Method and system for time addressable storage

• US 7,814,367 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carbonite LLC (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Double-Take Software Canada Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Squibb, Mark, Burke, Nick, Carlson, F. Roy Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arcos; Jeison C
• Application Number:
  US11/273,665
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 714/15, 714/16, 714/19, 714/6, 707 20-204, 715/229, 715/968
• US Class Current: 714/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1873 Versioning file systems, temporal file systems, e.g. file system supporting different historic versions of files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0643 Management of files
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

Method and system for allowing temporal navigation or time travel of data or data object across time are disclosed. In one embodiment, events that affected data objects are retrieved and inversed to revert the data objects back to a selected point-in-time, forward events are applied to move data objects to forward point-in-time. A sliding bar or a time dial allows a user to move data objects back and forward in time. Events that are applied may be a selected subset of events, altered events, new events, or events generated synthetically or any combinations thereof, for instance, to create counterfactual history.

Claims

1. A computer comprising a processor and a storage medium, said storage medium comprising:

a. instructions for causing the processor to time shift a subset of a plurality of data objects stored on the storage medium;

b. one or more application programs for performing actions on files or data objects;

c. a block layer for storing data generated from the one or more application programs;

d. a file system through which changes made to a data object in the one or more application programs travel to, and are stored in, the block layer;

e. one or more write-inverted stacks, whereby one or more data objects stored in the block layer have time-shifted but their corresponding one or more application programs are unaware that the one or more data objects have time shifted;

f. an event journal containing a plurality of time-labeled events representing changes made to the plurality of data objects;

g. an application program interface which includes one or more graphical user interface modules for selecting a subset of the data objects to time shift;

said interface modules also operable to select a past temporal state and a forward temporal state of the subset of data objects;

h. instructions for causing the processor to generate and apply a reverse event from the plurality of events operable to change the subset of data objects to the past temporal state;

j. instructions for causing the processor to generate and apply a forward event from the plurality of events operable to change the subset of data objects to the forward temporal state;

k. instructions for causing the processor to determine that one or more data objects stored in one or more block layers have been time shifted;

l. instructions for notifying the corresponding file system and one or more application programs that the one or more data objects have been time shifted; and

m. instructions for causing the corresponding file system and one or more application programs to synchronize with the one or more time-shifted data objects.

2. The computer of claim 1 wherein the interface module comprises a slider, wherein movement of the slider in a first direction causes the processor to apply the reverse event to change the subset of data objects to the reverse temporal state;

and movement of the slider in a second direction causes the processor to apply the forward event to change the subset of data objects to the forward temporal state.

3. The computer of claim 1 wherein the interface module comprises a time dial, wherein rotation of the time dial in a first direction causes the processor to apply the reverse event to change the subset of data objects to the reverse temporal state;

and rotation of the time dial in a second direction causes the processor to apply the forward event to change the subset of data objects to the forward temporal state.

4. The computer of claim 1 wherein the event journal contains supplemental criteria about the one or more time-labeled events, including a user name of who carried out the event.

5. The computer of claim 1 wherein the storage medium contains instructions causing the processor to generate and apply a reverse event based on user-selected supplemental criteria to change the subset of data objects to the past temporal state.

6. A method of time shifting a subset of a plurality of data objects stored on a storage medium;

said method comprising the steps of

a. using a computer comprising a processor and the storage medium, said storage medium comprising;

i. an event journal containing a plurality of time-labeled events representing changes made to the plurality of data objects;

ii. an application program interface which includes one or more graphical user interface modules for selecting a subset of the data objects to time shift;

said interface modules also operable to select a past temporal state and a forward temporal state of the subset of data objects;

iii. one or more application programs for performing actions on files or data objects;

iv. a block layer for storing data generated from the one or more application programs;

v. a file system through which changes made to a data object in the one or more application programs travel to, and are stored in, the block layer;

vi. one or more write-inverted stacks, whereby one or more data objects stored in the block layer have time-shifted but their corresponding one or more application programs are unaware that the one or more data objects have time shifted;

b. instructing the processor to generate and apply a reverse event from the plurality of events operable to change the subset of data objects to the past temporal state;

d. instructing the processor to generate and apply a forward event from the plurality of events operable to change the subset of data objects to the forward temporal state;

f. instructing the processor to determine that one or more data objects stored in one or more block layers have been time shifted;

g. instructing the processor to notify the corresponding file system and one or more application programs that the one or more data objects have been time shifted; and

h. instructing the processor to cause the corresponding file system and one or more application programs to synchronize with the one or more time-shifted data objects.

7. The method of claim 6 comprising the step of moving a slider, wherein movement of the slider in a first direction causes the processor to apply the reverse event to change the subset of data objects to the reverse temporal state;

and movement of the slider in a second direction causes the processor to apply the forward event to change the subset of data objects to the forward temporal state.

8. The method of claim 6 comprising the step of rotating a time dial, wherein rotation of the time dial in a first direction causes the processor to apply the reverse event to change the subset of data objects to the reverse temporal state;

and rotation of the time dial in a second direction causes the processor to apply the forward event to change the subset of data objects to the forward temporal state.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the event journal contains supplemental criteria about the one or more time-labeled events, including a user name of who carried out the event.

10. The method of claim 6 instructing the processor to generate and apply a reverse event based on user-selected supplemental criteria to change the subset of data objects to the past temporal state.