classifications to be associated with data objects that satisfy the two or more criteria within the storage management system,

wherein the one or more user classifications are defined by a user, and wherein the one or more user classifications can describe characteristics of a data object and facilitate storage operations on the data object;

means for receiving during a data management operation, and at a data monitoring agent, multiple data objects within the storage management system;

means for determining which data objects satisfy the two or more criteria;

means for automatically associating, by the computing system, the one or more user classifications to the data objects that satisfy the two or more criteria;

means for storing in an index the one or more user classifications as metadata associated with the data objects that satisfy the two or more criteria; and

means for performing a data storage operation based on the one or more user classifications, wherein the means for performing a data storage operation performs the data storage operation by

analyzing the index to identify the data objects associated with the one or more classifications; and

performing the data storage operation on the identified data objects.