Managing copies of data
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system for retrieving data from one of multiple copies of the data, wherein the computer system has a processor and memory, the method comprising:
- receiving a request identifying at least one data object to be accessed;
querying, by the computer system, an index to locate two or more data copies that contain the identified at least one data object, wherein for each of the two or more data copies the index contains an indication of an availability of the data copy relative to other data copies,wherein the two or more data copies are respectively stored on two or more different and separate data storage devices,wherein the two or more different and separate data storage devices are substantially permanent or non-volatile storage devices,wherein the data storage devices are coupled to the computer system via a computer network,wherein a first indication of the availability of a first data copy includes a first indication related to a first time M for providing or accessing the at least one data object in response to an access request, andwherein a second indication of the availability of a second data copy includes a second indication related to a second time M+N for providing or accessing the at least one data object in response to the access request,where M and N are positive quantities of time;
automatically determining one of the two or more data copies to use to access the identified at least one data object, wherein the determination is made based at least in part on the indicated availability contained in the index for each of the two or more data copies; and
providing an access request for accessing the identified at least one data object using the determined one of the two or more data copies, wherein the access request is provided to one of the two or more different and separate data storage devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method in a computer system for retrieving data from one of multiple copies of the data is provided, referred to as the data management system. The data management system receives a request identifying at least one data object to be accessed. Then, the data management system queries a metabase to locate data copies that contain the identified at least one data object, wherein the data copies are created from similar source data, and wherein for each data copy the metabase contains an indication of the availability of the copy relative to other copies. Next, the data management system determines one of the located data copies to use to access the identified at least one data object, wherein the determination is made based on the indicated availability contained in the metabase for each of the located data copies. Then, the data management system accesses the identified at least one data object using the determined one of the located data copies.
502 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system for retrieving data from one of multiple copies of the data, wherein the computer system has a processor and memory, the method comprising:
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receiving a request identifying at least one data object to be accessed; querying, by the computer system, an index to locate two or more data copies that contain the identified at least one data object, wherein for each of the two or more data copies the index contains an indication of an availability of the data copy relative to other data copies, wherein the two or more data copies are respectively stored on two or more different and separate data storage devices, wherein the two or more different and separate data storage devices are substantially permanent or non-volatile storage devices, wherein the data storage devices are coupled to the computer system via a computer network, wherein a first indication of the availability of a first data copy includes a first indication related to a first time M for providing or accessing the at least one data object in response to an access request, and wherein a second indication of the availability of a second data copy includes a second indication related to a second time M+N for providing or accessing the at least one data object in response to the access request, where M and N are positive quantities of time; automatically determining one of the two or more data copies to use to access the identified at least one data object, wherein the determination is made based at least in part on the indicated availability contained in the index for each of the two or more data copies; and providing an access request for accessing the identified at least one data object using the determined one of the two or more data copies, wherein the access request is provided to one of the two or more different and separate data storage devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system for managing multiple copies of data, comprising:
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a computing device configured for receiving data objects from applications that generate data objects, wherein the computing device includes at least a processor and a memory; a data management component configured for managing created copies of the generated data objects, wherein the created copies include a primary copy of the generated data objects, and one or more secondary copies of the generated data objects; a data storage component configured to store the primary copy of the generated data and the one or more secondary copies of the generated data; and a metabase component configured to store metadata information about each of the copies of the generated data including at least (a) a type of data storage media or data storage device on which each copy is stored, (b) data management operations performed to create the data copy, (c) a logical or geographic location of the copy, and (d) an indication of an availability of each copy, wherein a first indication of the availability of a first copy of the generated data includes a first indication related to a first time M for providing or accessing the first copy of the generated data in response to an access request, and wherein a second indication of the availability of a second copy of the generated data includes a second indication related to a second time M+N for providing or accessing the second copy of the generated data in response to the access request, where M and N are positive quantities of time, wherein the first copy of the generated data is stored on a first substantially permanent or non-volatile storage device, and wherein the second copy of the generated data is stored on a second substantially permanent or non-volatile storage device distinct from the first substantially permanent or non-volatile storage device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method in a computer system for retrieving data from one of multiple copies of the data, wherein the computer system has a processor and memory, the method comprising:
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receiving a request identifying at least one data object to be accessed; identifying multiple copies of the data object that satisfy the request; wherein each of the multiple data copies are respectively stored on one of multiple different and separate data storage devices, wherein the multiple different and separate data storage devices are substantially permanent or non-volatile storage devices, and wherein the multiple data storage devices are coupled to the computer system via a computer network, and for each identified copy, determining, by the computer system, an availability of the identified copy relative to the other identified copies, wherein a first availability of a first identified copy includes a first indication related to a first time M for accessing or providing the identified at least one data object in response to an access request, and wherein a second indication of the availability of a second identified copy includes a second indication related to a second time M+N for providing or accessing the identified at least one data object in response to the access request, where M and N are positive quantities of time; receiving a selection of one of the multiple identified copies to use for accessing the identified at least one data object, wherein the selection is based on the determined availability of the identified copies; and providing an access request for accessing the identified at least one data object using the selected copy, wherein the access request is provided to one of the multiple different and separate data storage devices. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification